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Keith Eddy might well be called the Iron Horse of the Cosmos, and his stellar defensive play so impressed his peers that when it came to selecting the annual North American Soccer League's All-Star team Keith found himself as one of the starting backs. Few who saw him perform would argue against his selection.
For the past 14 years the likeable Keith has been one of the most reliable defensive players in the history of soccer, and his acquisition prior to the beginning of the 1976 campaign proved a big plus as the Cosmos made a determined bid to capture the championship.
Captain Keith Eddy (with the ball) , Pele to his right, Giorgio Chinaglia to his left
Now the 31-year old native of England is looking forward to bringing home this season's championship. With a new playing field, more familiarity with some of his teammates and the knowledge of playing against some opponent, Keith has great hopes for the coming year.
One of the highest honors a player can receive is in being named captain of his team-or as they say in England the team's skipper. And for the past decade or more when it came time to selecting a captain the man selected was Eddy.
"The game has been very good to me and I want in some way to give back something to the sport," Keith explained. With a great deal of his non-playing time taken up with clinics, Keith has started to repay those who have faith in him and winning the 1977 title would be another big accomplishment for Eddy.
Keith Eddy (white Jersey) playing for England.
Eddy started his professional career playing with Barrow in the English Fourth Division before moving on to Watford. In 1971 he was promoted to Sheffield United which gained promotion to the rugged English First Division. When the Cosmos hired Ken Furphy as their coach for the 1976 campaign one of the first players he selected to bring over from England was Eddy. And Eddy proved a valuable asset playing in all 24 regular season games despite the fact that often he played while injured. Injuries forced him to miss the opening playoff game against Washington and sitting in the team's dressing room after the victory Keith was really down on himself.
"Here you play in all the regular games and then you have to sit out an important playoff game," he said. "But at least we won and that's what really matters."
Eddy was ready for the next playoff game against Tampa but the Cosmos were defeated and the season ended on a sour note.
Eddy recalled his feelings when he first learned of the NASL a few years ago. "In the beginning we used to get reports from some of the other English players that the league was not that strong but that certainly has changed in the past. The caliber of foreign players coming into the league is much stronger and it promises to be even better this season," said Eddy.
Keith, who recently moved to Sparta, N.J. along with his wife and five-year old daughter Nicola and two-and-half year old daughter Claire, says that playing in the NASL has caused him to make some adjustments.
NEW YORK COSMOS 1976 NASL ALL-STARS
   
First of all the season is played at a different time of the year," said Eddy. "In England we play in the winter while here it's in the summer and getting used to the heat in the beginning was most difficult. Then of course most of the league playing surfaces here are different. In England for the most part we play on well manicured grass fields while here there are both artificial surfaces where the ball takes a different type of bounce and then there are fields like Yankee Stadium last season where you had to adjust your game from grass to an infield type baseball surface and then back to regular grass. I know that many top foreign players find this type of change in surface difficult but once you concentrate and work on it you are able to make the adjustment.
Keith Eddy - New York Cosmos
Keith, despite being denied a championship, recalls last season with fond memories.
"Of course getting on the All-Star team meant a great deal to me. It's great to be selected to such a honor by your peers."
"Then there's the work on clinics that I did with the youngsters throughout the area and the speaking engagements that I made. But even more important than working with the youngsters was the work that I and my teammates did with some of the adults who were really interested in developing their knowledge of the game. If the youngsters getting into the soccer program are really going to get the full benefits then they must help from the adults who will be in charge of them. It's these adults, who with the proper education in the game, will be mainly responsible for helping the junior soccer program develop into a top program."
"And then who can ever forget the opportunity of playing alongside a player like Pele. It's a dream that many players throughout the world have but few ever really get the opportunity.
NASL ALL-STAR TEAM
Back row: Keith Eddy - 3rd from left Front row: Pele - center
Besides being a top defender Keith is one of the most proficient penalty shooters in the league, last season converting eight of eight in regular game conditions.
"I have for as long as I can remember been taking penalty shots; and getting the opportunity of trying to outwit the opposing goalie is a great thrill when you are successful."
What does the future hold for Eddy?
"I fell that I still have a few more years as an active player and then I will look at several opportunities. One might be as a coach while there are also business opportunities that I am weighing."
No matter what decision Keith does eventually make he's sure to make it with a clear mind-the same type of mind he displays on the field when he comes out to challenge an opposing forward with a deft move and then with another great deal of skill send either a long pass downfield to one of his teammates or with an accurate goal kick set his team in motion for a quick counter scoring move.
Playing with the NASL All-Star team in the American Bicentennial Cup competition against Brazil, Italy and England was another thrill Eddy won't forget, even long after his playing days are over.
Without a doubt Eddy is a valuable player not only for the Cosmos but for the entire North American Soccer league.
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