Alan Merrick
Encyclopedia
Alan Ronald Merrick is a retired English-American
Association football defender
who played professionally in England, the North American Soccer League
and the Major Indoor Soccer League
. He also earned one cap with the United States men's national soccer team
in 1983.
, Birmingham
, but grew up in North Warwickshire
, where he attended Water Orton
Junior School and Coleshill
Grammar School. He joined West Bromwich Albion
in July 1966, turning professional in August 1967. He made his senior debut in September 1968 in a League Cup
tie against Peterborough United
and in the same year won three England youth caps. In 1975 the team loaned Merrick to second division club Peterborough
. At the end of the season, Merrick moved to the United States
where he signed with the Minnesota Kicks
of the North American Soccer League
. Merrick remained with the Kicks through the 1979 season when he moved to the Los Angeles Aztecs
. Merrick moved again at the end of the season, to the San Jose Earthquakes
for the 1981 season. However, after twelve games, the Earthquakes traded Merrick to the Minnesota Kicks
. At the end of the 1981 season, the Kicks traded Merrick to the Toronto Blizzard
for the 1982 season. In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation, in coordination with the NASL, entered the U.S. national team
, known as Team America
, into the NASL as a league franchise. The team drew on U.S. citizens playing in the NASL, Major Indoor Soccer League
and American Soccer League
. Merrick left the Blizzard and signed with Team America. When Team America finished the 1983 season with a 10-20 record, the worst in the NASL, USSF withdrew the team from the league.
at a tournament in France.
On April 8, 1983, Merrick earned one cap with the U.S. national team
in a 2-0 victory over Haiti
. He started the game, but subbed out for Erhardt Kapp
in the second half. Present web site and contact can be found at www.kicksbest.com
. At the time, the Strikers played in the NASL, but after the collapse of the league in 1984, the Strikers moved to Major Indoor Soccer League
. Merrick continued to coach them through the 1987-1988 season. He is currently the head coach of the University of Minnesota men’s club team. Additionally, he continues to train coaches and young players though his Minneapolis based academy.
English American
English Americans are citizens or residents of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England....
Association football defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played professionally in England, 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:...
and 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...
. He also earned one cap with the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1983.
Club
Merrick was born in Selly OakSelly Oak
Selly Oak is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb is bordered by Bournbrook and Selly Park to the north-east, Edgbaston and Harborne to the north, Weoley Castle and Weoley Hill to the west, and Bournville to the south...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, but grew up in North Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, where he attended Water Orton
Water Orton
Water Orton is a village near the River Tame in the North Warwickshire borough of Warwickshire in England. It is located between Castle Bromwich and Coleshill, and borders the West Midlands metropolitan county boundary to the north, west and south. At the last census in 2001, the population was...
Junior School and Coleshill
Coleshill, Warwickshire
Coleshill is a market town in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England, taking its name from the River Cole. It has a population of 6,343 and is situated east of Birmingham.-Location:...
Grammar School. He joined West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in July 1966, turning professional in August 1967. He made his senior debut in September 1968 in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
tie against Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
and in the same year won three England youth caps. In 1975 the team loaned Merrick to second division club Peterborough
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
. At the end of the season, Merrick moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he signed with the Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos...
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:...
. Merrick remained with the Kicks through the 1979 season when he moved to the Los Angeles Aztecs
Los Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:...
. Merrick moved again at the end of the season, to the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
for the 1981 season. However, after twelve games, the Earthquakes traded Merrick to the Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos...
. At the end of the 1981 season, the Kicks traded Merrick to the Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
for the 1982 season. In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation, in coordination with the NASL, entered the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, known as Team America
Team America (soccer)
Team America was a professional version of the United States men's national soccer team which played as a franchise in the defunct North American Soccer League during the 1983 season...
, into the NASL as a league franchise. The team drew on U.S. citizens playing in the NASL, 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...
and American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. Merrick left the Blizzard and signed with Team America. When Team America finished the 1983 season with a 10-20 record, the worst in the NASL, USSF withdrew the team from the league.
International
In 1968, Merrick played three times for the England national under-17 football teamEngland national under-17 football team
-Elite Qualifying Group 3:-Group stage:-Fifth place play-off:-FA International U17 Tournament:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship qualifying round....
at a tournament in France.
On April 8, 1983, Merrick earned one cap with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in a 2-0 victory over Haiti
Haiti national football team
The Haiti national football team represents Haiti in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football, the governing body for football in Haiti. Haiti's home ground is Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince and their head coach is Edson Tavares...
. He started the game, but subbed out for Erhardt Kapp
Erhardt Kapp
Erhardt Kapp is a retired Romanian-American soccer defender and current youth soccer coach. He was also a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team....
in the second half. Present web site and contact can be found at www.kicksbest.com
Coach
In 1983, Merrick retired from playing and joined the coaching ranks with the Minnesota StrikersMinnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
. At the time, the Strikers played in the NASL, but after the collapse of the league in 1984, the Strikers moved to 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...
. Merrick continued to coach them through the 1987-1988 season. He is currently the head coach of the University of Minnesota men’s club team. Additionally, he continues to train coaches and young players though his Minneapolis based academy.