Keith Furphy
Encyclopedia
Keith Furphy is a retired English-American professional association football forward
who spent most of his career in the United States. He played four seasons in the North American Soccer League
, seven in the Major Indoor Soccer League
and one each in the American Soccer League
and National Professional Soccer League. He is the son of Ken Furphy
, a retired English footballer and coach.
In 1978, Furphy moved to the United States where he signed with the Detroit Express
of the North American Soccer League
. At the time the Express were coached by his father. On May 3, 1980, the Express sent Furphy to the Atlanta Chiefs
for cash and the Chiefs' first round pick in the 1981 NASL Draft. The Express made the move as a result of fan dissatisfaction with Furphy playing for his father in Detroit. He spent two seasons with the Chiefs. In the fall of 1981, he signed with the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League
and immediately established himself as a high scoring indoor soccer striker. On July 2, 1983, Furphy signed with the Detroit Express
, now playing in the second division American Soccer League
. He scored two goals in his debut the next day. He returned to the Force in the fall and played with them through the 1984-1985 season. However, tensions between him and coach Timo Liekoski
came to a head that year and Furphy demanded to be traded. On October 24, 1985, the Force sent Furphy to the Kansas City Comets
in exchange for the Comets' next three first round draft choices. Furphy began the season with Kansas City, but was traded to the Tacoma Stars in exchange for Dale Mitchell
on February 6, 1986. By this time, Furphy had become a naturalized U.S. citizen. Furphy finished the season in Tacoma, but was released by the team at the end of the season and signed with the Baltimore Blast. In 1988, Furphy returned to England to sign with Plymouth Argyle
for the remainder of the 1987-1988 season. He played six games, scoring one goal. In the fall of 1988, he signed with Bath City and played one game, a 2-0 victory over Merthyr Tydfil in a November 1988 Westgate Insurance Cup game. On February 22, 1992, the Detroit Rockers
of the National Professional Soccer League signed Furphy to a ten day contract.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who spent most of his career in the United States. He played four 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:...
, seven in 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...
and one each in 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...
and National Professional Soccer League. He is the son of Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy is an English former football player and manager.Despite being on the books at Everton between 1950–1951, Furphy was a lower league player with Runcorn Darlington and then Workington...
, a retired English footballer and coach.
In 1978, Furphy moved to the United States where he signed with the Detroit Express
Detroit Express
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing...
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:...
. At the time the Express were coached by his father. On May 3, 1980, the Express sent Furphy to 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'...
for cash and the Chiefs' first round pick in the 1981 NASL Draft. The Express made the move as a result of fan dissatisfaction with Furphy playing for his father in Detroit. He spent two seasons with the Chiefs. In the fall of 1981, he signed 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...
and immediately established himself as a high scoring indoor soccer striker. On July 2, 1983, Furphy signed with the Detroit Express
Detroit Express
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing...
, now playing in the second division 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...
. He scored two goals in his debut the next day. He returned to the Force in the fall and played with them through the 1984-1985 season. However, tensions between him and coach Timo Liekoski
Timo Liekoski
Timo Liekoski is a Finnish soccer coach who managed teams in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association and Major League Soccer...
came to a head that year and Furphy demanded to be traded. On October 24, 1985, the Force sent Furphy to the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
in exchange for the Comets' next three first round draft choices. Furphy began the season with Kansas City, but was traded to the Tacoma Stars in exchange for Dale Mitchell
Dale Mitchell (soccer)
Dale William Dink Mitchell is a former top-level professional association football striker who played for several North American teams in the 1980s and 1990s....
on February 6, 1986. By this time, Furphy had become a naturalized U.S. citizen. Furphy finished the season in Tacoma, but was released by the team at the end of the season and signed with the Baltimore Blast. In 1988, Furphy returned to England to sign with Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
for the remainder of the 1987-1988 season. He played six games, scoring one goal. In the fall of 1988, he signed with Bath City and played one game, a 2-0 victory over Merthyr Tydfil in a November 1988 Westgate Insurance Cup game. On February 22, 1992, the Detroit Rockers
Detroit Rockers
The Detroit Rockers were an indoor soccer team in the National Professional Soccer League from 1990 to 2001. They played in Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit, Michigan as well as The Palace of Auburn Hills and Compuware Sports Arena in the suburbs...
of the National Professional Soccer League signed Furphy to a ten day contract.