Baltimore Spirit (1992-1998)

The Baltimore Spirit were a professional indoor soccer team who played in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) from 1992 until 1998. From 1980 until 1992 the Baltimore Blast had played in the rival Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) until the league folded in 1992.

The Spirit were owned and founded by J.W, “Wild Bill” Stealey, a North Carolina based software executive and owner of MicroProse, in July 1992. He had been approached by ex-Blast Head Coach Kenny Cooper, about trying to keep indoor soccer in Baltimore. Stealey’s family had been season ticket holder for the Baltimore Blast for 5 years, and sponsored one of their visits to the UK. Prior to founding MicroProse he had been a fighter pilot, and had also bailed out the English computer company Spectrum.

Their home arena was the 11,286 capacity Baltimore Arena, which was owned by the City of Baltimore. They shared the arena with the Baltimore Skipjacks and Baltimore Bandits of the AHL, and the Thunder of the lacrosse league.

Ex-Baltimore Blast General Manager Drew Forrester was named as Vice-President for the Spirit. Dav Johnson was hired as the “voice” of the Spirit. WWLG agreed to cover the Spirit games on radio, with Nestor Aparicio being the main analyst.

Englishman Kenny Cooper was named as Head Coach of the franchise, having been Head Coach of the Baltimore Blast for the previous 12 seasons in the MISL. He was also named as President and General Manager. Yugoslav born defender Mike Stankovic, who had came from the defunct Blast was named as assistant coach, combining this with playing for the Spirit.

The inaugural roster featured a number of players who had played for the Blast the previous season. These players included Rusty Troy, goalkeeper Cris Vaccaro, Doug Neely, and forward Joe Koziol. Local players Jason Dieter and Barry Stitz were signed to the roster, Dieter being given the no. 19 shirt that the Spirit (and the Blast before them) had reserved for a local player. Ex-Blast player Tim Wittman was also signed. English forward Michael King was also signed a 1-year contract, a player Cooper had tried to sign on numerous occasions for the Baltimore Blast.

The Spirit signed a deal with HTS for them to televise 8 Spirit games throughout the first season.

For their inaugural 1992-1993 season the Spirit were placed in the 7 team American Division. Their divisional rivals were the Buffalo Blizzard, Canton Invaders, Cleveland Crunch, Dayton Dynamo, Detroit Rockers, and the Harrisburg Heat.
The franchise’s first game was away at the Milwaukee Wave on the 6th November, winning 13-11 in overtime. Their first home game was the day after against the Chicago Power, and they won that as well 19-12. During the season the Spirit bought Joey Murtaugh from the Denver Thunder.

The matches against the Harrisburg Heat quickly became the main rivalry. In nearly every game against them there were numerous brawls and ejections from play.
After the 40 game regular season the Spirit topped their division and qualified for the playoffs. The Spirit won 27 games and lost 13, scoring 582 goals and conceding 488. They faced the Cleveland Crunch in the quarterfinals, where they were beaten and eliminated over 2 games, losing 16-3 and 22-9.

Yugoslav forward Goran Hunjak was the Spirit’s leading player, scoring 53 goals, and assisting on 46 for a total of 141 points. Cris Vaccaro was named the NPSL’s ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ and named on the All-Star team.

Stealey said he had lost around $500,000 in the first season.

In the 1993 off-season the NPSL signed a TV deal with ESPN, giving national exposure to the league. The American Division lost the Detroit Rockers to the National Division, but otherwise remained unchanged.

Owner Bill Stealey sold his software company MicroProse, but stated that this would have no bearing on the Spirit.

Incoming on roster was forward Dan O’Keefe, the AISA/NPSL all-time leading goal scorer. He was traded from the St. Louis Ambush for defender Steve Boardman and two draft picks. Michael King left for the Milwaukee Wave for future considerations. English forward Paul Wright was signed on loan from the outdoor team, the Los Angeles Salsa. In the NPSL draft the Spirit signed goalkeeper Shawn Boemcke, forward Rob Ukrop, and Tarik Walker.

During the 1993-1994 season the Spirit lost forward Ukrop for a month with a broken jaw, having been elbowed in the face by Harrisburg Heat defender Denis Hamlett. Ukrop’s jaw was broken in 5 places and required 3 hours to repair. After it would remain wired for 2 weeks and was on a liquid diet. Hamlett was suspended for a month, and the match continued the tradition of rough play and brawls between the Spirit and the Heat. After this various members of the Heat team received threatening letters from Spirit fans saying that they “might be in danger the next time they play in Baltimore”. The letters were forwarded on to the F.B.I.

