Alvin James

Alvin James (born April 6, 1967) is a retired Jamaican-American soccer midfielder / forward who played professionally in the American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League, and National Professional Soccer League. He has coached youth soccer in South Florida for many years.

Youth career James was born in Mandeville, Jamaica, James moved to South Florida with his family as a young boy. He grew up playing soccer with the U-19 Lauderhill Lions FC winning 2 State Championships in 1984 and 1985.

In 1985, James graduated from Boyd Anderson High School.

College career James attended UNC-Greensboro, playing on the Spartans 1985 and 1986 NCAA Men's Division III Soccer National Championship Team. in 1985 the team went 20-5-0 overall record and 7-0-0 in the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In 1986 the team went 18–5–0 and won the DIII championship back-to-back.

In 2014, James and the rest of the 1985 championship squad were collectively inducted into the UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame.

He transferred to Florida International University where he completed his collegiate career with the Golden Panthers (during their transition between Division II to Division I in 1987 and 1988 and graduated with a degree in economics. In 1988 he had among the most assist on the team.

Professional career In 1989, James turned professional when he signed with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the American Soccer League. That season, the Strikers won the league championship. James played for the Strikers in 1990 and 1991. He came back and played for the Strikers in 1993 when they were in the American Professional Soccer League. He recorded 14 goals and 15 assists in 63 games across his outdoor career with the Strikers.

In 1997, James had a brief stint with the Florida Strikers in the D3 Professional League, marking the final chapter of his professional playing career. The club was then awarded Academy Status where he coached the 1993/1994 U-16 squad.

Many players under James garnered athletic scholarships most notable where Alejandro Bedoya, Scotty Campbell, and Jean Alexander. James then went on to coach American Heritage School (Delray Beach, Florida) winning another 3 State Championships.

He left Weston FC and coached at West Pines United for 2 years from 2011 to 2013 before starting and becoming the DOC of his own club, Miramar United Elite FC in Miramar Florida in 2013.

Statistics

Outdoor league statistics Year Lg Team GP GS Min G A Pts PKG Shts 1989 ASL Fort Lauderdale Strikers 8 4 511 0 0 0 0 0 1990 APSL Fort Lauderdale Strikers 15 12 1136 5 2 0 0 1991 APSL Fort Lauderdale Strikers 17 13 1308 2 2 0 0 1993 APSL Fort Lauderdale Strikers 18 15 1270 7 3 0 1 0 1994 APSL Fort Lauderdale Strikers 5 3 336 0 1 0 0 0 1997 D3 Pro League Florida Strikers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 63 47 4561 14 15 0 1 0

Postseason statistics Year Lg Team GP GS Min G A Pts PKG Shts 1989 ASL Fort Lauderdale Strikers 4 4 337 0 0 0 0 0 1990 APSL Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3 2 225 1 2 0 0 0 1991 APSL Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2 0 42 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 9 6 604 1 2 0 0 0

Indoor league statistics

Honours

Player

Youth Lauderhill Lions FC Florida State Championship: 1984, 1985

College UNC Greensboro Spartans NCAA Division III National Championship: 1985, 1986 Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship: 1985 All-Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Second Team: 1986

Club Fort Lauderdale Strikers American Soccer League Championship: 1989

Individual & Inductions UNC Greensboro Spartans UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame: 2014

Manager

Weston Soccer Club Florida State Championship (4x): 1999–2011 American Heritage School (Delray Beach) Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Championship (3x)