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Eugene Van Taylor (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Eugene Van Taylor is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper
who spent three seasons in the North American Soccer League
, two in the American Soccer League
and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He is currently the men's soccer coach at Lander University
.
Van Taylor graduated from West Essex High School
where he was a Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player. He attended Erskine College
where he was a 1973 Honorable Mention (third team) All American soccer player. He graduated in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education. In 1982, he was inducted into the Erskine College Athletic Hall of Fame. He is ranked fourth on the NAIA single-game saves list.
In 1975, the New York Cosmos
of the North American Soccer League
signed Van Taylor, but he never made the first team. The Cosmos traded him to the Miami Toros
in 1976 where he was Runner-Up for NASL 'Rookie of the Year'. In 1977, he played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers as Gordon Banks
' backup before moving to the New Jersey Eagles
of the American Soccer League
in 1978. In 1979 and 1980, he played of the Columbus Magic
. In the fall of 1980, Van Taylor signed with the expansion Baltimore Blast of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He played six games then was traded to the Phoenix Inferno
. He remained with the Inferno through the 1983-1984 season when the team was known as the Phoenix Pride.
In 1985, he was hired as the head coach of the Lander University
men's soccer team where he remains today.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who spent three seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, two in 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...
and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He is currently the men's soccer coach at Lander University
Lander University
Lander University is a public university located in Greenwood, South Carolina. It is the state's smallest publicly-funded baccalaureate institution.-History:...
.
Van Taylor graduated from West Essex High School
West Essex High School
West Essex High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in North Caldwell, New Jersey in the United States. The high school is part of the West Essex Regional School District, which serves students from four municipalities in western Essex County. Communities served by the district's...
where he was a Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player. He attended Erskine College
Erskine College
Erskine College is a four year, Christian liberal arts college located in Due West, South Carolina.-Early history:Established in 1839 by the Associate Reformed Synod of the South as an academy for men, Erskine College became the first four year, church-related college in South Carolina...
where he was a 1973 Honorable Mention (third team) All American soccer player. He graduated in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education. In 1982, he was inducted into the Erskine College Athletic Hall of Fame. He is ranked fourth on the NAIA single-game saves list.
In 1975, the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
signed Van Taylor, but he never made the first team. The Cosmos traded him to the Miami Toros
Miami Toros
The Miami Gatos were a soccer team based out of Miami that played in the North American Soccer League. The club was previously known as the Washington Darts. After the 1972 season, the team was renamed the Miami Toros...
in 1976 where he was Runner-Up for NASL 'Rookie of the Year'. In 1977, he played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers as Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks, OBE is a retired English football goalkeeper. The IFFHS named Banks the second best goalkeeper of the 20th century – after Lev Yashin and ahead of Dino Zoff ....
' backup before moving to the New Jersey Eagles
New Jersey Eagles
The New Jersey Eagles were an American soccer team founded in 1987 as the Cosmopolitan Eagles. In 1988, they entered the third American Soccer League as the New Jersey Eagles. They folded following the 1990 American Professional Soccer League season....
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...
in 1978. In 1979 and 1980, he played of the Columbus Magic
Columbus Magic
The Columbus Magic was an American soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio that was a member of the American Soccer League. They played their home games in Franklin County Stadium that they shared with Minor League baseball's Columbus Clippers...
. In the fall of 1980, Van Taylor signed with the expansion Baltimore Blast of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He played six games then was traded to the Phoenix Inferno
Phoenix Inferno
The Phoenix Inferno was an American indoor soccer team based out of Phoenix, United States, that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980 to 1983. In 1983 new ownership renamed the team the Phoenix Pride. The Pride folded at the end of the 1983-1984 season...
. He remained with the Inferno through the 1983-1984 season when the team was known as the Phoenix Pride.
In 1985, he was hired as the head coach of the Lander University
Lander University
Lander University is a public university located in Greenwood, South Carolina. It is the state's smallest publicly-funded baccalaureate institution.-History:...
men's soccer team where he remains today.