After the 40 game regular season the Spirit again topped the division, winning 26 games and losing 14. They scored 594 goals and conceded a league low 533. In the Playoffs they again lost in the first round, losing 21-9 and 13-7 to the Harrisburg Heat.

English forward Paul Wright was the Spirit’s top player, scoring 62 goals, and making 43 assists for 146 points. Defender Tarik Walker was named the NPSL ‘Rookie of the Year’.

The 1994 off-season saw the Spirit again in an unchanged American Division. Kenny Cooper stepped down from all his roles within the Spirit organization. He was replaced as Head Coach by Dave MacWilliams on the 2nd August 1994. Assistant General Manager Drew Forrester was appointed to replace Cooper as GM. Their goalkeeper Cris Vaccaro took up a role as Assistant Coach, whilst continuing to play in nets.
During the off season around 30 NPSL players, including Clark Brisson, Eric Dade and Goran Hunjak, filed lawsuits against the NPSL claiming that the NPSL had violated anti-trust laws by preventing players from playing from playing professional soccer during the NPSL off-season. The players ended up withdrawing this claim.

The Spirit lost high scoring slav, Goran Hunjak, to the Washington Warthogs in the expansion draft. However they gained midfielder Kevin Sloan and goalkeeper Joe Mallia from the Dayton Dynamo in a trade for Clark Brisson and Robert Ukrop. The Spirit acquired midfielder Jon Parry from the Kansas City Attack in a trade for Eric Dade and future considerations. The Spirit also re-acquired Steve Boardman after a season away at the St. Louis Ambush on a one-year contract.

The opening game of the 1994-1995 season on the 29th October saw the Spirit play the Chicago Power at the Baltimore Arena. The Spirit won 21-10 in front of a record NPSL opening game attendance of 8,588. The Spirit bought Brad Smith from the Dayton Dynamo for cash. Steve Boardman didn’t last long back at the Spirit as he and Tarik Walker were traded to the Harrisburg Heat for English forward Franklin McIntosh. McIntosh was the NPSL all-time leading goal scorer. Defender Tim Wittman was suspended by the team indefinitely for “conduct detrimental to the team”. After a game against the Dayton Dynamo 30 players were investigated by the NPSL for a 30-man brawl. English midfielder Michael Brady was signed in February, and Chris Love waived to make room for him on the roster.

After another brawl against the Kansas City Attack, Lance Johnson, Jon Parry, and Brad Smith were banned for 1 game.

In the 1994-1995 season the Spirit finished 3rd in the 6 game league, winning 23 games and losing 17. They scored 615 goals and conceding 573 and qualified for the playoffs. In the 1st round of the playoffs they lost to the Cleveland Crunch over 3 games.

Kevin Sloan was the leading performer for the Spirit, scoring 73 goals and making 32 assists for a total of 165 points. This placed him joint 7th in points scoring that season in the NPSL.

In the 1995 off-season the Spirit lost 2 year veteran Omid Namazi to the Philadelphia KiXX in the expansion draft.

The 1995-1996 season saw the Spirit were again in the American Division. Divisional foes this season would be the Buffalo Blizzard, Canton Invaders, Cincinnati Silverbacks, Cleveland Crunch, Harrisburg Heat, and the Tampa Bay Terror.

During the season Franklin McIntosh was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules, although he was soon brought off the suspended list. He was then suspended again for unknown reasons for the last 2 games of the regular season.

On January 29th Head Coach Dave MacWilliams quit, and was replaced by assistant and player Mike Stankovic who combined playing with being Head Coach. During the season they also traded the midfielder John Garvey to the Tampa Bay Terror for Zak Ibsen. The team went of surge of form under Stankovic that took them into the playoffs.

After the 40 game season the Spirit placed 2nd in the 7 team American Division, qualifying them for the divisional semi-final. In their 40 regular season games they won 25 and lost 15, scoring 604 and conceding 492. They faced the Harrisburg Heat in the division semi, winning two games 16-11 and 7-6. The regular season divisional winner the Cleveland Crunch met them in the divisional final, and the Crunch ran out winners over 4 games of the best-of-5 series.

