Phil Woosnam: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
 
(13 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
{{Infobox football biography
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Phil Woosnam
| name = Phil Woosnam
| image = Phil Woosnam.jpg
| image = Phil Woosnam, NASL 1975 media guide page 4.png
| image_size = 300
| upright = 0.7
| caption = Woosnam with West Ham United
| caption = Woosnam circa 1975
| fullname = Phillip Abraham Woosnam
| fullname = Phillip Abraham Woosnam
| height =
| height =
Line 50: Line 50:
'''Phillip Abraham Woosnam''' (22 December 1932 – 19 July 2013) was a Welsh [[association football]] [[inside-right]] and manager. A native of [[Caersws]], [[Powys]], Wales,<ref name="Who">{{cite book|title=Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players|last1=Davies|first1=Gareth|last2=Garland|first2=Ian|year=1991|publisher=Bridge Books|isbn=1-872424-11-2|pages=221–222}}</ref> Woosnam played for five clubs in England and one in the United States. He played international football for [[Wales national football team|Wales]]. He was described as a "gifted inside-forward with a pronounced football intelligence".<ref name=guard1/>
'''Phillip Abraham Woosnam''' (22 December 1932 – 19 July 2013) was a Welsh [[association football]] [[inside-right]] and manager. A native of [[Caersws]], [[Powys]], Wales,<ref name="Who">{{cite book|title=Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players|last1=Davies|first1=Gareth|last2=Garland|first2=Ian|year=1991|publisher=Bridge Books|isbn=1-872424-11-2|pages=221–222}}</ref> Woosnam played for five clubs in England and one in the United States. He played international football for [[Wales national football team|Wales]]. He was described as a "gifted inside-forward with a pronounced football intelligence".<ref name=guard1/>


He was Commissioner of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]] from 1969 to 1982, overseeing the league's expansion and boom years. He was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997.
He was commissioner of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]] from 1969 to 1982, overseeing the league's expansion and boom years. He was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997.


==Playing career==
==Playing career==
Line 61: Line 61:
Woosnam moved to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in 1962 for a £25,000 fee. He made his Villa debut on 1 December 1962 in a 5–0 home win against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.11v11.com/players/phil-woosnam-25799/team/aston-villa/#clubmatches | title=Phil Woosnam | publisher=11v11.com | access-date=26 July 2013}}</ref> He went on to score 24 goals in 106 League games, and gained a further two international caps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com/1462.html|title=Phil Woosnam profile at|work=Aston Villa Player Database|access-date=26 January 2010}}</ref>
Woosnam moved to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in 1962 for a £25,000 fee. He made his Villa debut on 1 December 1962 in a 5–0 home win against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.11v11.com/players/phil-woosnam-25799/team/aston-villa/#clubmatches | title=Phil Woosnam | publisher=11v11.com | access-date=26 July 2013}}</ref> He went on to score 24 goals in 106 League games, and gained a further two international caps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com/1462.html|title=Phil Woosnam profile at|work=Aston Villa Player Database|access-date=26 January 2010}}</ref>


==NASL Commissioner==
==NASL commissioner==
Woosnam emigrated to the United States in 1966. Although hired as a coach, he played for the [[Atlanta Chiefs]] and scored the first goal in the first football game in the Atlanta [[Fulton County Stadium]].<ref name=death/> Woosnam became coach of the Atlanta Chiefs in 1968, and was named 'Coach of the Year' in 1968.<ref name=ba/> Woosnam became head coach of the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national team]] in 1968.
Woosnam immigrated to the United States in 1966. Although hired as a coach, he played for the [[Atlanta Chiefs]] and scored the first goal in the first football game in the Atlanta [[Fulton County Stadium]].<ref name=death/> Woosnam became coach of the Atlanta Chiefs in 1968, and was named 'Coach of the Year' in 1968.<ref name=ba/> Woosnam became head coach of the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national team]] in 1968.


