Andy Provan, a member of the Philadelphia Atoms team that won the 1973 North American Soccer League title as an expansion team, has died.

He was 79.

Provan passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s diease in Torquay, England on May 11.

Born in Greenock, Scotland on Jan. 1, 1944, Provan played for several clubs, including St. Mirren in Scotland and Barnsley, York City, Chester, Wrexham, Southport, Torquay United and Bath City in England.

He joined the Atoms on loan from Southport as a winger for the 1973, along with Jim Fryatt and Chris Dunleavey. They helped Philly, coached by the legendary Al Miller, captured the NASL crown over the Dallas Tornado.

While “only” 5-5 and 140-lbs., Provan proved to be a tough man to stop as he returned to the team in 1974, recording 20 goals and nine assists over two campaigns (11 goals and six assists in 19 games in 1973, and another nine goals and three assists in 20 contests the next season).

Fryatt and Provan were such a dynamic duo that they were nicknamed “Batman and Robin,” according to the player’s obituary on the Stockport website.

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.