Kevin Sloan was the leading goal scorer in the regular season with 63 goals. English midfielder Franklin McIntosh was the NPSL leading assist make with 77, and finished as the Spirit’s leading points scorer with 177, placing him overall 3rd in the NPSL.

The NPSL was expanded for the 1996-1997 season, The Spirit were now placed in the East Division of the 2-division American Conference. Their divisional rivals were the Harrisburg Heat, Philadelphia KiXX (expansion), and the Tampa Bay Terror.

In the off-season Mike Garthagan was named as Public Relations Director. Canadian international forward Branko Segota was signed on a 2-year contract. Two Yugoslavs Sasa Zoric and Nesko Milanovic were signed.

After 4 games of the season the Spirit bought Bojan Vuckovic from the expansion Tampa Bay Terror. They also re-acquired ex-player Doug Neely. They also signed Jimmy Glenn from the Cincinnati Silverbacks for cash and a first-round draft pick. Nesko Milanovic left the team to return to Yugoslavia.

The team extended their lease on the arena by another 2 years. In a match against the Cleveland Crunch Coach Stankovic ordered his team to leave the field, which earned him a $3,000 fine and the Spirit a $10,000 fine from the NPSL. The league however also reprimanded referees Richard Heron and Tamas Lauer for misapplication of the rules. During the season Player/Head Coach Mike Stankovic was suspended for 3 games and goalkeeper Cris Vaccaro stepped up as interim coach to cover his absence.

The Spirit finished the East Division in 2nd place behind the Harrisburg Heat, qualifying them for the American Conference quarter-finals. In 40 games they won and lost 20, scoring 506 and conceding 494. In the Conference Quarter-finals the Spirit beat the Philadelphia KiXX 15-8 and 18-8. They were eliminated in the Conference Semi-finals, losing over 3 games to the Cleveland Crunch.

Yugoslav Bojan Vuckovic was the Spirit’s leading player, scoring 61 goals, making 33 assists, for a total of 150 points, tallying him 9th in the total points scorers.
The team’s average attendance of 4,929 was the lowest figure in indoor soccer history in Baltimore, and 11th of the 15 team NPSL.

For the final year of the franchise (1997-1998) before they were re-sold and became the 2nd incarnation of the Baltimore Blast, the Spirit were in a 3 team East Division after the Tampa Bay Terror decided to sit out the season.

In the off season A key signing was Moroccan goalkeeper Khalil Azmi. Azmi was an ex-international who had competed for Morocco in the 1994 World Cup finals. He replaced the long serving Cris Vaccaro who had retired after the 1996-1997 season. Vaccaro also vacated his position as Assistant Coach with the team. Midfielder Jason Dieter retired to take up a position of Assistant Manager Trainee at First Mariner Bank, a bank owned by ex-Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale. Goalkeeper Joe Mallia was released.
Also signed were Dejan Belic, Denison Cabral, Gillermo Castaneda, Mirko Castillo, Nate Fairchild, Mike Mekelburg, Dave Reichardt, Renato Sampaio, Matt Tirschman, and Carlton Williams. The Spirit had tried for a more youthful roster.

According to an interview with the owner Bill Stealey, the Spirit had not turned a profit in any season since he purchased the club. He stated that after the first season the team had lost a couple of hundred thousand dollars every season. He announced a six-figure sponsorship deal with yoghurt company Danone. The sponsorship deal also involved the Spirit changing the colours of their logo and kit to Danone’s blue and gold colour. This deal was reputedly the biggest deal in NPSL history. This allowed them the funds to buy radio coverage on WCBM for all 40 Spirit games in the regular season. General Manager at WCBM was ex-Baltimore Blast player Nick Mangione.

During the season Dejan Belic was released and Wendell Regis and Derrick Marcano were signed.

The Spirit finished dead last of the 3 team East Division winning only 12 of their 40 games and losing 28. In the process they scored 487 goals and conceding 569. This meant that for the first time they failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Bojan Vuckovic was again their key player, scoring 60 goals and making 38 assists and 148 points. This placed him 6th in the NPSL scoring charts.

At the end of March the Spirit were purchased by Baltimore transportation magnate Ed Hale, who renamed them the Blast.

Over their entire 5 season history they played 240 regular season games, winning 133 and losing 107. In the process they scored 3,388 goals and conceded 3,149. They played 18 playoff games, winning 7 and losing 11. They scored 212 playoff goals and conceded 258.

