Who remembers Ken Fogarty from the grand life of football stardom. In the silence and shadows of the big stars in English football he managed to carve out a wonderful career as he became a legendary player at Stockport County and also had a bit of glam as he played with and against the top stars of the NASL.
Fogarty, born in Manchester, playing for Stockport County, making his debut at Edgeley Park, at 17. He played for The Hatters from 1972 to 1979, adding up a total of 296 league games and scoring 6 goals.
His first taste of football in the US, was during a short loan spell with Los Angeles Skyhawks in 1976. Skyhawks competed in ASL a competitor to the more famous NASL. In 1979 he made a move to Fort Lauderdale Strikers, teaming up with players such as George Best, Teofilo Cubillas and Gerd Muller.
As the stars fade or moves out, Fogarty stays put and spends the next seasons until the fold of the NASL in 1984, adding up a total of 124 appearances. As the franchise moves to Minnesota, Foggart is on the truck with them. Life after NASL continues in the MISL with clubs going indoor.
Ken Fogarty was surely not a glamour footballer in England, staying loyal to Stockport County over all those seasons, but as so many other lower league players, he managed to get his “star time” in the NASL.
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