Gordon Fearnley

Gordon Fearnley (25 January 1950 – 25 June 2015) was an English footballer who spent time in the Football League, North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.

Gordon Fearnley
Personal information
Date of birth (1950-01-25)25 January 1950
Place of birth Bradford, England
Date of death 25 June 2015(2015-06-25) (aged 65)
Playing position(s) Forward / Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1968–1970 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (0)
1970–1977 Bristol Rovers 121 (21)
1976 → Toronto Metros-Croatia (loan) 1 (1)
1976 → Miami Toros (loan) 20 (3)
1977–1978 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 22 (2)
1978–1979 Cleveland Force (indoor) 4 (1)
1980–1981 Chicago Horizons (indoor) 14 (10)
Teams managed
1978 Cleveland Force
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

In 1968, Fearnley signed with Sheffield Wednesday. In 1970, he moved to the Bristol Rovers.[1] In 1976, the Rovers sent him on loan to the Toronto Metros-Croatia of the North American Soccer League. After just one game, he was sent south to the Miami Toros. In 1977, Bristol sold his contract to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. In 1978, he left the NASL to play for the Cleveland Force in Major Indoor Soccer League. After one season, he played for the Chicago Horizon.

In May 1978, Fearnley was hired as the head coach of the Birmingham Bandits, a team in the newly created Super Soccer League.[2] However, financial irregularities prevented the league from ever beginning operations and Fearnley was released. During the few months he worked with the Bandits, he met Alaina Jones, the team's director of public relations. The two eventually married.[3] In the fall of 1978, he was hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Force of the newly established Major Indoor Soccer League. He took the team to a 2–4 record and resigned. After retirement he studied Physiotherapy & Law, and later worked as an attorney in Florida.[1][4]

References
  1. "Gordon Fearnley: A Footballer's Journey from England to America". The Sports Campus. 13 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  2. Alred, John (21 June 1978). "State gets soccer team". The Gadsden Times. Gadsden, AL. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  3. "Birmingham Bandits history". Birmingham Pro Sports. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  4. "Former Bristol Rovers player Gordon Fearnley dies". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 7 August 2015.
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