Laurie Abrahams
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Adam Michael "Laurie" Abrahams (also spelt Lawrie; born 3 April 1953) is a retired English
professional footballer who played as a striker in England, the United States, and Australia. In a career which lasted from 1977 to 1987, Abrahams played 283 career league games, and scored 142 league goals.
, in the East End of London
, and after an apprenticeship
at Barking
, he signed a professional contract in 1977 with Charlton Athletic
. He spent one season at Charlton, making sixteen appearances. After leaving Charlton in 1978, Abrahams moved to the United States and played in the North American Soccer League
for the New England Tea Men
, Tulsa Roughnecks
, and California Surf
. The Surf folded at the end of the 1981 season and on 6 October 1981, the Tulsa Roughnecks
selected Abrahahms in the Dispersal Draft. He played the 1982 and 1983 outdoor seasons in Tulsa followed by the 1983-1984 NASL indoor season. In May 1984, the Roughnecks traded Abrahams to the San Diego Sockers in exchange for Peter Skouras
and two used soccer balls. He began the season paired with Ade Coker
up front, but was relegated to the bench after the Sockers acquired Steve Zungul
and Branko Segota
. On 17 October 1984, the Sockers sold Abrahams rights to the New York Cosmos
for $25,000. The Cosmos entered the Major Indoor Soccer League in the fall of 1984, but sold his contract to the Kansas City Comets
in January 1985. He remained with the Comets through the 1985-1986 season. Abrahams spent the 1986 season in Australia with the Melbourne Knights, where he made 9 appearances, before returning to America to play with the Wichita Wings
during the 1986-1987 MISL season.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who played as a striker in England, the United States, and Australia. In a career which lasted from 1977 to 1987, Abrahams played 283 career league games, and scored 142 league goals.
Playing career
Abrahams was born in StepneyStepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
, and after an apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
at Barking
Barking F.C.
Barking Football Club is am English football club based in Barking, Greater London. The club are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham.-History:...
, he signed a professional contract in 1977 with Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
. He spent one season at Charlton, making sixteen appearances. After leaving Charlton in 1978, Abrahams moved to the United States and played 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:...
for the New England Tea Men
New England Tea Men
The New England Tea Men were a soccer team based out of Foxboro, MA that played in the NASL from 1978 to 1980. Their home field was Schaefer Stadium....
, Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
, and California Surf
California Surf
The California Surf were a soccer club based in Anaheim, California who played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1981. Their home field was Anaheim Stadium.They originally were the St. Louis Stars...
. The Surf folded at the end of the 1981 season and on 6 October 1981, the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
selected Abrahahms in the Dispersal Draft. He played the 1982 and 1983 outdoor seasons in Tulsa followed by the 1983-1984 NASL indoor season. In May 1984, the Roughnecks traded Abrahams to the San Diego Sockers in exchange for Peter Skouras
Peter Skouras
Peter N. Skouras is a retired American soccer midfielder who played professionally in both the United States and Greece. He also coached professionally in the National Professional Soccer League.-Player:...
and two used soccer balls. He began the season paired with Ade Coker
Ade Coker
Ade Coker is a retired Nigerian-American soccer forward. Coker began with English club West Ham United then moved to the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned five caps with the U.S. national team.-Professional career:Coker was born in Nigeria, but moved...
up front, but was relegated to the bench after the Sockers acquired Steve Zungul
Steve Zungul
Slaviša Žungul, known in the United States as Steve Zungul is a retired Yugoslavian-American football striker. Žungul began his career with Hajduk Split in his native Yugoslavia before moving to the United States where he became a dominant indoor soccer striker...
and Branko Segota
Branko Segota
Branimir "Branko" Šegota is a former Canadian professional soccer forward, starring in the original Major Indoor Soccer League, the North American Soccer League, the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the National Professional Soccer League, and the Canadian Soccer League.Born in Rijeka, then part...
. On 17 October 1984, the Sockers sold Abrahams rights to the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
for $25,000. The Cosmos entered the Major Indoor Soccer League in the fall of 1984, but sold his contract 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 January 1985. He remained with the Comets through the 1985-1986 season. Abrahams spent the 1986 season in Australia with the Melbourne Knights, where he made 9 appearances, before returning to America to play with the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
during the 1986-1987 MISL season.