Graham Tutt
Encyclopedia
Graham Tutt is a retired English professional footballer goalkeeper
who spent four seasons in England. Following a serious eye injury, he spent two season in South Africa before moving to the United States for the remainder of his career. He played two seasons in the second division American Soccer League
and one in the North American Soccer League
. He also finished runner up in the 1986 National Amateur Cup
with Atlanta Datagraphics. Since his retirement, he has held numerous coaching and executive positions in the state of Georgia.
In 1974, Tutt made his professional debut with Charlton Athletic
. He was seventeen at the time. During the 1975-1976 season, he went on loan with Workington FC for four games. In 1976, he suffered an eye injury which put him of action for eighteen months. In 1978, he returned to playing with the Arcadia Sheperds in the South African League. In 1979, he played for the Arcadia Pepsi which may have been the same team, under new sponsorship. During his two seasons in South Africa, he was twice selected as the Goalkeeper of the Year by the South African Press. In 1980, he moved to the United States where he spent one season with the Columbus Magic
in the second division American Soccer League
. He was an ASL All Star and moved up to the Atlanta Chiefs
of the North American Soccer League
in 1981. In 1982, he finished his professional career with the Georgia Generals
of the ASL. However, he continued to play for several years on the amateur level, ironically, as a forward. In 1983, as part of the Anhauser Busch team, he led the Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League (ADASL) in scoring. In 1984, he moved to Atlanta Datagraphic
Soccer Club, also in the ADASL, where he played until 1988. In 1987, Datagraphic fell to Yonkers Polish American Eagles in the final of the National Amateur Cup
. He retired from playing in 1988.
After his retirement from playing professionally, Tutt turned towards coaching. From 1983 to 2004, he ran various soccer training camps throughout the state of Georgia. In 1988, he established the Canturbury Parks Soccer Complex. In 1989, he founded the Atlanta Attack of the indoor National Professional Soccer League. In 1991, he founded the men's soccer team at Life University
and coached it until the school disbanded its sports program in 2001.
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 four seasons in England. Following a serious eye injury, he spent two season in South Africa before moving to the United States for the remainder of his career. He played two seasons in the second division 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 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:...
. He also finished runner up in the 1986 National Amateur Cup
National Amateur Cup
The National Amateur Cup is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation...
with Atlanta Datagraphics. Since his retirement, he has held numerous coaching and executive positions in the state of Georgia.
In 1974, Tutt made his professional debut with Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
. He was seventeen at the time. During the 1975-1976 season, he went on loan with Workington FC for four games. In 1976, he suffered an eye injury which put him of action for eighteen months. In 1978, he returned to playing with the Arcadia Sheperds in the South African League. In 1979, he played for the Arcadia Pepsi which may have been the same team, under new sponsorship. During his two seasons in South Africa, he was twice selected as the Goalkeeper of the Year by the South African Press. In 1980, he moved to the United States where he spent one season with 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 second division 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...
. He was an ASL All Star and moved up to the Atlanta Chiefs
Atlanta Chiefs
The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'...
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:...
in 1981. In 1982, he finished his professional career with the Georgia Generals
Georgia Generals
Georgia Generals were a professional soccer team in the USA. They played for one season in the ASL. They were formed when the Cleveland Cobras franchise moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Their owner was Walt Russell...
of the ASL. However, he continued to play for several years on the amateur level, ironically, as a forward. In 1983, as part of the Anhauser Busch team, he led the Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League (ADASL) in scoring. In 1984, he moved to Atlanta Datagraphic
Atlanta Datagraphic
Atlanta Datagraphic was an amateur U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Datagraphic firm of Atlanta, Georgia. It won the 1979 National Amateur Cup.-History:...
Soccer Club, also in the ADASL, where he played until 1988. In 1987, Datagraphic fell to Yonkers Polish American Eagles in the final of the National Amateur Cup
National Amateur Cup
The National Amateur Cup is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation...
. He retired from playing in 1988.
After his retirement from playing professionally, Tutt turned towards coaching. From 1983 to 2004, he ran various soccer training camps throughout the state of Georgia. In 1988, he established the Canturbury Parks Soccer Complex. In 1989, he founded the Atlanta Attack of the indoor National Professional Soccer League. In 1991, he founded the men's soccer team at Life University
Life University
Life University is located in Marietta, Georgia. It is best known for its doctorate degree program in chiropractic, but it also offers a number of undergraduate programs.- History :...
and coached it until the school disbanded its sports program in 2001.