Alan Sproates

Background

Sproates was born in Hetton-le-Hole, now part of the City of Sunderland.

Career

He made nearly 350 appearances in the Football League, including more than 300 for, and also played in the United States. He began his football career with Sunderland, but made no first-team appearances before he joined Swindon Town in 1963. After two seasons in which he played only five first-team games, Sproates moved to in part-exchange for Jimmy Lawton.

He remained at the club until 1974, making 316 league appearances and helping the club to runners-up spot in the Fourth Division and promotion to the Third Division in the 1965-1966 season.

He spent the summer of 1973 playing in the North American Soccer League for Miami Toros. After a year with Scunthorpe United, Sproates was signed by Ukrainian Sports Club Lion in Adelaide playing in the South Australian First Division.

He was so impressive that he was voted the Best and Fairest player in the league winning the John Martin Meda Soon after he moved to the United States, where he coached football and played in the American Soccer League for Los Angeles Skyhawks and for the San Francisco Fog during the 1980-1981 Major Indoor Soccer League season.

He lives with wife Bonnie in San Anselmo, California.

Achievements

• Darlington Fourth Division runners-up: 1965-1966.