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Paul Wright (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Wright is a U.S. soccer forward
who spent most of his career in the U.S. indoor leagues. He began his career with the San Diego Nomads
in the Western Soccer Alliance, led the American Professional Soccer League
in scoring in 1994 and played four seasons with the Kansas City Wizards
in Major League Soccer
. He currently plays for the Anaheim Bolts of the Professional Arena Soccer League
.
where he began playing soccer in local youth leagues. At some point, his family moved to San Diego
where Wright would join the powerhouse La Jolla Nomads soccer club. He also played for Grossmont High School
, leading the league in scoring his junior and senior seasons. When he graduated in 1986, he held the school’s single season scoring record with 39.
which played in the Western Soccer Alliance. The Nomads won the league championship that season and again in 1988. In 1990, the WSA merged with the east-coast based American Soccer League
to form the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). The Nomads spend one season in the APSL before leaving the league. In 1989, the Cleveland Crunch
of the Major Indoor Soccer League drafted Wright with the sixth pick of the expansion draft. On March 6, 1990, the Crunch traded Wright to the San Diego Sockers. The Sockers, perennial contenders, won the MISL championship that season with Wright named as the Championship Series Unsung Hero. Wright remained in San Diego until the MISL collapsed in 1992. On January 7, 1993, Wright signed with the Milwaukee Wave
of the National Professioanl Soccer League (NSPL). Although the Wave failed to make the playoffs, Wright’s forty-five goals in twenty-five games led to his selection as a first team All Star. That summer Wright signed with the Los Angeles Salsa
of the outdoor American Professional Soccer League
. In October, 1993, the Salsa loaned Wright to the Baltimore Blast
of the NPSL. Wright was back the Salsa for the summer 1994 season, but after the Salsa folded that fall, he signed with the Wichita Wings
of the NPSL for the 1994-1995 season. Wright would not return to the NPSL until 1999. In 1993, Wright signed with the Los Angeles Salsa
of the outdoor American Professional Soccer League
. He had not played outdoor soccer since playing with the Nomads in 1990, but this did not stop Wright from finishing second in points and goals to team mate Paulinho Criciúma
, being named a first team All Star. In 1994, Wright led the league in scoring, tying Paulhino for the points lead. He was again selected as a first team All Star. After playing with the Baltimore Blast during the 1994-1995 winter indoor season, Wright did not return to the APSL, but instead signed with the Sacramento Knights
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
(CISL). The CISL played a summer indoor schedule. In December 1995, Major League Soccer
announced it had signed Wright to a league contract. In preparation for its first season, MLS signed players to contracts, then distributed these players through the league via an initial allocation and an inaugural player draft. In February 1996, the Kansas City Wizards
selected Wright in the third round (twenty-fifth overall) of the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He spent four seasons in Kansas City. In the fall of 1999, Wright returned to the Baltimore Blast
in the NPSL. He spent most of three seasons in Baltimore, but saw time in seven games with the Philadelphia KiXX
during the 2000-2001 season. In February 2002, the Blast waived Wright, who was leading the team in scoring at the time. The San Diego Sockers quickly signed Wright in preparation for the team’s move to the new Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). In October 2002, he signed another year long contract and remained with the Sockers until it discontinued operations in December 2005. On January 5, 2005, the Chicago Storm
selected Wright in the MISL Dispersal Draft. Wright both owns an athletic training company, Speed to Burn. In April 2006, he joined the San Diego Fusion of the amateur fourth division National Premier Soccer League
. In 2009, he signed with the San Diego Sockers of the Professional Arena Soccer League
. In May of 2011, it was announced he signed with a new team in the PASL, the Anaheim Bolts.
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 most of his career in the U.S. indoor leagues. He began his career with the San Diego Nomads
San Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
in the Western Soccer Alliance, led 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...
in scoring in 1994 and played four seasons with the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in 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...
. He currently plays for the Anaheim Bolts of the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
.
Youth
While born in England, Wright and his family moved to the United States when he was a child. They settled in northern CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he began playing soccer in local youth leagues. At some point, his family moved to San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
where Wright would join the powerhouse La Jolla Nomads soccer club. He also played for Grossmont High School
Grossmont High School
Grossmont High School is the oldest high school in San Diego's east county, California. Its mascot is the Foothiller, so chosen because, at the time of the school’s construction, east county was much more isolated from the rest of San Diego than it is today and was often referred to as the...
