- Andy Chapman
Andrew "Andy" Chapman is an English-born former star American
indoor soccer player.Andy Chapman was born in London, England on September 18, 1959. An
Arsenal F.C. signee at age 16, he turned pro the following year. Chapman went to theUnited States in the summer of 1978 to play outdoors for the California Sunshine of theAmerican Soccer League for two seasons. He then played one season with theCleveland Cobras in 1980 and three seasons with theDetroit Express (ASL) . The Express won the Championship in 1982 and Chapman was also named MVP of the league. Chapman began his indoor career in 1979. He played for MISL teams theWichita Wings (7.5 seasons),Baltimore Blast (2 seasons), andCleveland Force (1.5 seasons).Chapman, known as one of the best natural goal-scorers to ever play the indoor game, was a fan favorite in every city. He finished with 307 MISL goals, a tally which ranks 8th all time. His best season was 1983-84 when he finished second in goal scoring, seventh in league overall scoring and was named to the league's All-MISL team.
Chapman became player-coach of the National Professional Soccer League's
Detroit Rockers in 1990 and remained so for four seasons. In 1991 he was MVP of the league scoring 77 goals and 37 assists and they won the NPSL National Championship in 1992. He then signed with theDetroit Neon of theContinental Indoor Soccer League . In 2000 he came out of retirement to play for the Detroit Rockers in their last games of the season, making him one of only two players (Goalkeeper, Victor Nogueira) to play in four different decades.Involved in youth coaching since 1978, Chapman started the Birmingham United Football Club in 1997, a youth soccer club in
Birmingham, Michigan . The club currently has 28 teams, both boys and girls, from U-9 to U18. He married Patti Groves of Bloomfield Hills, MI in 1984 and they have three children, Lily, Dillon and Chas.
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