Date and Location of the Class of 2021 Induction Ceremony will be
announced when they are determined,with an emphasis on when
North Carolina COVID-19 conditions have improved and State standards
permit a large gathering of 200+ persons.  The Board of Directors will
strive to coordinate holding the event at atime that optimizes participation
by members of the NCSHOF partner organizations and members of the Hall of Fame.

SUPPORT NC SOCCER HALL OF FAME

Order special “Support Soccer” NC license plate,

CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE ANNOUNCES THAT ITS SEPTEMBER 18 USL (UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE) MATCH AGAINST PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS WILL BE A “THROWBACK” GAME TO COMMEMORATE THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASL (AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE) NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY THE CAROLINA LIGHTNIN’ IN 1981

The Carolina Lightnin’ team was formed in 1981 and won its national championship during its first year of existence, certainly a significant achievement. It is worthy of note that the Lightnin’ won the championship on September 18, 1981, exactly 40 years before this year’s game. That is truly remarkable!

Carolina Lightnin’ players, coaches and staff and team founder and owner Bob Benson will be honored at the game. In addition, the four-member NC Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2021 (Thori Staples Bryan, Paul Dinkenor, Tim Guter and Roger Morton) will be introduced to the audience at halftime.

The Charlotte Independence players will wear a specially-designed Carolina Lightnin’ “throwback” jersey as part of their game uniform. After the game, the shirts will be autographed by the players and will be auctioned off to the public. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the NC Soccer Hall of Fame.

Several former Carolina Lightnin’ players and team management members are also NC Soccer Hall of Fame inductees, including Tony Suarez, Bill Finneyfrock and Ed Young. Suarez was named the American Soccer League MVP in 1981.

On behalf of the Carolina Lightnin’ players and families, Ed Young, former Carolina Lightnin’ Assistant General Manager, expressed the team’s appreciation to the Charlotte Independence: “We are very thankful to the Independence for honoring the Carolina Lightnin’ legacy. The 40th Anniversary celebration of the ASL Championship will let us relive that extraordinary achievement with many of the Lightnin’ fans who were there 40 years ago, as well as all of today’s supporters of our game!”

NCSHOF chairman Bob Kepner, added his organization’s gratitude to the Charlotte Independence for its support of the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame.

CONGRATULATIONS TO
MEGAN JEIDY CROTTS

A highly accomplished soccer player at Northwest Guilford High School, Crotts was named North Carolina Player of the Year in addition to being a McDonald’s All-American and Parade magazine All-American as a senior in 1994. She was twice named Conference and Regional Player of the Year and selected to play in the East-West All-Star game. Crotts played one season with the Raleigh Spartans soccer club, winning the 1995 national championship as she was named both MVP of the Final Four and won the Fair Play Sportsmanship Award. The Spartans team was inducted into the NC Soccer Hall of Fame’s National Champions Hall of Honor in 2013. Crotts played four seasons at North Carolina State and was named All-ACC, All-South Region, and to the ACC All-Tournament team in 1995. After college, Crotts played between 1998-2000 with the Raleigh Wings of the United Soccer League W-League with her team winning two league titles and being runner-up during the third season. The Raleigh Wings will be the next inductee into the National Champions Hall of Honor.  After the 1999 World Cup win by the U.S. women’s national team, the Women’s United Soccer League was formed as the first professional soccer league for women. Crotts was a member of the Bay Area (California) Cyber Rays in 2001 which won the WUSA inaugural Founders Cup championship. She also serves as a member and Secretary of the NC Soccer Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

Cindy Parlow

Cindy Parlow Cone (NCSHoF Class of 2017) was re-elected this weekend to finish out the current 4-year term of USSF President.  Elected in 2018 as Vice President, she moved into the presidency in March 2020 when the previous president, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned.  Cindy ran unopposed on Saturday.

The North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame was established in 1996 to recognize and honor those persons, either player, coach, referee or administrator, that have made significant contributions to the game of soccer in the State of North Carolina. To be eligible, inductees would have spent several years in North Carolina directly involved in and promoting the game.  Those with primarily regional or national accomplishments may also be considered when those accomplishments draw attention to furthering the game in the State by virtue of their prior relationship in North Carolina.

In 2012 the NCHSOF Board of Directors added the National Champions Hall of Honor category to honor North Carolina teams and programs that have won national championships at the highest levels of competition in youth, amateur adult, college or professional soccer.