Phil Woosnam
Encyclopedia
Phillip Abraham Woosnam (born 22 December 1932 in Caersws
, Montgomeryshire
) is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner of the North American Soccer League
.
, the first against England in 1951. While reading Physics, he captained the Bangor University varsity team at the Welsh Universities' Championship.
Woosnam completed his national service with the Royal Artillery
. He featured for the Army XI alongside Maurice Setters
of West Bromwich Albion
, and Eddie Colman
and Duncan Edwards
of Manchester United
.
He played club football at Wrexham, Peritus, Manchester City
, Caersws
, Aberystwyth Town
, amateur club Sutton United
and Middlesex Wanderers, before joining Leyton Orient
. He made his senior international debut for Wales
against Scotland
in 1959 whilst still an amateur. He represented the London XI
against Lausanne Sports
while with the Brisbane Road club. Woosnam was named amateur footballer of the year for 1955.
In November 1958, Woosnam, then aged 26, was signed by West Ham United
for £30,000 and left his job as a physics teacher at Leyton County High School for Boys to turn professional. He made his debut against Arsenal
that month and went on to make 138 League appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals. He also made 15 cup appearances, scoring three goals. While at Upton Park
, he added 15 full international caps to the one he'd gained while at Orient. He also represented the Football League.
Woosnam moved to Aston Villa
in 1962 for a fee of £27,000, where he scored 24 goals in 106 League games, and gained a further two international caps.
at the Atlanta Chiefs
. He was named 'Coach of the Year' in 1968.
Woosnam became head coach of the United States national team
in 1968, and was later appointed commissioner of the NASL
. He is credited as an important factor in the development of the NASL, but is also viewed as the one who pushed for too much expansion, which led to the league's demise. Removed from his duties as commissioner of the NASL in 1982 he became managing director of the marketing arm of US Soccer. Woosnam is now a naturalized American citizen. He is an inductee of the country's National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
and a nephew of the English footballer, Max Woosnam.
Caersws
Caersws is a village and community sitting on the River Severn, at miles west of Newtown, Powys, and halfway between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.- History & Amenities :...
, Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
) is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner 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:...
.
Playing career
Woosnam played football with Montgomeryshire Schoolboys and gained youth international honours with Wales. He also gained eight amateur capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, the first against England in 1951. While reading Physics, he captained the Bangor University varsity team at the Welsh Universities' Championship.
Woosnam completed his national service with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. He featured for the Army XI alongside Maurice Setters
Maurice Setters
Maurice Edgar Setters is an English former football player and manager. As player, he made more than 400 appearances in the Football League representing Exeter City, West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Stoke City, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic, and in the United Soccer Association with...
of West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, and Eddie Colman
Eddie Colman
Edward "Eddie" Colman was an English football player and one of the eight Manchester United players who lost their lives in the Munich air disaster....
and Duncan Edwards
Duncan Edwards
Duncan Edwards was an English footballer who played for Manchester United and the England national team. He was one of the Busby Babes, the young United team formed under manager Matt Busby in the mid 1950s, and one of eight players who died as a result of the Munich air disaster.Born in Dudley,...
of Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
He played club football at Wrexham, Peritus, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, Caersws
Caersws F.C.
Caersws F.C. is a football team, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1887 as Caersws Amateurs, and adopted the present name when amateur status was dropped in 1974. The team plays at the Recreation Ground, Caersws, which accommodates 4000 spectators .The team's first choice strip...
, Aberystwyth Town
Aberystwyth Town F.C.
Aberystwyth Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Welsh Premier League.The club was founded in 1884, and plays at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, where their ground accommodates 5,000 spectators with 1,002 of that capacity seated....
, amateur club Sutton United
Sutton United F.C.
Sutton United Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Conference South. They are based in Sutton, London, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane....
and Middlesex Wanderers, before joining Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
. He made his senior international debut for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in 1959 whilst still an amateur. He represented the London XI
London XI
The London XI was an association football representative team, specially created to take part in the 1955-58 edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the precursor of today's UEFA Europa League although not recognized by UEFA....
against Lausanne Sports
Lausanne Sports
Lausanne-Sports is a Swiss sports club based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is most famous for its football department , but the club also had athletics, sport rowing, and rink hockey departments until they split in 2009 over a row about the construction of a new stadium that will be built by...
while with the Brisbane Road club. Woosnam was named amateur footballer of the year for 1955.
In November 1958, Woosnam, then aged 26, was signed by West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
for £30,000 and left his job as a physics teacher at Leyton County High School for Boys to turn professional. He made his debut against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
that month and went on to make 138 League appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals. He also made 15 cup appearances, scoring three goals. While at Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
, he added 15 full international caps to the one he'd gained while at Orient. He also represented the Football League.
Woosnam moved to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in 1962 for a fee of £27,000, where he scored 24 goals in 106 League games, and gained a further two international caps.
Coaching career
He emigrated to the United States in 1966 and took on the role of player-coachPlayer-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
at 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'...
. He was named 'Coach of the Year' in 1968.
Woosnam became head coach of the United States national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1968, and was later appointed commissioner of the NASL
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:...
. He is credited as an important factor in the development of the NASL, but is also viewed as the one who pushed for too much expansion, which led to the league's demise. Removed from his duties as commissioner of the NASL in 1982 he became managing director of the marketing arm of US Soccer. Woosnam is now a naturalized American citizen. He is an inductee of the country's National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Family
Woosnam is a cousin to golfer Ian WoosnamIan Woosnam
Ian Harold Woosnam OBE is a Welsh professional golfer.Nicknamed 'Woosie', 'Woosers', or the 'Wee Welshman', Woosnam was one of the "Big Five" generation of European golfers, all born within 12 months of one another, all of whom have won majors, and made Europe competitive in the Ryder Cup...
and a nephew of the English footballer, Max Woosnam.