Mike Balson

Michael John Charles Balson (9 September 1947 – 30 May 2019) was an English retired professional association football defender who played professionally in England, South Africa and the United States. His career brought him to the United States where he served several decades as a referee as well as a team and league executive. He was a member of both the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association Hall of Fame and the United Soccer Leagues Hall of Fame.

For the rock keyboardist, see Mike Barson.

Mike Balson
Personal information
Full name Michael John Charles Balson[1]
Date of birth (1947-09-09)9 September 1947[1]
Place of birth Bridport, England[1]
Date of death 30 May 2019(2019-05-30) (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

Player

A member of England's oldest family of commercial butchers,[2] As a youth he served as the captain of Colfox School squad. He also had a stint at Bridport FC Balson grew up in England where he began playing for Exeter City in 1966. In 1974, he transferred to South African club, Highlands Park.[3] In 1979, he moved to the United States where he signed with the Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer League. In 1982, he played for the Georgia Generals of the American Soccer League. He played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies during the 1986–87 American Indoor Soccer Association season.[4]

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 NAIA women's finals. In 1985, he officiated during the NCAA Division I women's tournament. In 1996, he officiated the women's quarterfinals and in 1999, he officiated the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship Final. On the men's side, he oversaw the NCAA quarterfinals from 2000 to 2003 while officiating the ACC men's finals. In 2002, 2004 and 2005, he officiated the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship. He was inducted into the NISOA Hall of Fame in 2006.[5]

Administrator

In 1990, he was part of the establishment of the Atlanta Express of the Sunbelt Independent Soccer League which later became the USISL and eventually the USL. He became a USISL administrator in 1991, the same year he joined the management of the Atlanta Magic. In 1998, he became the general manager of the Atlanta Silverbacks. In 2002, Balson was inducted into the USL Hall of Fame as a Builder.[6]

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
  1. "Mike Balson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  2. RJ Balson & Son's Heritage Archived 17 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Exeter City transfers
  4. Rowdies triumph 6-5 in OT - Former Rowdies player Tatu fined for diving St. Petersburg Times - Thursday, 29 January 1987
  5. NISOA Hall of Fame bio
  6. USL Hall of Fame bio Archived 7 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. OBITUARY Michael John Charles Balson
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