He then moved to the United States where he became a journeyman player, bouncing through sixteen teams in multiple indoor and outdoor leagues.
[1] He is currently the head coach of the San Diego WFC SeaLions, who play in the Women's Premier Soccer League.
[2] Dougherty began his career when he signed as an apprentice with English First Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers at age 16.
He failed to establish himself as a regular choice though, and played only sporadically over the next two years as the club continued to slide down the divisions under a succession of managers.
On 11 February 1987, the Sockers traded Gary Collier to the Kansas City Comets in exchange for a foreign player visa.
Whereas his lack of height hindered his development as an outdoor player, it served him in good stead in the indoor game which prized quickness and agility oversize and stamina.
He played sixteen games that season, before the MetroStars traded him to the Tampa Bay Mutiny for Mike Duhaney in July.
Dougherty began the 1999 season with the Mutiny but was traded on 2 August 1999 with Sam George and a draft pick to the Chicago Fire for Ritchie Kotschau and Manny Lagos.
The Revs then turned around and traded Dougherty to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for a fifth round pick in the upcoming Super Draft.
The Riverhounds needed some added offensive production heading into the post season as well as for upcoming Open Cup games.
[16] Haaskivi's gamble paid off as Dougherty provided instant offence, including a goal in the Open Cup quarterfinal match against his old team, the Chicago Fire.
At the end of the season the Riverhounds released Dougherty and he moved back to San Diego to pursue a coaching career.
However, Dougherty was unable to call it quits to playing and on 5 February 2004, he rejoined the San Diego Sockers for one last indoor season.