Collier, Looking to Play Regularly, Sold by the Sockers to Kansas City

The Sockers sold defender Gary Collier to the Kansas City Comets for an undisclosed amount of money Wednesday.

Collier, a 32-year-old defender, signed with the Sockers as a free agent in 1982 and was a regular on the Sockers’ last four indoor championship teams. But Collier suffered an ankle injury during the preseason and has played sparingly this year. In 11 games, he did not have any points.

“When Waad (Hirmez) was coming along so well at the back, Gary became the fifth defender,” Socker Coach Ron Newman said. “Coming back from an injury, it was hard for him to get back in the lineup. He didn’t want to be the fifth defender.”

Collier, second on the Sockers’ all-time list with 214 blocked shots, wanted to continue playing regularly and asked Newman if other Major Indoor Soccer League teams were interested.

“Kansas City needed a defender,” Newman said. “It will be good for him and them. And hopefully for us. It’s a business decision. We have to start bringing along younger players.”

“Gary’s been great for us,” Newman said. “He’s been steady as a rock. He stays at the back and does his job without looking for glory. It’s a difficult loss. Gary has always been one of my favorite players.”