Neill Roberts
Encyclopedia
Neill Roberts is a retired South Africa soccer forward
who spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League
and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
Roberts spent seven years as a professional in South Africa. In 1979, Roberts signed during the season with the Atlanta Chiefs
of the North American Soccer League
and promptly scored fourteen goals in nineteen games. During the offseason, the Tampa Bay Rowdies purchased his contract from the Chiefs. However, his goal production dropped with the Rowdies. He played the 1980 and 1981 outdoor seasons with the Rowdies, scoring twelve goals in fifty-three games. Following the 1981-1982 indoor season, the Rowdies sent him to the Edmonton Drillers. Roberts began the 1982 season in Edmonton before being sent to the Toronto Blizzard
in June. He was the league's 6th leading scorer in 1982 with 42 points in 12 games. Before the 1984 season, the Rowdies acquired Roberts. He was the 15th leading scorer in 1984 with 23 points in 23 games. He was the league's 24th all-time leading scorer with 156 points in 143 career games. At the end of the 1984 outdoor season, the Rowdies sold Robert's contract to the Chicago Sting
as the Sting prepared to enter the Major Indoor Soccer League. The move to the Sting also saw Roberts move to the backline as Chicago coach Willy Roy
converted Roberts to a defender. On March 1, 1986, the Sting sold Roberts contract to the Wichita Wings
for $30,000. The Wings released him at the end of the season. In November 1987, Roberts signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Strikers
. The Strikers released him in 1988. In 1990, he joined the newly established, independent amateur club, the Minnesota Thunder
.
Roberts currently coaches the U-11 (Mutiny) boys team of F.C. Tampa youth soccer organization in Tampa, Florida
.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who spent six 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:...
and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
Roberts spent seven years as a professional in South Africa. In 1979, Roberts signed during the season with 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:...
and promptly scored fourteen goals in nineteen games. During the offseason, the Tampa Bay Rowdies purchased his contract from the Chiefs. However, his goal production dropped with the Rowdies. He played the 1980 and 1981 outdoor seasons with the Rowdies, scoring twelve goals in fifty-three games. Following the 1981-1982 indoor season, the Rowdies sent him to the Edmonton Drillers. Roberts began the 1982 season in Edmonton before being sent to the Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
in June. He was the league's 6th leading scorer in 1982 with 42 points in 12 games. Before the 1984 season, the Rowdies acquired Roberts. He was the 15th leading scorer in 1984 with 23 points in 23 games. He was the league's 24th all-time leading scorer with 156 points in 143 career games. At the end of the 1984 outdoor season, the Rowdies sold Robert's contract to the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
as the Sting prepared to enter the Major Indoor Soccer League. The move to the Sting also saw Roberts move to the backline as Chicago coach Willy Roy
Willy Roy
Willy Roy is a retired U.S. soccer forward and coach. He played for several teams in the National Professional Soccer League and the North American Soccer League in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the United States national team from 1965 to 1973...
converted Roberts to a defender. On March 1, 1986, the Sting sold Roberts contract to 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...
for $30,000. The Wings released him at the end of the season. In November 1987, Roberts signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
. The Strikers released him in 1988. In 1990, he joined the newly established, independent amateur club, the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
.
Roberts currently coaches the U-11 (Mutiny) boys team of F.C. Tampa youth soccer organization in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
.