 Stokes in March 2007 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Stokes | ||
| Date of birth | (1982-05-28)May 28, 1982 (age 43) | ||
| Place of birth | Dumfries, Virginia, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2002 | North Carolina Tar Heels | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002 | Raleigh CASL Elite | 13 | (1) |
| 2003–2006 | D.C. United | 24 | (0) |
| 2003 | →Virginia Beach Mariners (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Carolina RailHawks | 44 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of September 30, 2008 | |||
David Stokes (born May 28, 1982,Dumfries, Virginia) is an American former professionalsoccer player, who last played three seasons inMajor League Soccer and two in theUSL First Division.
Stokes attended high school atC.D. Hylton High School inWoodbridge, Virginia where he won back to back Virginia AAA state championships. His high school team received a #1 national ranking in 1998. Stokes played club soccer for the Braddock Road Youth Club, where he won three Virginia State Cups and a USYSA National Championship in 1999. Stokes also won an indoor National Championship with Braddock Road.
Stokes then played three years ofcollege soccer at theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2000 to 2002. As a sophomore, Stokes was named Defensive MVP of the College Cup as he helped UNC to anational championship.
After finishing his junior season, Stokes signed aProject-40 contract with MLS. Hailed as the second-coming ofEddie Pope, Stokes was selected 5th overall in the2003 MLS SuperDraft byD.C. United. Although Stokes' athleticism was clear, he did not receive the opportunity to play in regular season action during his rookie year. He did appear inU.S. Open Cup games for United, friendly matches (including a win against Blackburn Rovers) and made appearances on loan with theVirginia Beach Mariners.[1] AfterRay Hudson was released, many expected Stokes to play a larger role inPeter Nowak's team. Stokes had a promising beginning to the 2005 season in which he saw action in the CONCACAF champions cup and began the MLS regular season in the starting eleven. A concussion sidelined Stokes in the early part of his campaign. After recovering from this, he had another setback after he suffered a harsh tackle resulting in cartilage damage in his left ankle. The injury required surgery and ended Stokes' '05 season. Stokes worked hard to recover earlier than expected and arrived fit to play in the '06 preseason, but 2 quadriceps tears sidelined Stokes once again until the late summer. Stokes worked his way back into the first team after reserve team appearances but did not receive much playing time in his last season with DC.
After his tenure with DC, Stokes overcame his injuries and signed with the Carolina Railhawks. He was able to return to school and continue to play as well. Stokes helped Carolina to back to back Southern Derby Cup championships and plans on graduating from UNC in the summer of 2009.
Stokes played for theUnited States under-23 men's national soccer team in the qualification rounds, notching the game winning assist in the group phase play vs. Honduras which locked the team into first place going into the semi-final. This talented group failed to qualify, however, after losing to Mexico in Mexico in front of their crowd of 60,000+.