Art Welch
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 April 1944 | ||
| Place of birth | Kingston, Jamaica | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| – | Cavaliers FC | ? | (?) |
| 1967–1969 | Baltimore Bays | 45 | (16) |
| 1970–1973 | Atlanta Chiefs/Apollos | 60 | (21) |
| 1974–1975 | San Jose Earthquakes | 41 | (6) |
| 1976 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 11 | (0) |
| 1976 | San Diego Jaws | 6 | (1) |
| 1977 | Washington Diplomats | 14 | (1) |
| 1979–1980 | Wichita Wings (indoor) | 11 | (4) |
| 1980 | Washington Diplomats | 0 | (0) |
| 1980–1981 | San Francisco Fog (indoor) | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 188 | (49) | |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Art Welch (born 16 April 1944) is a retired Jamaican-American soccer player who played in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.
He began his career in Jamaica with Cavaliers FC, alongside twin brother Asher. In 1967, Welch signed with the Baltimore Bays of the National Professional Soccer League. In 1968, the NPSL became the North American Soccer League. Welch remained with the Bays through the 1969 season. In 1970, he moved to the Atlanta Chiefs, playing for them until 1973. During the 1973 season, the team was known as the Apollos. In 1974, he moved to the San Jose Earthquakes. He played two seasons in San Jose before moving to the Vancouver Whitecaps for the 1976 season. He began the season in Vancouver, but was traded to the San Diego Jaws after eleven games. During the off-season, the Jaws moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where the team became the Las Vegas Quicksilvers. In May 1977, the Quicksilvers traded Welch to the Washington Diplomats in exchange for Tom Galati.[1] That year, he also gained his U.S. citizenship. During the 1978 preseason, Welch suffered a season-ending leg injury. He attempted a come back in 1979, but was again unable to play. In the fall of 1979, he signed with the Wichita Wings of the Major Indoor Soccer League and played eleven games. He may have attempted another comeback with the Dips in 1980 and is listed on the roster of the San Francisco Fog during the 1980-1981 MISL season.
Welch also represented the Jamaican national team in international play, appearing in qualifying matches for the 1966 and 1970 World Cup tournaments.[2]