Barry Stitz who played the whole 6 season with the Spirit finished up as leading appearance maker with 212 games. All-time leading goal scorer was Bojan Vuckovic with 118 goals, 2 ahead of Kevin Sloan.

Baltimore Comets

The Baltimore Comets were a professional soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) for two seasons, 1974 and 1975. After the 1975 season the franchise was moved to San Diego to become the Jaws, it was then moved again in 1977 to become the Las Vegas Quicksilvers. In 1978 they moved back to San Diego to become the Sockers, who played until 1984, the final year of the NASL.

The Comets home field was the Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, which had a capacity of 47,855. The Comets share the stadium with the Baltimore Orioles baseball team, and the Baltimore Colts NFL franchise.

The Comets were awarded an NASL franchise in December 1973, and they paid their $75,000 expansion fee to the NASL. They were placed in the NASL’s Eastern Division, alongside the Miami Toros, Philadelphia Atoms, and the Washington Diplomats. The Diplomats were another expansion franchise that year.

The Comets were owner by Lou Foreaker and Jim McLaughlin, with Foreaker being named President and General Manager of the franchise.

Englishman Doug Millward was named as Head Coach of the franchise, a position he would hold for the 2-year existence of the team. He had also been in charge of Baltimore’s previous NASL franchise, the Baltimore Bays.

Millward built a team of mainly English imports, on loan and at the end of their careers and from the lower divisions of English professional soccer. Key members of the first roster were striker Peter Silvester, American goalkeeper Alan Mayer, Trinidadians midfielder Keith Aqui and Alvin Henderson, and Bermudan midfielder Stan Smith.

The Comets home debut was a 2-1 win over the Rochester Lancers, and they followed this up with a 3-2 win over the New York Cosmos in their first away game. Peter Silvester scored 2 goals in each game. During the season attendance was lagging and the front office was frequently described as being ‘in turmoil’. Lou Foreaker resigned as GM and President of the team on May 19th, 16 days into the season, after a difference of opinion with his co-owners over management of the team. Head coach Millward was named as interim manager and wanted the position full-time, as well as coaching. Al Collins, who was instrumental in bringing the NASL to Baltimore, was named as the new General Manager on July 12th. Millward was known to be unhappy that he didn’t get the position but vowed not to quit as Head Coach.

The Comets finished the 20 game regular season in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, just behind the Miami Toros. The Comets won 10, 2 tie-wins, and lost 8 games, scoring 42 goals and conceding 46. This record was good enough for them to reach the playoffs. In the playoff quarter-finals, the Comets were paired against the Boston Minutemen in a winner takes all game. The Comets lost 1-0 and were eliminated.
The franchises leading goal scorer and points scorer was Englishman Peter Silvester with 14 goals and 3 assists for 31 points. This placed him 2nd in the NASL scoring charts. Keith Aqui registered the most assists with 7. At the end on the season Peter Silvester and fellow Englishman Geoff Butler, defender, made the NASL All-Star team. Silvester was also named the NASL’s MVP for the 1974 season.

Despite a reasonable season the Comets average attendance at the 47,000 capacity Memorial Stadium was low, only 4,139. This was the 3rd worst average in the 15 team NASL. Their largest attendance was against the Toronto Metros, where they drew 6,480 fans.

Despite the poor attendance the ownership announced on July 16th (2 days after being knocked out of the playoffs) that the franchise would remain in Baltimore for the forthcoming 1975 season. Two cities had been vying to take on the franchise that had lost a reputed $300,000 in its first season.

For the 1975 season the Comets were again in the Eastern Division, with the same teams as the season before, plus the expansion Tampa Bay Rowdies franchise. The regular season was extended to 22 games.

The franchise remained largely the same, although Brit defender and American national defender Len Renery was signed from the New York Cosmos. During the college draft in January they picked Ernie Cox of Loyola College first. The team faced difficulties getting Peter Silvester back for his second season, first they had difficult negotiations with his English side Southend United, and then a further delay in getting his visa approved.

During the season the Comets were evicted from Memorial Stadium due to non-payment of rents after only 2 home games of the 1975 season, showing that the franchise was in financial difficulty. The team moved its home base on 28th May to Burdick Stadium, on the campus of Towson University, just outside of Baltimore. This made them Baltimore County’s first ever professional sports franchise. The stadium had a vastly smaller capacity of 11,000, which was more in line with the Comets meagre crowds.

