Alan Willey (footballer, born 1956)
Alan Willey is an English former footballer who spent most of his playing career in the United States. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Born in Houghton-le-Spring, Willey is the second-leading goal scorer in the history of the North American Soccer League. Willey played most of his career with the Minnesota Kicks and was inducted to the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.
He began his career with English football club, Middlesbrough in 1974. In the NASL he played for the Minnesota Kicks, the Montreal Manic and the Minnesota Strikers.
He finished his NASL career with 129 goals in 238 games and an additional 13 goals in 26 play-off games. He memorably scored five goals in a play-off game against the New York Cosmos in 1978. His nickname was 'The Artful Dodger'.
