Norman Piper

Norman Piper

Personal information
Full name	Norman John Piper
Date of birth	8 January 1948 (1948-01-08) (age 63)
Place of birth	North Tawton, England
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position	Midfield
Youth career
1964-65	Plymouth Argyle
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1965-1970	Plymouth Argyle	215	(35)
1970-1978	Portsmouth	313	(51)
1975	→ Lusitano (loan)	7	(1)
1977-1978	Fort Lauderdale Strikers	41	(7)
1978-1979	Yeovil Town	?	(?)
1979-1980	Columbus Magic	?	(?)
1979-1982	Wichita Wings (indoor)	182	(98)
1982-1983	Pittsburgh Spirit (indoor)
National team
1970-71	England U-23	4	(0)
Teams managed
1985-1988	Wichita Wings (assistant)
1989-1990	Wichita Blue
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Norman Piper was an English footballer (soccer player) who played professionally in England for 13 years before finishing his career in the United States.

Piper was one of that generation who bridged the gap between terminological eras, beginning his career as a wing-half and ending it as a midfielder^[1] despite playing a similar role throughout.^[2] Born in North Tawton, Devon on 8 January 1948^[3] he joined Plymouth Argyle as an apprentice and signed professional terms in February 1965. Already an England Youth international, Piper made his debut^[4] for the Under 23 side^[5] in 1970 against Bulgaria, the year he left The Pilgrims- for whom he scored 35 goals in 221 appearances. That summer Piper had signed for Portsmouth, becoming their record signing at £50,000.^[6] Piper served Pompey with great distinction during the clubs increasingly tenuous hold on Division Two status, but eventually lost form after relegation to the third. He was dropped in February 1978,^[7] interestingly being replaced by his namesake^[8] Steve Piper. His contract, along with that of Bobby Stokes was terminated the following month^[9] and a move to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers soon followed.^[10] In 1979, Piper was the first player signed by the expansion Wichita Wings of Major Indoor Soccer League.^[11] He played for the Wings until 1982 when he was sent to the Pittsburgh Spirit. Following his retirement from playing, he became and assistant coach with the Wichita Wings. He was fired on 30 January 1988.^[12] In 1989, he was hired to coach the Wichita Blue in the Heartland Soccer League. In 1990, the Blue moved to the Lone Star Soccer Alliance. He was fired mid-season. He now is a coach for a small travel soccer team in Southern California known as Carlsbad Lightning.

References

1. ^ As football moved from 1-2-3-5 to 1-4-3-3/1-4-2-4
2. ^ Only at the very end of his career was he tried as a full back: "The News", 14th November 1977, article by Mike Neasom Dickinson rings the changes for Vale
3. ^ “The PFA Premier League and Football League Players’ Records 1946-98” Hugman,B: Harpenden, Queen Anne Press, 1998 ISBN 1852915854
4. ^ ”Rothmans Football Year Book,1970-71” Peskett,R/Williams,T: Harpenden, QAP,1970 ISBN 0362000719
5. ^ All in all Piper played 4 times for the U-23s Hugman (Ibid)
6. ^ ”Portsmouth, from Tindall to Ball” Farmery, C: Southend-on-Sea, Desert Island Books, 1999 ISBN 1874287252
7. ^ 313 games/51 goals scored
8. ^ Namesake, but not relation
9. ^ Farmery (Ibid)
10. ^ FLS statistics
11. ^ PIPER IS TOP YOUTH SOCCER COACH Wichita Eagle, The (KS) - Thursday 22 March 1990
12. ^ MISL WINGS FIRE BOTH COACHES St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) - Sunday 31 January 1988

External links

• Talents unearthed by Argyle’s scouts
• Piper scores for Pompey in Cup game versus Boston
• Piper tracked down in the U.S.A
• NASL/MISL stats

Persondata
Name	Piper, Norman
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1948-01-08
Place of birth	North Tawton, England
Date of death
Place of death