Billy Crook (American soccer player)
Encyclopedia
Billy Crook was a U.S. soccer defender
who spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League
, eight in Major Indoor Soccer League
, two in the Western Soccer Alliance, at least two in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
, and four in the American Professional Soccer League
. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team. He currently coaches youth soccer in Sumner, Washington
.
, graduating in 1982. That year, the Seattle Sounders
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) drafted Crook and he bypassed college to turn professional. Crook spent the 1982 season on the Sounders’ reserve team before breaking into the first team in 1983. At the end of the season, the Sounders folded and Crook moved to the Minnesota Strikers
. When the NASL collapsed at the end of the season, the Strikers moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League. Crook spent the 1984-1985 MISL season with the Strikers before moving to the San Jose Earthquakes for the 1985 Western Alliance Challenge Series. He then signed with the Tacoma Stars of MISL later that year. He would play the next seven seasons with the Stars. During those years, he did continued to play an occasional outdoor season, first with the Seattle Storm
of the WSA in 1988, http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1988/statswsa88.htm then the Portland Timbers
of the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL) in 1990.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1990/statswsa90.htm When the Stars folded following the 1991-1992 MISL season, Crook moved to the Portland Pride
for the 1993 Continental Indoor Soccer League
. In 1994, he returned to outdoor soccer when he signed with the reconstituted Seattle Sounders
, now playing in the APSL. That season, he was a second team All Star. He spent three seasons with the Sounders as they won the 1995 and 1996 league championships. In May 1997, Crook returned to indoor soccer with the Seattle SeaDogs
of the CISL. That year, the SeaDogs won the league title, then folded, along with the league. Crook moved to the Cleveland Crunch
for the 1997-1998 National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) season. In 1998, several ex-CISL teams formed the Premier Soccer Alliance. Crook joined the Portland Pythons
of the PSA for the 1998 season. In 1999, the PSA was replaced by the World Indoor Soccer League
(WISL). Crook again spent the season with the Pythons, now playing in the WISL. In February 2000, the St. Louis Steamers of Major Indoor Soccer League
acquired the rights to Crook, but then traded it back to the Pythons in April. However, the Python folded and Crook retired.
in a scoreless tie with Ecuador
on November 30, 1984.
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 spent two 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:...
, eight in 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...
, two in the Western Soccer Alliance, at least two in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
, and four 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...
. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team. He currently coaches youth soccer in Sumner, Washington
Sumner, Washington
Sumner is a city in northern Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,451 at the 2010 census. Nearby cities include Puyallup to the west, Auburn to the north, and Enumclaw to the east.-History:...
.
Professional career
Crook attended Kent-Meridian High SchoolKent-Meridian High School
Kent-Meridian High School is a high school located in Kent, Washington and part of the Kent School District. Its principal is Dr. Wade Barringer....
, graduating in 1982. That year, the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
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:...
(NASL) drafted Crook and he bypassed college to turn professional. Crook spent the 1982 season on the Sounders’ reserve team before breaking into the first team in 1983. At the end of the season, the Sounders folded and Crook moved to the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota 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....
. When the NASL collapsed at the end of the season, the Strikers moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League. Crook spent the 1984-1985 MISL season with the Strikers before moving to the San Jose Earthquakes for the 1985 Western Alliance Challenge Series. He then signed with the Tacoma Stars of MISL later that year. He would play the next seven seasons with the Stars. During those years, he did continued to play an occasional outdoor season, first with the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm (soccer)
Football Club Seattle Storm, also known as the F.C. Seattle Storm, was an American soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. F.C. Seattle was a "super club" created to provide Seattle players an opportunity to play at a higher level than the local recreational and semi-pro leagues. In addition to...
of the WSA in 1988, http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1988/statswsa88.htm then the Portland Timbers
F.C. Portland
Portland Timbers, previously known as F.C. Portland, came into existence in 1985 as an independent U.S. soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1989, the team adopted the name Portland Timbers. Portland was composed of both professional and amateur players. The amateur players largely came...
of 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...
(APSL) in 1990.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1990/statswsa90.htm When the Stars folded following the 1991-1992 MISL season, Crook moved to the Portland Pride
Portland Pride
The Portland Pride are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997.-History:In 1993, a new league, the Continental Indoor Soccer League began its first season. Traditionally, indoor soccer has been a winter sport, but the CISL decided to...
for the 1993 Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. In 1994, he returned to outdoor soccer when he signed with the reconstituted Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
, now playing in the APSL. That season, he was a second team All Star. He spent three seasons with the Sounders as they won the 1995 and 1996 league championships. In May 1997, Crook returned to indoor soccer with the Seattle SeaDogs
Seattle SeaDogs
The Seattle SeaDogs are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1995 to 1997. They won the last CISL championship in 1997.-History:...
of the CISL. That year, the SeaDogs won the league title, then folded, along with the league. Crook moved to the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
for the 1997-1998 National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) season. In 1998, several ex-CISL teams formed the Premier Soccer Alliance. Crook joined the Portland Pythons
Portland Pythons
Portland Pythons are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Premier Soccer Alliance in 1998 which changed its name to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999. The team folded at the end of the 1999 season.-History:...
of the PSA for the 1998 season. In 1999, the PSA was replaced by the World Indoor Soccer League
World Indoor Soccer League
The World Indoor Soccer League was a United States based indoor soccer league that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.-History:...
(WISL). Crook again spent the season with the Pythons, now playing in the WISL. In February 2000, the St. Louis Steamers of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
acquired the rights to Crook, but then traded it back to the Pythons in April. However, the Python folded and Crook retired.
National team
Crook earned one cap with the U.S. national teamUnited 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 scoreless tie with Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
on November 30, 1984.