NORMAN PIPER

Born: 08 January 1948

Came from: Apprentice   Went to: Portsmouth

First game: 16 January 1965   Last game: 18 April 1970

Appearances: 233 (233/0)   Goals: 37

Born in North Tawton, in west Devon, Piper's career spanned changes in football terminology, beginning his career as a wing-half and ending it as a midfielder, despite playing a similar role throughout his playing days.

He arrived at Argyle as an apprentice from Devon non-league side Hatherleigh, having been spotted by Ellis Stuttard in 1963, when acting as a scout after his first spell as manager. Piper adjusted to the rigours of Football Combination games with Argyle at great ease. He started his career at full-back, but soon made a name for himself in midfield, where his creative talents were best utilised. Malcolm Allison signed Piper to his first professional contract in February 1965, sixteen months after joining the club. It was Big Mal that had given him his debut some weeks earlier in January 1965, away against Ipswich Town in place of Nicky Jennings, with Argyle struggling. After those initial games at full-back, it was, however, Derek Ufton who deployed him in his favoured midfield position, in the 1965-66 season. Piper went on to be considered the bright star in the relatively weak Argyle team of the late 1960s and was named the Player of the Season, aged 19, for 1966-67. He also featured in the League Cup semi-final first leg at Leicester City.

The next season saw him become Argyle's youngest-ever captain and at the end of the 1968-69 season, he was chosen for an FA Select squad for an 11-game tour of New Zealand and the Far East. Piper played in six of the games, scoring seven. International honours then followed, as, in April 1970, he was selected for the England under-23 squad, playing in a game against Bulgaria at Home Park alongside the likes of future Argyle player and manager, Peter Shilton and Tony Currie (uncle to nephew Darren, who would later play for Argyle). Chosen by Alf Ramsey, it was often felt that a local player was a token inclusion to boost match attendance, but this proved not to be the case as Piper would earn three further caps after he left Home Park.

After a challenging 1969-70 season for the club, in which Piper shone like a beacon, the England under-23 game proved to be his last match at Home Park. That summer, he was snapped up by Portsmouth for a bargain fee of £50,000, which nevertheless was their club record at the time.

His time at Portsmouth proved to be career-defining. In eight seasons at Fratton Park, he played 358 times and scored 60 goals. In 1975, during the off-season, he also guested for Portuguese-formed, South African side Lusitano, based in Johannesburg, in the country's National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). Such guest signings were common at the time and he played alongside Newcastle's Malcolm Macdonald, who had made the same temporary move. Piper played seven times, scoring once. The former Pompey favourite also holds a place in Portsmouth's Hall of Fame, granted in 2012.

Whilst he served Pompey with great distinction, during his time at the club, they struggled to hold on to their Division Two status, and he eventually lost some form after relegation to Division Three. Piper was dropped in February 1978 and replaced by his namesake Steve Piper. His contract was terminated the following month.

After his release and perhaps ignited with the travel bug after his brief foray to South Africa, he chose to move to America to play for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for the 1977-78 season, making 41 appearances, scoring seven times. During that season, Piper would play against the likes of George Best, Pelé, and Franz Beckenbauer, who had all signed up Stateside to boost the North American Soccer League (NASL) further during its mid-to-late 1970s peak.

He briefly returned to England with non-league Yeovil Town (1978-79) before a return to the States to play for Columbus Magic (in 1979 & 1980) in the American Soccer League (ASL) before switching to the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) with Wichita Wings from 1980-81 before a final season with Pittsburgh Spirit (also of the MISL) in 1982-83.

Following his retirement from playing aged 35, he moved into coaching and had a brief spell in Canada before returning to Kansas to become assistant coach with the Wichita Wings until 1988. In 1989, he moved to coach the Wichita Blue in the Heartland Soccer League, and later coached the men's soccer team at Bethel College in Kansas from 1988 to 1990. He then moved within the States and had a spell in southern California with Carlsbad Lightning, before settling in the area and becoming a coach for a small travel soccer team known as TVSA Hawks (Temecula Valley Soccer Association) and lives in San Diego.

Norman, or 'Wis' as he was affectionately known, is a frequent visitor back to the UK on an annual basis. He remains a much-loved, regular match-day guest of both Portsmouth and Argyle, via Forever Green (the former players' association) at Home Park.