Woosnam was Commissioner of the [[North American Soccer League (1968-1984)|NASL]] from 1969 to 1982.<ref name=death/> He is credited as an important factor in the development of the NASL, and had been a major figure in promoting the league and had secured TV contracts from [[CBS]] and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref name="removal"/> He played a key role during 1970 in recruiting executives at [[Warner Communications]] to invest in an expansion team—the [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]].<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1092471/3/index.htm "Nothing But Blue Skies Does Woosnam"], ''Sports Illustrated'', 30 May 1977.</ref> Woosnam oversaw the westward expansion of NASL in the early 1970s, establishing teams in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Seattle, and Vancouver. However, he also guided the league into several poor business decisions, such as over-expansion to 24 teams. Facing mounting financial losses, the owners voted to fire Woosnam in 1982.<ref name="removal">{{cite news|title=NASL Owners Vote To Remove Phil Woosnam|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|date=25 April 1982|publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune}}</ref>
Woosnam was commissioner of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]] from 1969 to 1982.<ref name=death/> He is credited as an important factor in the development of the NASL, and was a major figure in promoting the league and had secured TV contracts from [[CBS]] and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref name="removal"/> He played a key role during 1970 in recruiting executives at [[Warner Communications]] to invest in an expansion team—the [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]].<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1092471/3/index.htm "Nothing But Blue Skies Does Woosnam"], ''Sports Illustrated'', 30 May 1977.</ref> Woosnam oversaw the westward expansion of NASL in the early 1970s, establishing teams in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Seattle, and Vancouver. However, he also guided the league into several poor business decisions, such as over-expansion to 24 teams. Facing mounting financial losses, the owners voted to fire Woosnam in 1982.<ref name="removal">{{cite news|title=NASL Owners Vote To Remove Phil Woosnam|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|date=25 April 1982}}</ref>


Woosnam later became managing director of the marketing arm of [[US Soccer]], and helped bring the [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 World Cup]] to the US. He was inducted into the US [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]] and the Georgia Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997.<ref name=death/>
Woosnam later became managing director of the marketing arm of [[US Soccer]], and helped bring the [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 World Cup]] to the US. He was inducted into the US [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]] and the Georgia Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997.<ref name=death/>
Line 91: Line 91:
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Montgomeryshire]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Powys]]
[[Category:People from Montgomeryshire]]
[[Category:People from Montgomeryshire]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Powys]]
[[Category:Footballers from Powys]]
[[Category:American soccer players]]
[[Category:American men's soccer players]]
[[Category:American soccer chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:American soccer chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Welsh football managers]]
[[Category:Welsh football managers]]
[[Category:Welsh expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Welsh expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Welsh footballers]]
[[Category:Welsh men's footballers]]
[[Category:Welsh expatriate footballers]]
[[Category:Welsh expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Wales international footballers]]
[[Category:Wales men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester City F.C. players]]
Line 111: Line 111:
[[Category:National Professional Soccer League (1967) players]]
[[Category:National Professional Soccer League (1967) players]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players]]
[[Category:Expatriate soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate soccer coaches in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate soccer coaches in the United States]]
[[Category:Atlanta Chiefs players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Chiefs players]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) coaches]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) head coaches]]
[[Category:Caersws F.C. players]]
[[Category:Caersws F.C. players]]
[[Category:United States men's national soccer team managers]]
[[Category:United States men's national soccer team managers]]
Line 122: Line 122:
[[Category:Royal Artillery personnel]]
[[Category:Royal Artillery personnel]]
[[Category:London XI players]]
[[Category:London XI players]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer in the United States]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in the United States]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Neurological disease deaths in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Neurological disease deaths in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
Line 129: Line 129:
[[Category:Wales men's amateur international footballers]]
[[Category:Wales men's amateur international footballers]]
[[Category:National Soccer Hall of Fame members]]
[[Category:National Soccer Hall of Fame members]]
[[Category:Atlanta Chiefs coaches]]
[[Category:Atlanta Chiefs head coaches]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:20th-century British Army personnel]]
[[Category:20th-century British Army personnel]]

Latest revision as of 01:10, 14 April 2024

Phil Woosnam
Woosnam circa 1975
Personal information
Full name Phillip Abraham Woosnam
Date of birth (1932-12-22)22 December 1932
Place of birth Caersws, Powys, Wales, UK
Date of death 19 July 2013(2013-07-19) (aged 80)
Place of death Dunwoody, Georgia, US
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Bangor University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1952–1953 Manchester City 1 (0)
1953–1954 Sutton United
1954–1959 Leyton Orient 108 (19)
1959–1962 West Ham United 138 (26)
1962–1966 Aston Villa 106 (24)
1967–1968 Atlanta Chiefs 21 (9)
International career
1959–1963 Wales 17 (3)
Managerial career
1967–1968 Atlanta Chiefs
1968 United States
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Phillip Abraham Woosnam (22 December 1932 – 19 July 2013) was a Welsh association football inside-right and manager. A native of Caersws, Powys, Wales,[1] Woosnam played for five clubs in England and one in the United States. He played international football for Wales. He was described as a "gifted inside-forward with a pronounced football intelligence".[2]

He was commissioner of the North American Soccer League from 1969 to 1982, overseeing the league's expansion and boom years. He was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997.

