Mike Balson
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael John Charles Balson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 9 September 1947[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bridport, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | 30 May 2019 (aged 71) | ||
| Place of death | United States | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
|
Colfox School | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–1974 | Exeter City | 276 | (9) |
| 1974–1979 |
Highlands Park | ||
| 1979 | Atlanta Chiefs | 15 | (0) |
| 1979–1980 | Atlanta Chiefs (indoor) | 12 | (3) |
| 1982 | Georgia Generals | (5) | |
| 1986–1987 |
Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Michael John Charles Balson (9 September 1947 – 30 May 2019) was an English retired professional
Player
A member of England's oldest family of commercial butchers,
Referee
In 1981, Balson became a member of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA). Over the years, he worked his way into the highest levels of intercollegiate refereeing. In 1984, he became a national referee, working both national junior college and
Administrator
In 1990, he was part of the establishment of the
Personal life and death
Mike was the oldest child of Donald and Joan Balson. He and his wife, Julia, had two children, Melanie and Oliver, and five grandchildren. He and his wife spent over 30 years ministering to prisoners in Atlanta, and also spent 20 years ministering to youth at Georgia Regional Hospital. After a 10-year battle, Balson died on May 30, 2019, from complications associated with Lewy Body Dementia.[7]
References
- ^ a b c "Mike Balson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ RJ Balson & Son's Heritage Archived 17 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Exeter City transfers
- ^ Rowdies triumph 6-5 in OT - Former Rowdies player Tatu fined for diving St. Petersburg Times - Thursday, 29 January 1987
- ^ NISOA Hall of Fame bio
- ^ USL Hall of Fame bio Archived 7 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ OBITUARY Michael John Charles Balson