Jimmy Rolland Explained

Jimmy Rolland
Birth Date:13 May 1945 passed away in April 2023
Birth Place:Kirkcaldy, Scotland
Position:Forward
Years1:1970–1974
Clubs1:Buxton
Caps1:196
Goals1:74
Years2:1974–1976
Clubs2:Northwich Victoria
Caps2:81
Goals2:60
Years3:1976–1978
Clubs3:Los Angeles Skyhawks
Caps3:65
Goals3:41
Years4:1980
Clubs4:Phoenix Fire
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:1980
Clubs5:California Sunshine
Caps5:18
Goals5:8
Years6:1980–1981
Clubs6:San Francisco Fog (indoor)
Caps6:12
Goals6:4

Jimmy Rolland was a Scottish football forward who spent four seasons in the American Soccer League. He was the 1978 league leading scorer and MVP.

In 1974, he signed for Northwich Victoria from Buxton. In his first season for Northwich, he scored 45 goals in 56 games; only two other Northwich players have better records in the club's history. However the lure of the growing football scene in the USA saw him sign for the Los Angeles Skyhawks in the American Soccer League. Despite being on the LA Skyhawks' books, he returned to Northwich in 1976, scoring a vital goal in the club's best modern-time FA Cup run.[1]

In the same season, his team, LA Skyhawks won the league championship and Rolland was the team and league's second leading scorer.[2] In 1978, he led the league with 17 goals in 24 games, leading to his selection as league MVP.[3]

In 1980 he was contracted to play with ASL expansion team the Phoenix Fire, but the team folded in pre-season.[4]

In 1980, he played for the California Sunshine.[5]

He then played for the San Francisco Fog during the 1980-1981 Major Indoor Soccer League season.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.today/20121209125610/http://www.netspinners.co.uk/nvfc/files/system/main.htm Northwich Victoria F.C.- Club Info - Historical Info - Famous Players
  2. Web site: The Year in American Soccer - 1977 . 11 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090520182556/http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1976.html#ASL . 20 May 2009 . dead .
  3. Web site: The Year in American Soccer - 1978 . 11 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090708090400/http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1978.html#ASL . 8 July 2009 . dead .
  4. Web site: 1980 Phoenix Fire • Fun While It Lasted. May 3, 2011.
  5. Web site: The Year in American Soccer - 1980 . 11 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090203163031/http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1980.html#ASL . 3 February 2009 . dead .
  6. http://nasljerseys.com/Players/S/Smillie.John.htm John Smillie NASL/MISL page: Scroll to bottom of page for San Francisco Fog team photo