Warren Archibald
Encyclopedia
Warren “Laga” Archibald (born Trinidad and Tobago
) was a Trinidad soccer forward
who spent one season in the United Soccer Association
and nine in the North American Soccer League
, earning 1973 MVP honors. He also played professionally in Mexico and Haiti and was a mainstay of the Trinidad and Tobago national team
from 1968 to 1976.
in Trinidad. In 1967, he signed with the New York Generals
of the National Professional Soccer League
. in 1968, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
to form the North American Soccer League
. The Generals folded after the 1968 NASL season. Archibald left the NASL at this point. Some sources indicate that he may have played for San Luis F.C. in Mexico and Victory Sportif Club
in Haiti. That may have been during this time. Regardless, in 1970, Archibald signed with the Washington Darts
of the NASL. He was selected as a second team All Star in both 1970 and 1971 with the Darts. In 1972, the Darts moved to Florida to become the Miami Gatos. In 1973, the team was renamed the Toros. That season, Archibald was voted NASL MVP and a first team All Star. He was a second team All Star again in 1974. In 1976, Archibald began the season with the Toros, but was traded after three games to the Rochester Lancers
. By this time, his scoring touch was fading and he netted only one goal in fourteen games in Rochester. In April 1977, the Lancers released Archibald.
from at least November 17, 1968/9 when it lost 4-0 to Guatemala
in World Cup qualifying until November 28, 1976 when it tied Surinam 2-2.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
) was a Trinidad soccer forward
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 one season in the United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
and nine 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:...
, earning 1973 MVP honors. He also played professionally in Mexico and Haiti and was a mainstay of the Trinidad and Tobago national team
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
from 1968 to 1976.
Professional
Archibald attended Saint Benedict's CollegeSaint Benedict's College
St. Benedict's College is a secondary school located in La Romaine, Trinidad and Tobago. The school was founded by Dom Basil Matthews and first opened on September 11th, 1956.-History:...
in Trinidad. In 1967, he signed with the New York Generals
New York Generals
For the collegiate baseball team, see New York Generals The New York Generals were a soccer team based out of New York that played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League. Their home field was Yankee Stadium...
of the National Professional Soccer League
National Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
. in 1968, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
to form 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:...
. The Generals folded after the 1968 NASL season. Archibald left the NASL at this point. Some sources indicate that he may have played for San Luis F.C. in Mexico and Victory Sportif Club
Victory Sportif Club
Victory is a Haitian football club located in Jacmel, Haiti.-Achievements:*Ligue Haïtienne: 1*Coupe d'Haïti: 2-Performance in CONCACAF competitions:*CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 1 appearance- Current squad :...
in Haiti. That may have been during this time. Regardless, in 1970, Archibald signed with the Washington Darts
Washington Darts
Washington Darts was an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C. that was a member of the American Soccer League and later the North American Soccer League....
of the NASL. He was selected as a second team All Star in both 1970 and 1971 with the Darts. In 1972, the Darts moved to Florida to become the Miami Gatos. In 1973, the team was renamed the Toros. That season, Archibald was voted NASL MVP and a first team All Star. He was a second team All Star again in 1974. In 1976, Archibald began the season with the Toros, but was traded after three games to the Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers
The Rochester Lancers were a soccer team based in Rochester, New York that played in the American Soccer League from 1967 until 1969 and the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1980 at Aquinas Stadium...
. By this time, his scoring touch was fading and he netted only one goal in fourteen games in Rochester. In April 1977, the Lancers released Archibald.
National team
Archibald was a member of the Trinidad and Tobago national team for the 1973 CONCACAF Championship to qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup when Trinidad and Tobago defeated Mexico by four goals to nil. The Trinidad and Tobago team had five goals controversially disallowed against Haiti and fell two points short of qualifying. He was first a regular with the Trinidad and Tobago national teamTrinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
from at least November 17, 1968/9 when it lost 4-0 to Guatemala
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
in World Cup qualifying until November 28, 1976 when it tied Surinam 2-2.