Iain Fraser
Encyclopedia
Iain Fraser is a former professional soccer player.
Fraser is known as one of the first players drafted by Major League Soccer
upon its creation, as well as for his role in a court case against the league. The sporadic nature of professional soccer in the 1980s and 1990s in North America forced Fraser to become something of a journeyman, playing in numerous indoor and outdoor leagues.
, Scotland, he grew up in Burlington, Ontario
. Fraser attended Hartwick College
in New York
on a soccer scholarship. Graduating in 1986, Fraser played on three Division I NCAA tournament teams at Hartwick, playing in the Final Four in both 1984 and 1985. He was inducted into the Hartwick College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.
of the original Major Indoor Soccer League
. He would play for the indoor club for five years before joining the Baltimore Blast for the 1991/92 season. After the MISL folded, Fraser joined the Kansas City Attack
of the indoor National Professional Soccer League in 1994. He stayed with Kansas City for three years despite interest from the rival Continental Indoor Soccer League
.
. This was common for many Canadian soccer players. In 1993 Fraser returned to outdoor soccer for two seasons with the Colorado Foxes
of the American Professional Soccer League
.
draft. Fraser spent only one season in the MLS, playing for the New England Revolution
in 1996. Although he missed the first few games due to injury, once he hit the field Fraser played every minute of every game after that. That year, the New England Revolution also featured midfielder Geoff Aunger
and Mark Watson, both his teammates from the Canadian national team.
Fraser is also known for his involvement in a 1997 antitrust
lawsuit brought against Major League Soccer
. The case alleged that the league's single entity structure, whereby all players are contracted to the league (and not to individual teams) was an in fact an illegal monopoly. He was the first plaintiff
listed in the lawsuit, leading the case to be known as Fraser et al. vs Major League Soccer et al.
of the World Indoor Soccer League
, where he was employed simultaneously as a player, Head Coach, and Director of Operations. Fraser is one of the few professionals to win honours both on-field and off-field in the same seasons, as he was both named defender of the year and coach of the year in 1999 and 2001. He stayed with the Knights until the WISL folded.
Fraser is now the President and the Technical Director for the California Rush Youth Soccer Club which is based in Sacramento, California.
in a June 1994 friendly match against Morocco
. He earned a total of 30 caps, scoring no goals. He has represented Canada in 10 FIFA World Cup qualification
matches.
His final international was a November 1997 World Cup qualification match against Costa Rica
, a game after which Randy Samuel
, Alex Bunbury
, Frank Yallop
and Colin Miller also said farewell to the national team.
.
Fraser is known as one of the first players drafted by Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
upon its creation, as well as for his role in a court case against the league. The sporadic nature of professional soccer in the 1980s and 1990s in North America forced Fraser to become something of a journeyman, playing in numerous indoor and outdoor leagues.
Early years
Although born in JedburghJedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
, Scotland, he grew up in Burlington, Ontario
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
. Fraser attended Hartwick College
Hartwick College
Hartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on a soccer scholarship. Graduating in 1986, Fraser played on three Division I NCAA tournament teams at Hartwick, playing in the Final Four in both 1984 and 1985. He was inducted into the Hartwick College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.
Indoor soccer
After graduating, Fraser was drafted in the second round by the Kansas City CometsKansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
of the original 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...
. He would play for the indoor club for five years before joining the Baltimore Blast for the 1991/92 season. After the MISL folded, Fraser joined the Kansas City Attack
Kansas City Attack
The Kansas City Attack, previously the Atlanta Attack and later known as the Kansas City Comets, were an indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. In its various incarnations the franchise played in the National Professional Soccer League from 1989–2001 and the...
of the indoor National Professional Soccer League in 1994. He stayed with Kansas City for three years despite interest from the rival Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
.
Outdoor soccer
Due to the founding of the Canadian Soccer League in 1987, Fraser played indoor and outdoor soccer simultaneously, notably for Montreal SupraMontreal Supra
Montreal Supra was a club in the Canadian Soccer League from 1988 to 1992.-Former players: Pat Harrington Mark Watson Patrick Diotte Iain Fraser Nick De Santis Mauro Biello Alex Bunbury Lyndon Hooper Christian Gourcuff Grant Needham...
. This was common for many Canadian soccer players. In 1993 Fraser returned to outdoor soccer for two seasons with the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
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...
.
Major League Soccer
Fraser was the fifth player selected overall in the inaugural Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
draft. Fraser spent only one season in the MLS, playing for the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in 1996. Although he missed the first few games due to injury, once he hit the field Fraser played every minute of every game after that. That year, the New England Revolution also featured midfielder Geoff Aunger
Geoff Aunger
Geoffrey Edward Ramer Aunger is a former Major League Soccer player and Canadian national soccer team member.-Club career:...
and Mark Watson, both his teammates from the Canadian national team.
Fraser is also known for his involvement in a 1997 antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
lawsuit brought against Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. The case alleged that the league's single entity structure, whereby all players are contracted to the league (and not to individual teams) was an in fact an illegal monopoly. He was the first plaintiff
Plaintiff
A plaintiff , also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit before a court...
listed in the lawsuit, leading the case to be known as Fraser et al. vs Major League Soccer et al.
Sacramento Knights and retirement
He then joined the Sacramento KnightsSacramento Knights
Sacramento Knights were an indoor soccer team that played from 1993 to 2001 in ARCO Arena and were owned by the NBA's Sacramento Kings. The team played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997. The team then moved to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1998 after the CISL folded...
of the World Indoor Soccer League
World Indoor Soccer League
The World Indoor Soccer League was a United States based indoor soccer league that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.-History:...
, where he was employed simultaneously as a player, Head Coach, and Director of Operations. Fraser is one of the few professionals to win honours both on-field and off-field in the same seasons, as he was both named defender of the year and coach of the year in 1999 and 2001. He stayed with the Knights until the WISL folded.
Fraser is now the President and the Technical Director for the California Rush Youth Soccer Club which is based in Sacramento, California.
International career
He made his debut for CanadaCanada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in a June 1994 friendly match against Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
. He earned a total of 30 caps, scoring no goals. He has represented Canada in 10 FIFA World Cup qualification
FIFA World Cup qualification
The FIFA World Cup qualification is the process that a national association football team goes through to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals. The FIFA World Cup is a global event, so qualification is required to reduce the large field of participants from about 200 to 32.Qualifying tournaments...
matches.
His final international was a November 1997 World Cup qualification match against Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
, a game after which Randy Samuel
Randy Samuel
Randolph FitzGerald "Randy" Samuel is a Canadian former soccer player turned manager, who is currently head coach at Lobbans FC.As a player he picked up a record 82 caps for the Canadian national team.-Early life:...
, Alex Bunbury
Alex Bunbury
Alexander "Alex" Bunbury is a former Canadian professional footballer, who played as a striker.-Club career:Bunbury started playing professionally with the Hamilton Steelers in Canada, also having one-year spells in the Canadian Soccer League with the Toronto Blizzard and Montreal Supra.In 1993,...
, Frank Yallop
Frank Yallop
Frank Walter Yallop is an English-born Canadian former professional association football player. He is currently the head coach of San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer....
and Colin Miller also said farewell to the national team.
Personal life
He is married to Dineen, has three children and makes his home in California, holding dual Canadian and American citizenshipCitizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
.
External links
- Player profile - CanadaSoccer
- MISL stats