Jim Cherneski
Encyclopedia
Jim Cherneski is an American
soccer player, currently player-manager for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Division 2 Professional League
. He also acts as a scout
for Crystal Palace
in North America.
, where he was coached on various youth teams by Peter Mellor
, Steve Heighway
, Gordon Hill and Derek Smethurst
. Cherneski was a starting defender for the Florida Class 4A state high school champions in 1991, and after a brief and ultimately unsuccessful trial at English side Brighton and Hove Albion, played college soccer
at Towson University
alongside Pete Medd
, leading the team to a Top 15 Division 1 NCAA National Ranking and serving as captain during his senior year.
, the Eastern Shore Sharks, the New Hampshire Phantoms
, the Rhode Island Stingrays
and the Worcester Kings
.
After having taken several years off from football to concentrate on family issues, Cherneski received an email from a former college coach that ultimately inspired him to set up his own team in his hometown of Baltimore. Whilst in England on a college tour in 2006, Cherneski met with a representative from Crystal Palace, who were interested setting up a team somewhere else in the world. Over the course of the following year representatives from Palace flew over to America, ultimately resulting in the creation of Crystal Palace Baltimore.
Cherneski became player-manager of the team prior to its inaugural season in 2007, in which they finished fifth, and took the team to its first post-season playoff campaign in 2008, where the ultimately lost in the USL2 semi finals to the Charlotte Eagles
. In addition to managing the team, Cherneski still occasionally makes playing appearances. Cherneski scored two goals in a 6-3 loss to FC Tampa Bay in the last game of Baltimore's 2010 USSFD2 regular season campaign.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player, currently player-manager for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
. He also acts as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in North America.
Youth and college
When Cherneski was nine years old he moved to FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, where he was coached on various youth teams by Peter Mellor
Peter Mellor
Peter Mellor is an English former professional footballer whose career spanned three decades. Born in Prestbury, Cheshire, Mellor won an England Youth cap whilst with his first club Witton Albion . Tall, fair haired and ever smiling Mellor was soon spotted by Burnley, and quickly became their...
, Steve Heighway
Steve Heighway
Stephen Derek "Steve" Heighway is a former footballer who was part of the hugely successful Liverpool team of the 1970s.-Life and playing career:...
, Gordon Hill and Derek Smethurst
Derek Smethurst
Derek Smethurst is a retired South African soccer forward who played professionally in South Africa, England and the United States.-Bio:...
. Cherneski was a starting defender for the Florida Class 4A state high school champions in 1991, and after a brief and ultimately unsuccessful trial at English side Brighton and Hove Albion, played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Towson University
Towson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
alongside Pete Medd
Pete Medd
Pete Medd is a retired American soccer player who currently is the President of Crystal Palace Baltimore. He also served as the ballclub's co-manager along with Jim Cherneski from 2007 to 2009.-Youth:...
, leading the team to a Top 15 Division 1 NCAA National Ranking and serving as captain during his senior year.
Professional
After a brief coaching stint at Towson, Cherneski subsequently played for many years in the USL, having stints with the Baltimore BaysBaltimore Bays (USISL)
-USISL:The third Baltimore Bays were a soccer team based out of Baltimore, Maryland that played in the USISL. They became the Eastern Shore Sharks in 1998 when they moved to Salisbury, Maryland.-Year-by-year:...
, the Eastern Shore Sharks, the New Hampshire Phantoms
New Hampshire Phantoms
New Hampshire Phantoms is an American soccer team based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
, the Rhode Island Stingrays
Rhode Island Stingrays
Rhode Island Stingrays was an American soccer team based in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The...
and the Worcester Kings
Worcester Kings
Worcester Kings were an American soccer team, founded in 2002, who were members of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2003, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Kings played their home...
.
After having taken several years off from football to concentrate on family issues, Cherneski received an email from a former college coach that ultimately inspired him to set up his own team in his hometown of Baltimore. Whilst in England on a college tour in 2006, Cherneski met with a representative from Crystal Palace, who were interested setting up a team somewhere else in the world. Over the course of the following year representatives from Palace flew over to America, ultimately resulting in the creation of Crystal Palace Baltimore.
Cherneski became player-manager of the team prior to its inaugural season in 2007, in which they finished fifth, and took the team to its first post-season playoff campaign in 2008, where the ultimately lost in the USL2 semi finals to the Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
. In addition to managing the team, Cherneski still occasionally makes playing appearances. Cherneski scored two goals in a 6-3 loss to FC Tampa Bay in the last game of Baltimore's 2010 USSFD2 regular season campaign.
Career statistics
- (correct as of October 2, 2010)
Club Season League Cup Play-Offs Total Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Baltimore Bays Baltimore BaysThe first Baltimore Bays were a professional soccer team based out of Baltimore, Maryland. It was one of ten charter members of the National Professional Soccer League in 1967. The team would become a part of the North American Soccer League , which was the result of a merger between the NPSL and...1997 8 3 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 8 3 ? Eastern Shore Sharks 1998 18 2 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 18 2 ? New Hampshire Phantoms New Hampshire PhantomsNew Hampshire Phantoms is an American soccer team based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...1999 4 1 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 4 1 ? Rhode Island Stingrays Rhode Island StingraysRhode Island Stingrays was an American soccer team based in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The...2000–2001 5 0 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 5 0 ? Worcester Kings Worcester KingsWorcester Kings were an American soccer team, founded in 2002, who were members of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2003, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Kings played their home...2002 2 0 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2 0 ? Crystal Palace Baltimore 2007 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Crystal Palace Baltimore 2008 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 Crystal Palace Baltimore 2009 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Crystal Palace Baltimore 2010 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 Total 2007–present 10 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 2 0 Career Totals 1997–present 48 8 ? 1 0 0 ? ? ? 49 8 ?