English striker Alan Gilliver, a summer signing, was taken off the roster after injury and returned to the UK after only 5 games. Keith Aqui was named NASL player of the week after 5 goals in 3 wins. After 15 games of the regular season Doug Millward was fired as Head Coach, and was reluctantly replaced by GM Al Collins, who became Head Coach for the final 7 games of the season. He wanted to appoint the Comets goalkeeper and Director of Summer Camps, Lincoln Phillips, into the role but this would have jeopardized his position of Head Coach of Howard University’s soccer team. NCAA rules would not permit his appointment. This actually worked out well as the Comets won their first 3 games under Collins’ charge. It still came too late for them to make the playoffs.

After the 22 game regular season the Comets placed dead last in the Eastern Division. Their record was 9 wins and 13 losses, scoring 34 goals and conceding 52 (the highest in the NASL that season).

The Comets leading scorer in all areas was Keith Aqui, who scored 10, made 3 assists, and finished with 21 points.

The Comets average attendance fell even lower than its debut season, down to a miniscule 2,641, the lowest in the league that season.

After the 1975 season the franchise was purchased by Ken Keegan, part-owner of the San Jose Earthquakes, and moved to San Diego to become the Jaws, ending Baltimore professional soccer interest until the indoor Baltimore Blast would begin play in the MISL in 1980. Deegan was an auto dealer from San Jose. 7 players from the Comets roster went with the franchise to San Diego including star forward Peter Silvester, defender Len Renery, midfielder Keith Aqui, and goalkeeper Alan Mayer.

The Comets all-time record was 42 regular season games, with 19 wins, 2 tie-wins, and 21 losses. They scored 76 goals and conceded 98. They played 1 game in the NASL playoffs, losing 1-0.Their all-time top goal scorer was Peter Silvester with 19, and leading appearance maker was English defender Geoff Butler with 40.

The franchises average attendance over its 2-year history was 3,390.

Baltimore Blast (1980-1992)

The Baltimore Blast were a professional indoor soccer team who played in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) from 1980 until the league collapsed in 1992. This page is dedicated to the first incarnation of the Blast, as opposed to the indoor team who operated in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL)from 1998.

The Blast franchise began life as the Houston Summit, who were one of the founder teams of the MISL in 1978. The Summit were essentially the indoor team of the North American Soccer League’s (NASL) Houston Hurricane.

The Blast franchise was originally owned by Bernie Rodin, who also owned the NASL’s Rochester Lancers, and the New York Arrows in the MISL. Tim Leiweke was named as General Manager.

The home arena for the Blast throughout its 12 year existence was the 11,271 capacity Baltimore Arena. The Blast shared the arena with the Baltimore Skipjacks ice hockey team and the Baltimore Thunder professional lacrosse team.

Kenny Cooper as appointed as head coach, having followed the franchise from Houston. He would remain in charge for the whole 12 year existence of the Blast.

The Blast’s inaugural season was 1980-81. They were placed in the Atlantic Division, against the Hartford Hellions, New York Arrows, and the Philadelphia Fever.
Holdovers on the roster from the Houston Summit included defender Neil Cohen, goalkeeper Sepp Gantenhammer, defender Jim Pollihan, and forward Gerry Morielli.

During the season Tim Leiweke resigned as GM under heavy pressure from majority owner Bernie Rodin to sign a longer contract. He was replaced in by Mitch Burke. In other news they signed forward Mark Liveric, who would go on to score 32 goals in the season. They decided to play Kool & The Gang’s hot track ‘Celebration’ every time they scored. Radio coverage was provided by WFBR, and commentary by Art Sinclair and Charley Eckman. Sonny Askew was signed from the Washington Diplomats in the NASL only lasted 11 games before being traded to the Montreal Manic after being unable to come to terms with the indoor game.

The Blast finished the 40 game regular season in 2nd place, making the playoffs. They won 21 games and lost 19, scoring 182 and conceding 190. In the 1st round of the playoffs the Blast beat the Cleveland Force in a tight contest over 3 games. They won the first 6-5 in overtime, were soundly beaten 7-1 in the return before winning the decider 5-2. The semi-finals were a one leg affair, and the Blast were crushed 10-1 against the New York Arrows, who were the MISL’s best side.

