Talk:Jimmy McGeough Jr.

his birthplace and citizenship?

left him as an American soccer player but citizenship not given Mayumashu (talk) 22:52, 3 February 2009 (UTC) Born ; BELFAST NORTHERN IRELAND, Citizenship: United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and United States. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Triskier (talk • contribs) 16:04, 28 October 2009 (UTC)

Article

Wichita Wings defender Jimmy McGeough says, "Sometimes you gotta be daring." McGeough's daring almost made him the first Irishman to play on the U.S. national soccer team. He wanted so desperately to play for the U.S. that he lied. On his application for a tryout with the U.S. team, he wrote "Yes" in the blank that asked if he was an American citizen. He survived two regional tryouts and was on his way to a final tryout in Colorado Springs when he was discovered. McGeough, a green-card holder who came to the US when he was 14, said he saw soccer as a chance to become a citizen. 'I wanted to maybe sneak in somehow I was going to say, 'If you like me, get my citizenship for me.' You gotta be daring sometimes. I was caught by somebody who was a friend of mine, supposedly. I was really mad." McGeough showed some daring Saturday night, scoring two goals in the Wings' 6-5 overtime victory in San Diego which broke a 10-game road slump. He is one of four newcomers who were major contributors in the San Diego triumph. With injuries mowing down Wings regulars, the newcomers will get their chances again tonight when the Wings take on the St. Louis Storm in the Kansas Coliseum. The Wings will put their 4-1 home record, best in the MSL, on the line against a St. Louis team picked to win the West Division. The Wings could be down to 13 healthy players tonight. Goalkeeper Ron Fearon is the latest victim, suffering a neck strain in a collision at San Diego. He is doubtful for tonight. McGeough is new to the MSL but not to soccer. He is a soccer blueblood, the son of a former Irish professional who played for the Irish national team as well as first division teams in Ireland and England. Jimmy Sr. also coached the New York Arrows briefly in the Major Indoor Soccer League, the New York Apollos and Nationals in the American Soccer League and the New York United in the US Soccer League. He is now the coach of New York University at Farmingdale, a two-year college where Jimmy Jr. was an All-American in 1983. McGeough has two brothers, but he said he is closest to his dad. He has his name and his looks. 'My mom says he looks at me as a younger version of him. My younger brother always wanted to be a jockey, and my other brother wanted to be a doctor. I always wanted to play soccer. It's the only thing I wanted to do. I kept playing, and my dad kept showing me different things and pushing me on." McGeough has been knocking around professional soccer for seven years. He helped the Fort Lauderdale Strikers win the national championship in 1989, winning the American Soccer League title and beating Western Soccer League champion San Jose in the national title game. He has also played with five teams in the American Indoor Soccer Association, the New York Nationals of the ASL and with Derby County in England. Why has he bounced around so much? He said many of the franchises have folded while he was on their roster. At Fort Lauderdale this summer McGeough played with Wings captain Victor Moreland, Wings defender Steve Pittman and Dallas forward Marcello Carrera. 'Victor asked me if I wanted to play indoor again. I didn't want to. He told me Wichita was a good franchise, and it would be good for me for future references. Steve (Pittman) was considering it, and I thought Marcello was going to come here. I thought I would be comfortable because I knew people." McGeough looked pretty comfortable in his last two starts. 'If these young guys play well and get some confidence, it takes the pressure off all of us," said the all-star midfielder. From Wichita Eagle Nov 21, 1990.
Libro0 (talk) 02:02, 18 April 2009 (UTC)