David Doyle (born August 8, 1965) is an Irish soccer forward who spent seventeen seasons playing indoor soccer in the United States. He was the 1987–1988 Major Indoor Soccer League Rookie of the Year, was the 1996 and 1999 indoor soccer scoring champion and a six time first team All Star.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 8, 1965 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1983–1986 | Campbell Fighting Camels | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1987–1991 | Kansas City Comets (indoor) | 132 | (79) |
| 1991–2004 | Dallas Sidekicks (indoor) | 313 | (410) |
| 1992–1994 | St. Louis Ambush (indoor) | 61 | (125) |
| 1997–1998 | Wichita Wings (indoor) | 14 | (23) |
| Total | 520 | (637) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
College
editDoyle attended Campbell University where he played on the men's soccer team from 1983 to 1986.[1] He led the country in scoring, with 34 goals, as a senior. He finished his career 72 goals and 19 assists for a school record 286 points. He was a 1986 second team All American and was inducted into the Campbell Hall of Fame in 2006.[2][3][4]
Professional
editThe Kansas City Comets of Major Indoor Soccer League drafted Doyle in the first round (third overall) in the 1987 MISL College Draft. He was the 1987–1988 MISL Rookie of the Year.[5] When the Comets folded in 1991, Doyle signed as a free agent with the Dallas Sidekicks. He went on to play twelve seasons with the Sidekicks. Following the 1991–1992 season, the league collapsed and the Sidekicks moved to the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL), a summer indoor league. The Sidekicks won the first CISL championship but finished runner-up in 1992. That fall, Doyle signed with the St. Louis Ambush which played winter soccer in the National Professional Soccer League. He alternated between the Sidekicks and the Ambush for the next two years. In 1996, he was the leading U.S. indoor soccer player with 47 goals. He repeated as scoring champion in 1999 with 29 goals. Doyle also spent the 1997–1998 NPSL season with the Wichita Wings. In 1998, the Sidekicks spent the season in the Premier Soccer Alliance then moved to the World Indoor Soccer League for three seasons (1999–2001). In 2002, they moved to the newly established Major Indoor Soccer League. The team folded two seasons later and Doyle retired from playing professionally. Doyle is one of a select 4 players to have won 3 or more championships with the Dallas Sidekicks.[6]
Doyle currently serves as the head soccer coach of the Flower Mound High School boys' soccer team in Flower Mound, Texas. David led the FMHS Jaguars to the Texas High School 6A Division State Championship in 2019.[4][7] He is also a coach with the Renegades Soccer Club.[8]
Awards and honors
editDoyle was inducted into the Campbell University Hall of Fame in 2005 for his time as an All-American varsity soccer player. In April 2015, the Big South Conference announced that Doyle would be among the Class of 2015 inducted into the Big South Conference Hall of Fame in recognition of his collegiate soccer career.[1]
Personal life
editHis son Conor plays professional soccer in England for Derby County as a forward and is currently on loan at D.C. United in Major League Soccer.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b "Big South Hall of Fame to induct former Campbell great David Doyle". Buies Creek, North Carolina: Campbell University Athletics. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- ^ "1986 All Americans". Archived from the original on 28 August 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
- ^ "Campbell University Soccer Records" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
- ^ a b Holtzman, Kellen (2 June 2013). "Spartans' Doyle following uncle's footballing path". The Daily Dispatch. Henderson, North Carolina: Paxton Media Group. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ "The Year in American Soccer – 1988". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
- ^ "Dallas Sidekicks".
- ^ "Soccer – Boys Staff". Flower Mound High School. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ^ "07 Girls Central". Renegades Soccer Club. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Young American hopes to fulfil childhood dream of a career playing in England". Derby Evening Telegraph. 13 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.