Alvin James
Encyclopedia
Alvin James is a retired Jamaican-American soccer midfielder
who played professionally in the American Professional Soccer League
and National Professional Soccer League. He coaches youth soccer in South Florida.
. He transferred to Florida International University
where he completed his collegiate career with the Golden Panthers in 1987 and 1988.
of the American Soccer League
. That season, the Strikers won the league championship. James played for the Strikers in 1990 and 1991. On October 31, 1991, James signed with the Illinois Thunder
of the National Professional Soccer League, but tore the anterior cruciate ligament
in his right knee in February 1992. He had reconstructive surgery on May 19, 1992 and lost the entire 1992 outdoor season. He came back and played for the Strikers in 1993.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played professionally in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
and National Professional Soccer League. He coaches youth soccer in South Florida.
Youth
Born in Jamaica, James moved to South Florida with his family as a young boy. He grew up playing club soccer with the Plantation Eagles. In 1985, James graduated from Boyd Anderson High School. He attended UNC-Greensboro, playing on the Spartans 1985 and 1986 NCAA Men's Division III Soccer ChampionshipNCAA Men's Division III Soccer Championship
The NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship is played since 1974.It is the largest of the three NCAA divisions' championships, with the most complicated selection process. The tournament is a 57-team, single-elimination tournament. Teams are divided into three pools. Pool A consists of the 36...
. He transferred to Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
where he completed his collegiate career with the Golden Panthers in 1987 and 1988.
Professional
In 1989, James turned professional when he signed with the Fort Lauderdale StrikersFort Lauderdale Strikers
Fort Lauderdale Strikers was an American soccer team, a descendant of the Washington Darts, Miami Gatos, and Miami Toros, that played in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
of the 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...
. That season, the Strikers won the league championship. James played for the Strikers in 1990 and 1991. On October 31, 1991, James signed with the Illinois Thunder
Illinois Thunder
The Illinois Thunder were an indoor soccer club that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1991/92 season, the team became the Denver Thunder.-Year-by-year:...
of the National Professional Soccer League, but tore the anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his right knee in February 1992. He had reconstructive surgery on May 19, 1992 and lost the entire 1992 outdoor season. He came back and played for the Strikers in 1993.