Laurie Abrahams
Lawrence Abrahams | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 3, 1953 Stepney, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Professional footballer (former), Assistant Soccer Coach |
| Years active | 1977–1987 |
| Known for | Forward in English, North American, and Australian football leagues |
Lawrence Adam Michael Abrahams (born 3 April 1953) is a former English professional footballer who played as a forward in England, the United States, and Australia. Over the course of his career from 1977 to 1987, Abrahams participated in 283 league matches and netted 142 goals.
Playing career
Originating from Stepney, London, Abrahams started his football career at Alfold F.C. in Surrey, where he impressively scored 101 goals in a single season. He then moved on to the non-league side Barking F.C. while employed at a tailor's shop before turning professional with Charlton Athletic in 1977, featuring in sixteen games during that campaign.
In 1978, Abrahams shifted to the North American Soccer League (NASL), representing teams such as the New England Tea Men, Tulsa Roughnecks, and California Surf. Following the dissolution of California Surf in 1981, Tulsa acquired him through the Dispersal Draft. He went on to compete in two additional outdoor seasons as well as the 1983–1984 NASL indoor season. His performance at the 1983 NASL Grand Prix of Indoor Soccer earned him Offensive MVP honors after tallying 12 goals and 6 assists across eight matches.
In May 1984, Tulsa traded Abrahams to the San Diego Sockers in exchange for Peter Skouras and two used soccer balls. Initially partnering with Ade Coker, he was later relegated to the bench following the arrivals of Steve Zungul and Branko Segota. By October 1984, San Diego transferred his contract rights to the New York Cosmos as they prepared for entry into the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). In January 1985, the Cosmos sold his contract to the Kansas City Comets, where he remained active through the 1985–1986 season.
During part of 1986, Abrahams played for Australia's Melbourne Knights, making nine appearances before returning to the United States to join the Wichita Wings for the MISL's 1986–1987 season.
Coaching career
Abrahams currently serves as an Assistant Soccer Coach at Irvine Valley College.
External links
- NASL/MISL career statistics
- Aussie Footballers Abbas to Alberton
- 1953 births
- Living people
- Alfold F.C. players
- Barking F.C. players
- California Surf players
- Charlton Athletic F.C. players
- English expatriate men's footballers
- English expatriate sportspeople in Australia
- English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- English men's footballers
- Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia
- Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
- Men's association football forwards
- Kansas City Comets (1979–1991) players
- Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) players
- Melbourne Knights FC players
- North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor players
- New England Tea Men players
- New York Cosmos (MISL) players
- North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players
- National Soccer League (Australia) players
- Footballers from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
- People from Stepney
- San Diego Sockers (1978–1996) players
- Tulsa Roughnecks (1978–1984) players
- Wichita Wings (MISL) players
- English Football League players