Their average attendance was 6,540. Dan Counce was named the Blast’s MVP for the season. The Blast ownership reportedly lost around $300,000 in the first season.
For the 1981-1982 season the MISL league structure was altered, placing teams in either an Eastern or Western division. The Blast were placed in the Eastern, alongside the Buffalo Stallions, Cleveland Force, New Jersey Rockets, New York Arrows, Philadelphia Fever, and the Pittsburgh Spirit.

Before the season forward Joey Fink and goalkeeper Keith Van Eron were signed from the Philadelphia Fever. Also Tim Wittman was drafted from Calvert Hall College High School. He was to play 10 seasons for the Blast in defence. Also incoming was Yugoslav-born defender Mike Stankovic who was signed from the NASL’s Dallas Tornado.
During the season summer signing and NASL veteran Garry Ayre had to retire with a knee injury.
Over a longer 44 game regular season the Blast placed 3rd in their 6 team division, again making the playoffs. They won 27 and lost 17 of their games, scoring 223 and conceding 207 goals. In the 1st round of playoffs the Blast defeated the Pittsburgh Spirit. They lost the first game 3-1, before winning the final 2 games 6-5 and 6-2. For the 2nd year running they met the New York Arrows in the playoffs, this time over a 3 game series. The result was the same though, losing 6-5 and 6-2 to eliminate them. Their leading goal scorer was Joey Fink with 51 goals, 22 assists, and 73 points.

Their average attendance increased to 9,557.

For the 1982-1983 season the Blast were again in the Eastern Division, now expanded to 7 teams. The Philadelphia Fever had moved to Los Angeles to become the Lazers, and were replaced by the NASL’s Chicago Sting (the NASL indoor league was on hiatus for the season), and the Memphis Americans. The season as extended to 48 games.

Major signings included German defender Heinz Wirtz from the Washington Diplomats in the NASL, Canadian midfielder Pat Ercoli joined from the Buffalo Stallions, and American forward Dave MacWilliams was signed from the Philadelphia Fever.

Bernie Rodin proved to be a colourful owner, when he wasn’t demanding that referees be replaced, he was promising his players free colour TV sets if they won.

Over the 48 game season, the Blast topped the Eastern Division with a record of 30 wins and 18 losses. The Blast scored 249 goals and conceded 224. Paired again against the New York Arrows, this time in the 1st round of the playoffs, the Blast finally managed to beat them. The first game was an 11-4 victory, they lost a close second 7-6, before winning the decider 8-3. In the semi-finals they beat the Cleveland Force over a 5 game series. They then reached the grand final against another NASL interloper, the San Diego Sockers. The Sockers crushed the Blast 6-0 and 7-0 in the first 2 games of the series, before the Blast battled back to win the next 2 games 4-3 and 7-6. In the MISL title decider however the Sockers returned to form winning 3-1.

Dave McWilliams was the Blast’s leading scorer with 41 goals and 27 assists for 68 points. This however only placed him joint 16th in the MISL scoring list. Yugoslav Stan Stamenkovic won the title for most assists however, and German defender Heinz Wirtz made the MISL All-Star team. Their average attendance was 10,729 – a figure which nearly filled the Baltimore Arena, and topped most NASL outdoor franchises.

The 1983-1984 MISL season saw the Blast in a nearly unchanged Eastern Division, with only the Chicago Sting leaving to go back into the NASL’s indoor league.

The Blasts major signing in was Yugoslav Srboljub “Stan” Stamenkovic from the the Memphis Americans. Due to his portliness and love of American fast food, Stan was quickly nicknamed the “Pizza Man”, and was noted for his skill outweighing his oversize frame. In Memphis they ran a competition where one fan could go to a “Pizza Party” with Stan who tipped the scales at 223 pounds. Stamenkovic cost the blast and league record $150,000 to sign (although fellow Yugoslav Ray Kunovac was thrown in as well), and his salary was reputed to be $100,000 a year. As soon as he signed Cooper flew to Stamenkovic’s home town of Titova Uzice in Yugoslavia to make him add a ‘weight clause’ into his contact. Also in was English born defender Paul Kitson from the New York Arrows who signed a 3-year $80,000 a year contract. Also incoming was goalkeeper Scott Manning from the Phoenix Inferno. Head Coach Kenny Cooper signed a new 3-year deal.

During the season it was announced that Bernie Rodin would be selling the Blast at the end of the season to Nathan Scherr for $2,900,000. Scherr was involved in construction in Baltimore. He beat off rival offers from Joe Cowan & Dennis Townsend, and another offer from Charles A. Lankford. Joey Fink became the first player to score over 200 MISL goals.