, leading the league in scoring his junior and senior seasons. When he graduated in 1986, he held the school’s single season scoring record with 39.
Professional
In 1987, Wright moved to the Nomads senior team, the San Diego NomadsSan Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
which played in the Western Soccer Alliance. The Nomads won the league championship that season and again in 1988. In 1990, the WSA merged with the east-coast based 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...
to form 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...
(APSL). The Nomads spend one season in the APSL before leaving the league. In 1989, the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League drafted Wright with the sixth pick of the expansion draft. On March 6, 1990, the Crunch traded Wright to the San Diego Sockers. The Sockers, perennial contenders, won the MISL championship that season with Wright named as the Championship Series Unsung Hero. Wright remained in San Diego until the MISL collapsed in 1992. On January 7, 1993, Wright signed with the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of the National Professioanl Soccer League (NSPL). Although the Wave failed to make the playoffs, Wright’s forty-five goals in twenty-five games led to his selection as a first team All Star. That summer Wright signed with the Los Angeles Salsa
Los Angeles Salsa
The Los Angeles Salsa was an American Professional Soccer League franchise. The club played on the campus of California State University, Fullerton at Titan Stadium in a suburb of Orange County, California...
of the outdoor 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...
. In October, 1993, the Salsa loaned Wright to the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (current)
Baltimore Blast is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1992, the team plays in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of the NPSL. Wright was back the Salsa for the summer 1994 season, but after the Salsa folded that fall, he 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 NPSL for the 1994-1995 season. Wright would not return to the NPSL until 1999. In 1993, Wright signed with the Los Angeles Salsa
Los Angeles Salsa
The Los Angeles Salsa was an American Professional Soccer League franchise. The club played on the campus of California State University, Fullerton at Titan Stadium in a suburb of Orange County, California...
of the outdoor 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...
. He had not played outdoor soccer since playing with the Nomads in 1990, but this did not stop Wright from finishing second in points and goals to team mate Paulinho Criciúma
Paulinho Criciúma
Paulo Roberto Rocha usually known as Paulinho or Paulinho Criciúma is a former football player and a football manager.-Playing career:...
, being named a first team All Star. In 1994, Wright led the league in scoring, tying Paulhino for the points lead. He was again selected as a first team All Star. After playing with the Baltimore Blast during the 1994-1995 winter indoor season, Wright did not return to the APSL, but instead signed with 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...
(CISL). The CISL played a summer indoor schedule. In December 1995, 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...
announced it had signed Wright to a league contract. In preparation for its first season, MLS signed players to contracts, then distributed these players through the league via an initial allocation and an inaugural player draft. In February 1996, the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
selected Wright in the third round (twenty-fifth overall) of the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1996 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on March 4, 1996.-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. ...
. He spent four seasons in Kansas City. In the fall of 1999, Wright returned to the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (current)
Baltimore Blast is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1992, the team plays in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
in the NPSL. He spent most of three seasons in Baltimore, but saw time in seven games with the Philadelphia KiXX
Philadelphia KiXX
The Philadelphia KiXX were a professional indoor soccer team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1995 as an NPSL expansion franchise, they played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.The team colors were red, black, white, and blue...
during the 2000-2001 season. In February 2002, the Blast waived Wright, who was leading the team in scoring at the time. The San Diego Sockers quickly signed Wright in preparation for the team’s move to the new Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). In October 2002, he signed another year long contract and remained with the Sockers until it discontinued operations in December 2005. On January 5, 2005, the Chicago Storm
Chicago Storm
The Chicago Storm is a team in the Ultimate Soccer League that began play in the 2004-2005 season as a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League.-History:The Storm played home games during its first two seasons at the UIC Pavilion on the west side of Chicago...
selected Wright in the MISL Dispersal Draft. Wright both owns an athletic training company, Speed to Burn. In April 2006, he joined the San Diego Fusion of the amateur fourth division National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
. In 2009, he signed with the San Diego Sockers of the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
. In May of 2011, it was announced he signed with a new team in the PASL, the Anaheim Bolts.