Mike Dowler
Encyclopedia
Mike Dowler is a retired Welsh professional football goalkeeper
. He spent most of his career in the U.S. indoor leagues where he was named the 1995 Continental Indoor Soccer League
Goalkeeper of the Year.
The son of a Welsh train engineer, Dowler began his career with Newport County in 1975. In the fall of 1980, Dowler moved to the United States and signed with the Wichita Wings
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
. He was a 1983-1984 second team All Star with the Wichita Wings
. On September 26, 1985, he signed as a free agent with the Tacoma Stars. On February 1, 1986, he had reconstructive knee surgery which put him out until May 1987. He then injured his hand early in the 1988-1989 season, losing most of the season. On August 1, 1989, he signed with the Kansas City Comets
. The Comets folded at the end of the season and the Stars picked him up for the 1991-1992 season. The Stars folded at the end of the season and Dowler found himself without a team until October. That month, the Dayton Dynamo
lost their goalies during the pre-season. They then signed Dowler to a short term contract. While he remained with the Dynamo as an "on call" backup goalkeeper, he never played a regular season game. In January 1993, he signed with the Denver Thunder
of the National Professional Soccer League. He finished the season with the Thunder, then worked for a financial services company in Federal Way, Washington
until signed by the Sacramento Knights
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
on a two game contract in August 1994. He won both games and was signed by the team for the remainder of the season. He then spent the next two seasons with the Knights before breaking his left arm with a month left in the 1995 season. He returned for the 1996 season, but suffered from several injuries including a sprained ankle at the start of the season and another broken left arm during the season. As a result of these injuries, Dowler retired at the end of the season. He is currently employed as a lectured in Coleg Gwent's City of Newport Campus
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...
. He spent most of his career in the U.S. indoor leagues where he was named the 1995 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...
Goalkeeper of the Year.
The son of a Welsh train engineer, Dowler began his career with Newport County in 1975. In the fall of 1980, Dowler moved to the United States and 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...
. He was a 1983-1984 second team All Star 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...
. On September 26, 1985, he signed as a free agent with the Tacoma Stars. On February 1, 1986, he had reconstructive knee surgery which put him out until May 1987. He then injured his hand early in the 1988-1989 season, losing most of the season. On August 1, 1989, he signed with the Kansas City Comets
Kansas 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...
. The Comets folded at the end of the season and the Stars picked him up for the 1991-1992 season. The Stars folded at the end of the season and Dowler found himself without a team until October. That month, the Dayton Dynamo
Dayton Dynamo
The Dayton Dynamo was a professional indoor soccer team from Dayton, Ohio. The team played in the American Indoor Soccer Association ....
lost their goalies during the pre-season. They then signed Dowler to a short term contract. While he remained with the Dynamo as an "on call" backup goalkeeper, he never played a regular season game. In January 1993, he signed with the Denver Thunder
Denver Thunder
Denver Thunder were an indoor soccer club based in Denver, Colorado that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.The team was previously known as the Illinois Thunder.-Year-by-year:...
of the National Professional Soccer League. He finished the season with the Thunder, then worked for a financial services company in Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
until signed by the Sacramento Knights
Sacramento 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 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...
on a two game contract in August 1994. He won both games and was signed by the team for the remainder of the season. He then spent the next two seasons with the Knights before breaking his left arm with a month left in the 1995 season. He returned for the 1996 season, but suffered from several injuries including a sprained ankle at the start of the season and another broken left arm during the season. As a result of these injuries, Dowler retired at the end of the season. He is currently employed as a lectured in Coleg Gwent's City of Newport Campus