The Blast again topped the Eastern Division after 49 regular season games, winning 34 and losing only 14 for the best record in the MISL. They scored a league high 280 goals for the season, conceding 203. They again met the New York Arrows in the 1st round of playoffs . They won the first game 11-5, before losing the second 9-8 in overtime. They won the next 2 games 4-3 and 14-5 to reach the semi finals and a match against the Cleveland Force. They whitewashed the Force, winning 3 games 5-4, 6-5 and 7-2 to reach the MISL grand final series against the St. Louis Steamers.

The Final series was over 7 games, and the Steamers gained the upper hand in the 1st match winning 7-3. This was to be their only win of the series as the Blast went on to win the next 4 games 5-3, 5-2, 5-4, and 10-3 to win their first and only MISL championship. The final game attracted a Baltimore Arena record of 12,007 fans, despite the Baseball team playing , and the match being on live television locally.

Each player on the roster was due to receive $1,608 for winning the championship, but outgoing owner Bernie Rodin said he would be giving each player a diamond ring and $9,000 instead. Goalkeeper Scott Manning was named as the championship series ‘Player of the Year’ title. Yugoslav Stan Stamenkovic led the MISL in points with 97, and assists with 63, he was also the Blast’s leading goal scorer with 34 goals.

In the end of season awards Stamenkovic won the league’s MVP title, and was the only Blast player to make the MISL All-Star team. The Blast’s average attendance again rose, this time up to a franchise all-time high of 11,189, nearly filling the Baltimore Arena.

The 1984-1985 season in the MISL kicked off with less competition, the outdoor NASL had folded leaving the MISL as the premier professional soccer league in America. This also meant that the quality of players available to the MISL became better, and cut out the salary wars that had been fought with the NASL over players. The Blast were again in the Eastern Division, this time lining up alongside established MISL franchises (Cleveland Force, Pittsburgh Spirit, and St. Louis Steamers), as well as 3 new teams from the NASL (Chicago Sting. Minnesota Strikers, and the once powerful New York Cosmos.

The season began under the new ownership group headed by Nathan Scherr. Rodin stated that in the previous 2 season the Blast had lost $11,200,000. Scherr however quickly got used to the showmanship factor of the MISL by dressing up as the ‘Ghostbusters’ with Head Coach Kenny Cooper and GM Mitch Burke and sliding down a pole ss pre-match entertainment.

Before the season kicked off the Blast lost forward Joey Fink who had retired, and goalkeeper Keith Van Eron who signed for the Las Vegas Americans. They signed defender Bruce Savage who would play 8 seasons for the Blast and play 347 games.

During the season Scherr proved himself a hands-on owner, lambasting the bully-boy tactics the Cleveland Force used against Stan Stamenkovic.

The Blast topped the Eastern Division again, winning 32 of its 48 games, and losing 16. The Blast scored 252 goals and conceded only 190, for the best defence in the league. Winning the Division automatically out the Blast into the quarter finals of the playoffs where they easily beat the Los Angeles Lazers over 3 games 4-3, 12-3 and 5-4. Into the semi finals against the Cleveland Force, the Blast won 4 of the 7 game series, losing only to get into the MISL Championship Final for the 3rd season in a row. They were beaten over only 5 games of the 7 game series by the San Diego Sockers, the same teamed who had beaten them in the final 2 years previously. They lost the opening 2 games 5-4 and 7-3, then won the 3rd 10-6, before losing the final two 14-2 and 5-3.

The Blast had joint leading goal scorers, Yugoslav Stan Stamenkovic, and naturalized Englishman Paul Kitson with 39 goals apiece. Stamenkovic was the team’s leading assist maker with 52, and the leading points scorer with 91. The Blast’s Scott Manning was voted the MISL’s ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’. Manning and defender Mike Stankovic made the MISL All-Star team. The teams average attendance was 11,051.

The 1985-86 season began with the Blast again in the Eastern Division. The New York Cosmos had folded during the previous season, and the St. Louis Steamers had moved to the Western Division. To replace them the Dallas Sidekicks had been drafted in. The MISL had also signed a deal with ESPN for 15 regular season MISL games to be televised nationwide.

