Alan Hamlyn
Encyclopedia
Alan Hamlyn is a retired English-American soccer defender
. He began his career in England, before playing eight seasons in the North American Soccer League
. He also earned four caps with the U.S. national team between 1972 and 1975.
. In 1967, he moved to the United States and later spent at least one tour with the U.S. Army in Vietnam
where he received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. In 1971, he signed with the Atlanta Chiefs
of the North American Soccer League
. While he played only one game in the 1971 season as an amateur and played in all playoff games. He became a regular in the Chiefs’ defense in 1972. The Chiefs folded at the end of the 1973 season and Hamlyn moved to the Miami Toros
. He spent three seasons with the Toros. He became a member of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for the 1977 and 1978 seasons after the Toros moved up I-95 to Fort Lauderdale. He played only two games in 1978 after suffering several knee injuries and retired from playing at the end of the season. He attempted a comeback with the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League
, playing 23 games selected as Second Team All League.
. That was followed in the next two weeks with a 2-2 tie with Canada and a loss to Mexico
. Hamlyn did not play with the national team again until a 7-0 loss to Poland
on March 26, 1975. A month later, he played in a 10-0 loss to Italy, but this was not an official national team game.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He began his career in England, before playing eight seasons 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:...
. He also earned four caps with the U.S. national team between 1972 and 1975.
Club career
Hamlyn played at least one season with English semi-pro club CobhamCobham F.C.
Cobham F.C. are a semi-professional football club based in Cobham, Surrey, England. They were established in 1892 and were among the founding members of the Home Counties Football League in 1978. They have reached the third round of the FA Vase twice in their history...
. In 1967, he moved to the United States and later spent at least one tour with the U.S. Army in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
where he received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. In 1971, he signed with 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'...
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:...
. While he played only one game in the 1971 season as an amateur and played in all playoff games. He became a regular in the Chiefs’ defense in 1972. The Chiefs folded at the end of the 1973 season and Hamlyn moved to the Miami Toros
Miami Toros
The Miami Gatos were a soccer team based out of Miami that played in the North American Soccer League. The club was previously known as the Washington Darts. After the 1972 season, the team was renamed the Miami Toros...
. He spent three seasons with the Toros. He became a member of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for the 1977 and 1978 seasons after the Toros moved up I-95 to Fort Lauderdale. He played only two games in 1978 after suffering several knee injuries and retired from playing at the end of the season. He attempted a comeback with the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
, playing 23 games selected as Second Team All League.
National team
After gaining his U.S. citizenship, Hamlyn earned four caps with the U.S. national team between 1972 and 1975. In 1972, he played in three World Cup qualifiers. The first was an August 20, 1972 loss to CanadaCanada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
. That was followed in the next two weeks with a 2-2 tie with Canada and a loss to Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
. Hamlyn did not play with the national team again until a 7-0 loss to Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
on March 26, 1975. A month later, he played in a 10-0 loss to Italy, but this was not an official national team game.