Wade Webber
Encyclopedia
Wade Webber is a retired U.S. soccer defender
who spent most of his career with clubs in the Pacific Northwest
. However, he did see three years in Major League Soccer
with the Dallas Burn and Miami Fusion
before suffering a career ending knee injury. He now coaches for Washington Premier Football Club in Washington State.
where he played on the men’s soccer from 1985 to 1988. His senior year the Pilots went to the NCAA Final Four only to fall to eventual champion Indiana
.
of the Western Soccer Alliance during the collegiate off season. He spent both the 1986 and 1987 season with Portland.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1986/stats86.htmhttp://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1987/stats87.htm
In 1989, he returned to the professional circuit, this time with the Portland Timbers
of the renamed Western Soccer League
.http://www.timbersfanpage.com/apslplayers.htm While Webber spent three years playing in Portland with F.C. Portland and the Portland Timbers, after completing his collegiate eligibility, he returned to the Seattle area to sign with the Seattle Storm
for the 1990 season.http://soundercentral.com/1990_roster.htm This year both the Storm and the Timbers competed in the newly created American Professional Soccer League
(APSL) which had been formed by the merger of the west coast Western Soccer League
and the east coast American Soccer League
. The Storm finished with a record of 10-10 and folded at the end of the season. Webber was a second team APSL All Star.
Following the demise of the Storm, Webber briefly left professional soccer as he took a teaching job. In 1993, Webber earned a masters degree in teaching from Seattle University
. At the time he was also teaching history and coaching the boys soccer team at Sedro Woolley High School.
In 1994, he returned to soccer with the Seattle Sounders
of the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). This was the first year of the resurrected Sounders and it featured many names from the old North American Soccer League
Sounders. Despite being a first year team, the 1994 Sounders went to the APSL semifinals.http://seattlepitch.tripod.com/matches/95/95.html Then in 1995 and 1996, the Sounders took the title. In 1994, Webber played 17 games, scoring two goals. In 1995, he saw time in 23 games, scoring one goal.
. That season, he saw time in twenty-two games, scoring two goals. At the end of the season the Burn did not protect Webber in the Expansion Draft
and he was selected by the Miami Fusion
. Webber went on to play two seasons with the Fusion, but on May 15, 1999, he suffered a career ending knee injury.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23115099.html
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 most of his career with clubs in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. However, he did see three years in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
with the Dallas Burn and Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium...
before suffering a career ending knee injury. He now coaches for Washington Premier Football Club in Washington State.
Youth and college
Webber grew up in the Seattle area, attending Thomas Jefferson High School from 1983-1985. In his three years at Jefferson High, Webber was a key part of three consecutive state high school soccer championships. After graduating from high school, Webber attended the University of PortlandUniversity of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
where he played on the men’s soccer from 1985 to 1988. His senior year the Pilots went to the NCAA Final Four only to fall to eventual champion Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
.
Western Soccer League
While still in college, Webber played with F.C. PortlandF.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 Western Soccer Alliance during the collegiate off season. He spent both the 1986 and 1987 season with Portland.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1986/stats86.htmhttp://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1987/stats87.htm
In 1989, he returned to the professional circuit, this time with 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 renamed Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
.http://www.timbersfanpage.com/apslplayers.htm While Webber spent three years playing in Portland with F.C. Portland and the Portland Timbers, after completing his collegiate eligibility, he returned to the Seattle area to sign 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...
for the 1990 season.http://soundercentral.com/1990_roster.htm This year both the Storm and the Timbers competed in the newly created 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) which had been formed by the merger of the west coast Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
and the east coast 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...
. The Storm finished with a record of 10-10 and folded at the end of the season. Webber was a second team APSL All Star.
Following the demise of the Storm, Webber briefly left professional soccer as he took a teaching job. In 1993, Webber earned a masters degree in teaching from Seattle University
Seattle University
Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
. At the time he was also teaching history and coaching the boys soccer team at Sedro Woolley High School.
In 1994, he returned to soccer with the 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...
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). This was the first year of the resurrected Sounders and it featured many names from the old 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:...
Sounders. Despite being a first year team, the 1994 Sounders went to the APSL semifinals.http://seattlepitch.tripod.com/matches/95/95.html Then in 1995 and 1996, the Sounders took the title. In 1994, Webber played 17 games, scoring two goals. In 1995, he saw time in 23 games, scoring one goal.
MLS
In 1997, the Dallas Burn selected Webber in the first round (second pick overall) of the Supplemental Draft1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1997 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 2, 1997.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-External links:*...
. That season, he saw time in twenty-two games, scoring two goals. At the end of the season the Burn did not protect Webber in the Expansion Draft
1997 MLS Expansion Draft
The 1997 MLS Expansion Draft was held November 6, 1997. Two teams participated, the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion F.C., both expansion Major League Soccer clubs planned for the 1998 season.-Format:...
and he was selected by the Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium...
. Webber went on to play two seasons with the Fusion, but on May 15, 1999, he suffered a career ending knee injury.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23115099.html