Don Tobin
Encyclopedia
Don Tobin is a retired English football midfielder
. Since 1995 he has been Director of Coaching at the Dunedin Stirling Soccer Club in the US. He is also assistant coach of the University of Tampa's soccer team, the Tampa Spartans.
In 1970, Tobin signed with Everton FC as a schoolboy apprentice. He later turned professional with the team, but saw no first team time before moving to Rochdale A.F.C.
in 1973. After three seasons, he transferred to Witton Albion. In 1977, he moved to Sligo Rovers for one season before moving to the United States
where he remained for the rest of his career. When he arrived in the U.S., he signed with the California Sunshine
of the American Soccer League
. After the 1978 summer outdoor season, he signed with the Wichita Wings
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
for the 1978-1979 indoor season. In the spring of 1979, he returned to the Sunshine. That season, he was selected for the ASL first team All Star. He played one more season with the Wings in 1979-1980 and one more season with the Sunshine in 1980. In 1981, he signed with the Carolina Lightnin'
of the ASL. The Lightnin' won the ASL championship, 2-1 over New York United with Tobin scoring the first Lightnin' goal. This season he was again an ASL first team All Star. He spent three seasons with Carolina. In the fall of 1981, he joined the Los Angeles Lazers
for two seasons of MISL action. He scored fifty goals before being released in the summer of 1983. He then signed with the Canton Invaders
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. He spent four seasons in Canton and was the 1986 AISA MVP. An injury suffered in February 1987 led to the loss of several months with the Invaders. Then, disagreements between Tobin and the coaching staff led the team to release him at the end of the 1986-1987 season. In 1984, he played for the Rochester Flash
in the United Soccer League
. In June 1985, he signed with the Tulsa Tornados
of the USL, but the league collapsed after only six games. In November 1992, the Tampa Bay Rowdies signed Tobin for the team's upcoming 1988 American Soccer League
season. He was a regular starter in 1988, but lost much of the 1989 season with injuries before being suspended by head coach Rodney Marsh
in August when he told Marsh he would miss a game in order to manage his ice cream business. The team released him a few weeks later. He was not unemployed for long as the expansion Memphis Rogues
of the AISA hired Tobin as head coach. In addition to coaching the team, Tobin also played. On December 15, 1989, the Rogues both fired and released Tobin. In July 1990, he signed with the Orlando Lions
of the American Professional Soccer League
. The Lions folded at the end of the season and it appears Tobin retired from playing then.
In 2000, Tobin coached the Tampa Bay Extreme of the W-League
. He is currently an assistant coach with the University of Tampa
's soccer team.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. Since 1995 he has been Director of Coaching at the Dunedin Stirling Soccer Club in the US. He is also assistant coach of the University of Tampa's soccer team, the Tampa Spartans.
In 1970, Tobin signed with Everton FC as a schoolboy apprentice. He later turned professional with the team, but saw no first team time before moving to Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
in 1973. After three seasons, he transferred to Witton Albion. In 1977, he moved to Sligo Rovers for one season before moving to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he remained for the rest of his career. When he arrived in the U.S., he signed with the California Sunshine
California Sunshine (soccer)
The California Sunshine was an American soccer club based in Fountain Valley, California that was a member of the American Soccer League. The team was owned by Dr. Robert Everakes and his wife Alexandra, who was the general manager...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. After the 1978 summer outdoor season, he signed with the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
for the 1978-1979 indoor season. In the spring of 1979, he returned to the Sunshine. That season, he was selected for the ASL first team All Star. He played one more season with the Wings in 1979-1980 and one more season with the Sunshine in 1980. In 1981, he signed with the Carolina Lightnin'
Carolina Lightnin'
The Carolina Lightnin was an American soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina that was a member of the American Soccer League. The Lightnin' played home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Attendance at home games averaged 6,000 spectators...
of the ASL. The Lightnin' won the ASL championship, 2-1 over New York United with Tobin scoring the first Lightnin' goal. This season he was again an ASL first team All Star. He spent three seasons with Carolina. In the fall of 1981, he joined the Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers were a soccer team based out of Los Angeles that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1982 to 1989.-History:Major Indoor Soccer League awarded a Los Angeles franchise to Jerry Buss on June 24, 1982. Buss had purchased the Philadelphia Fever and wanted to move it to...
for two seasons of MISL action. He scored fifty goals before being released in the summer of 1983. He then signed with the Canton Invaders
Canton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. He spent four seasons in Canton and was the 1986 AISA MVP. An injury suffered in February 1987 led to the loss of several months with the Invaders. Then, disagreements between Tobin and the coaching staff led the team to release him at the end of the 1986-1987 season. In 1984, he played for the Rochester Flash
Rochester Flash
The Rochester Flash was an American soccer club based in Rochester, New York that was a member of the American Soccer League.After the ASL folded, the club joined the newly formed United Soccer League....
in the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. In June 1985, he signed with the Tulsa Tornados
Tulsa Tornados
The Tulsa Tornados were a professional soccer team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played for one season in the USL. The 1985 season only lasted six games as the league folded halfway through....
of the USL, but the league collapsed after only six games. In November 1992, the Tampa Bay Rowdies signed Tobin for the team's upcoming 1988 American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
season. He was a regular starter in 1988, but lost much of the 1989 season with injuries before being suspended by head coach Rodney Marsh
Rodney Marsh (footballer)
Rodney William Marsh is an English retired footballer. He was named after HMS Rodney by his father, who served on the battleship. He played for Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Manchester City, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the England national team. Lately, he has been a pundit and a commentator on the...
in August when he told Marsh he would miss a game in order to manage his ice cream business. The team released him a few weeks later. He was not unemployed for long as the expansion Memphis Rogues
Memphis Storm
The Memphis Storm was an American soccer team based in Memphis, Tennessee which existed from 1986 to 1994 under several names in both the American Indoor Soccer Association and the USISL.-American Indoor Soccer Association:...
of the AISA hired Tobin as head coach. In addition to coaching the team, Tobin also played. On December 15, 1989, the Rogues both fired and released Tobin. In July 1990, he signed with the Orlando Lions
Orlando Lions
The Orlando Lions was an American soccer team from Orlando, Florida which existed from 1985 to 1996. Over the years, the Lions competed at both the amateur and professional levels including some seasons as an independent team....
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. The Lions folded at the end of the season and it appears Tobin retired from playing then.
In 2000, Tobin coached the Tampa Bay Extreme of the W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
. He is currently an assistant coach with the University of Tampa
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa , is a private, co-educational university in Downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the University celebrated its 75th anniversary...
's soccer team.