Tony Johnson (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Tony Johnson is a retired American soccer forward
who played professionally in the American Soccer League
, United Soccer League
, American Indoor Soccer Association, Lone Star Soccer Alliance
and the Southwest Indoor Soccer League.
Johnson began high school at Buies High School before transferring to Harnett Central High School in 1977. He graduated in 1979 after finishing runner up for the North Carolina High School Soccer Player of the Year. He attended UNC Chapel Hill where he played on the men's soccer team from 1979 to 1982. He graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in communications. In 2005, he was inducted into the North Carolina Hall of Fame. He began his professional career in 1983 with the Pennsylvania Stoners
of the American Soccer League
. He spent part of 1984 with the New York Arrows
of Major Indoor Soccer League
. In 1984, he played for the Houston Dynamos of the United Soccer League
. He continued to play for the Dynamos in 1985, but the team played as an independent. He may have continued to play each summer with the Dynamos, as he is listed with the team when they defeated the Orlando Lions
in 1987. By that time, the Dynamos were playing in the Lone Star Soccer Alliance
. In the fall of 1984, he joined the Columbus Capitals
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. He played for the Capitals through the 1985-1986 season after which the team folded. He then moved to the Memphis Storm
. He played one last indoor season, when he was with the Houston Express
for the 1988-89 Southwest Indoor Soccer League
season.
Since retirement he has coached at the Albion Hurricanes soccer club.
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 played professionally 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...
, United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
, American Indoor Soccer Association, Lone Star Soccer Alliance
Lone Star Soccer Alliance
Lone Star Soccer Alliance was a soccer league that existed from 1987 to 1992. While the majority of the teams came from Texas, some also came from Oklahoma and Kansas.-History:...
and the Southwest Indoor Soccer League.
Johnson began high school at Buies High School before transferring to Harnett Central High School in 1977. He graduated in 1979 after finishing runner up for the North Carolina High School Soccer Player of the Year. He attended UNC Chapel Hill where he played on the men's soccer team from 1979 to 1982. He graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in communications. In 2005, he was inducted into the North Carolina Hall of Fame. He began his professional career in 1983 with the Pennsylvania Stoners
Pennsylvania Stoners
Pennsylvania Stoners is an American soccer team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2007, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Eastern Keystone Division.The team plays its home...
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...
. He spent part of 1984 with the New York Arrows
New York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
of 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...
. In 1984, he played for the Houston Dynamos of the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. He continued to play for the Dynamos in 1985, but the team played as an independent. He may have continued to play each summer with the Dynamos, as he is listed with the team when they defeated the Orlando Lions
Orlando Lions
The Orlando Lions was an American soccer team from Orlando, Florida which existed from 1985 to 1996. Over the years, the Lions competed at both the amateur and professional levels including some seasons as an independent team....
in 1987. By that time, the Dynamos were playing in the Lone Star Soccer Alliance
Lone Star Soccer Alliance
Lone Star Soccer Alliance was a soccer league that existed from 1987 to 1992. While the majority of the teams came from Texas, some also came from Oklahoma and Kansas.-History:...
. In the fall of 1984, he joined the Columbus Capitals
Columbus Capitals (indoor soccer)
The Columbus Capitals were an indoor soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association. The club played its home games at Battelle Hall from 1984 - 1986....
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. He played for the Capitals through the 1985-1986 season after which the team folded. He then moved to the Memphis Storm
Memphis Storm
The Memphis Storm was an American soccer team based in Memphis, Tennessee which existed from 1986 to 1994 under several names in both the American Indoor Soccer Association and the USISL.-American Indoor Soccer Association:...
. He played one last indoor season, when he was with the Houston Express
Houston Express (soccer)
The Houston Express was a soccer club based in Houston, Texas that competed in the SISL.-Year-by-year:...
for the 1988-89 Southwest Indoor Soccer League
1988-89 Southwest Indoor Soccer League
-North Division:-South Division:-West Division:-Playoffs:-First game:-Second game:-Third game:-Fourth game:-Mini game:-Honors:* Most Valuable Player: Brian Monaghan, Austin Sockadillos...
season.
Since retirement he has coached at the Albion Hurricanes soccer club.