Doug Neely

Doug Neely is a retired American soccer defender who had an extensive career in several American indoor leagues including the original Major Indoor Soccer League, Continental Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League.

Doug Neely
Personal information
Date of birth (1965-05-31) May 31, 1965
Place of birth Garden Grove, California, United States
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Defender
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1984 San Diego State Aztecs
1985–1986 Chapman Panthers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1989 Los Angeles Lazers (indoor) 76 (9)
1989–1991 Kansas City Comets (indoor) 95 (18)
1991–1992 Baltimore Blast (indoor) 40 (8)
1992–1994 Baltimore Spirit (indoor) 71 (19)
1993 Los Angeles United (indoor) 27 (16)
1994–1997 Anaheim Splash (indoor) 54 (63)
1996–1997 Baltimore Spirit (indoor) 34 (7)
1996–1997 Anaheim Splash (indoor) 52 (26)
1998–2002 Baltimore Blast (indoor) 134 (28)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Youth

In 1983, Neely graduated from Canyon High School where he was the 1983 Los Angeles Times High School Player of the Year. He attended the San Diego State University, playing on the men's soccer team in 1983 and 1984. Following his sophomore season, he transferred to Chapman University where he finished his collegiate career.[1] Chapman inducted Neely into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.[2]

Professional

In 1987, Neely attended an open tryout with the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He played well enough to earn a reserve contract.[3] He then worked himself into the first team where he remained for two seasons. When the Lazers folded in 1989, the Kansas City Comets selected Neely in the dispersal draft. The Comets folded in 1991 and Neely signed with the Baltimore Blast on August 27, 1991.[4] The Blast folded in 1992 and Neely moved to the Baltimore Spirit of the National Professional Soccer League. He played two seasons with the Spirit. In the summer of 1993, Neely also played for the Los Angeles United in the Continental Indoor Soccer League. In 1994, he joined the Anaheim Splash of the CISL and would play for them for the next four summer seasons. On October 26, 1996, Neely returned to the Baltimore Spirit.[5] On February 1, 1998, the New England Revolution selected Neely in the second round (seventeenth overall) of the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft. Neely chose to pursue his MBA, electing not to report to the Revolution. The Revolution released him in the pre-season. In the fall of 1998, Neely signed with the Baltimore Blast of the NPSL and played four seasons before retiring. Neely was inducted into the Baltimore Blast Hall of Fame in 2010.[6]

After retiring, Neely began Coastal Printing Solutions, a printing company in Newport Beach, California.

References
  1. For Chapman Soccer: A Happy Reunion
  2. Chapman Hall of Fame Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Canyon High grad had to be talked into pro soccer – Doug Neely a surprise hit with LA Lazers The Orange County Register – Thursday, May 4, 1989
  4. August 27, 1991 Transactions
  5. In search of help on defense, Spirit again turns to Neely
  6. "Neely to be Inducted into Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
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