Playing career[edit]

Woosnam played football with Montgomeryshire Schoolboys and gained youth international honours with Wales, and gained eight amateur caps, the first against England in 1951. While reading Physics, he captained Bangor University's football team at the Welsh Universities' Championship. Woosnam completed his national service with the Royal Artillery. He featured for the Army XI alongside Eddie Colman and Duncan Edwards of Manchester United.[2]

He played club football at Wrexham, Manchester City, Caersws, Aberystwyth Town,[3] and with amateur club Sutton United before he joined Leyton Orient.[4] He made his senior international debut for Wales against Scotland in October 1958, having turned professional in January 1957.[5] He represented the London XI against Lausanne Sports while at Brisbane Road. He was named amateur footballer of the year in 1955.[2]

In November 1958, Woosnam 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 made 15 cup appearances, scoring three goals. While at Upton Park, he added 15 full international caps to the one he had gained while at Orient. He also represented the Football League[6] and the Wales Amateurs.[7]

Woosnam moved to Aston Villa in 1962 for a £25,000 fee. He made his Villa debut on 1 December 1962 in a 5–0 home win against Bolton Wanderers.[8] He went on to score 24 goals in 106 League games, and gained a further two international caps.[9]

NASL commissioner[edit]

Woosnam immigrated to the United States in 1966. Although hired as a coach, he played for the Atlanta Chiefs and scored the first goal in the first football game in the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.[10] Woosnam became coach of the Atlanta Chiefs in 1968, and was named 'Coach of the Year' in 1968.[11] Woosnam became head coach of the United States national team in 1968.

Woosnam was commissioner of the NASL from 1969 to 1982.[10] He is credited as an important factor in the development of the NASL, and was a major figure in promoting the league and had secured TV contracts from CBS and ABC.[12] He played a key role during 1970 in recruiting executives at Warner Communications to invest in an expansion team—the New York Cosmos.[13] Woosnam oversaw the westward expansion of NASL in the early 1970s, establishing teams in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Seattle, and Vancouver. However, he also guided the league into several poor business decisions, such as over-expansion to 24 teams. Facing mounting financial losses, the owners voted to fire Woosnam in 1982.[12]

Woosnam later became managing director of the marketing arm of US Soccer, and helped bring the 1994 World Cup to the US. He was inducted into the US National Soccer Hall of Fame and the Georgia Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997.[10]

Personal[edit]

Woosnam, a cousin to golfer Ian Woosnam and a nephew of the English footballer, Max Woosnam, became a naturalized American citizen.[when?][1]

Death[edit]

Phil Woosnam died on 19 July 2013 in Dunwoody, Georgia[11] from complications related to prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease, at the age of 80.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Davies, Gareth; Garland, Ian (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players. Bridge Books. pp. 221–222. ISBN 1-872424-11-2.
  2. ^ a b c Williams, Richard (26 July 2013). "Phil Woosnam: From West Ham and Villa to realising the American dream". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  3. ^ Parry, Peter (1987). The Old Black and Green. Aberystwyth Town FC. p. 106. ISBN 0-9512172-0-8.
  4. ^ "Phil Woosnam". wwwneilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  5. ^ Lancashire Evening Post 31 January 1957
  6. ^ Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media. pp. 217–218. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
  7. ^ "Welsh Amateur Internationals". penmon.org.
  8. ^ "Phil Woosnam". 11v11.com. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Phil Woosnam profile at". Aston Villa Player Database. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d "Chiefs legend Phil Woosnam passes away". ajc.com. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Goodbye Phil". bigapplesoccer.com. 20 July 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  12. ^ a b "NASL Owners Vote To Remove Phil Woosnam". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 25 April 1982.
  13. ^ "Nothing But Blue Skies Does Woosnam", Sports Illustrated, 30 May 1977.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phil_Woosnam&oldid=1218816701"