Prior to the season defender and ex All-Star, Heinz Wirtz was sold to the Chicago Sting for $5,000 after 151 games and 82 goals. Midfielder Pat Ercoli left and joined the Cleveland Force after 170 games and 112 goals. Goalkeeper Keith Van Eron was re-signed from the defunct Las Vegas Americans after 1 season away. The Blast was looking to reduce the roster by 4 to 18 players. The Blast signed Cypriot player Yilmaz Orhan, however they had to wait for him as he was serving a 4 month prison sentence for drink-driving. Antonio Carbognani signed a one year deal worth $40,000.
Also during the season Scherr brought a lawsuit against former owner Bernie Rodin over $55,000 interest charges on the sale of the Blast.

After 3 years of success the Blast only just made the playoffs. They finished a disappointing 4th in the Eastern Division, winning and losing 24 games of their 48 game schedule. They scored 211 and conceded 201 goals, and barely pipped the Chicago Sting to the playoffs by 1 game. They went out of the playoffs at the first hurdle, the quarter finals, losing to the Cleveland Force.

Stan Stamenkovic was again the team’s leader, scoring the most goals (37), registering the most assists (44), and scoring the most points (81). Keith Van Eron was voted ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ in the MISL, but the Blast placed no players on the MISL All-Star team. Their average attendance was decreasing but remained high at 10,189.

The 1986-1987 season saw the Blast compete in an almost unchanged Eastern Division, with only the expansion New York Express replacing the folded Pittsburgh Spirit. The Express proved disaster however and folded after only 26 games of the 52 game schedule.

Ex-Player Dan Counce was named the Blast’s Assistant General Manager, and ex-player Jim Pollihan was named as Assistant Coach.

Before the season English born defender Paul Kitson left after 3 seasons, 129 games and 94 goals. He signed for the Los Angeles Lazers. Kitson had fallen out of favour the season before, when after being benched in a game against his new team, and then he’d turned up late for training. Replacing him came English ford Billy Ronson. His signing was rare for an indoor soccer team as he was signed directly from outdoors professional football in England, Ronson having played for Blackpool the previous season. Also signing was NASL scoring legend Paul Child, who signed after the Pittsburgh Spirit had folded.

During the season the Blast traded Franz Mathieu and Ernie Buriano to the Chicago Sting for indoor legend Drago Dumbovic.

The season saw a return to form of the Baltimore Blast, finishing 2nd behind the Cleveland Force. They won 33 and lost 19 of their 52 games, scoring 239 and conceding 201. They again went out in the first round of the playoffs, losing over 5 games to the eventual champions, the Dallas Sidekicks.

Bruce Savage was voted as the ‘Defender of the Year’ in the MISL, and was placed on the MISL All-Star Team. The average attendance dropped again, down to 9,936. The franchise reputedly lost $1,000,000 during the season.

The 1987-1988 season saw the MISL teams play a record 56 game regular season. The Blast were in a smaller Eastern Division, alongside the Chicago Sting, Cleveland Force, Dallas Sidekicks, and the Minnesota Strikers. The Strikers limped into the season, and were originally due to sit it out due to their finances. The league also celebrated signing a 2 year TV deal with FNN/SCORE, which included a Friday game of the week, the playoffs, and the MISL Championship Final.

Before the season the Blast lost defender Mike Stankovic to the Wichita Wings after 212 games and 120 goals. Also leaving were forward Dave MacWilliams, who signed for the Chicago Sting after 162 games and 115 goals. They acquired polish defender Helmut Dudek from the Minnesota Strikers for future considerations. In the draft the blast acquired David Nakhid as 1st pick.

The Blast qualified for the playoffs, finishing a lowly 4th out of their 5 game Division. They won 25 of their games and lost 31, scoring 235 and conceding 249. They fell to their Division winners Minnesota Strikers in the 1st round of the playoffs to end another disappointing season. Their average attendance dropped again, down to 8,221 fans.

The 1988-1989 MISL season was greatly weakened after 5 franchises folded after the 1987-1988 season. The teams had begun a salary war with the rival AISA/NPSL, which caused a number of franchises to over-extend themselves financially, leading to many casualties. The MISL was re-organized into a single division comprising only 7 teams. The Blast lined up against the Dallas Sidekicks, Kansas City Comets, Los Angeles Lazers, San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars, and the Wichita Wings.

The Blast lost Stan Stamenkovic, who retired and moved back to Yugoslavia to open a pizza parlour. He had played 179 games and scored 130 goals. Also retiring was goalkeeper Keith Van Eron. In two spells with the Blast he played a total of 165 games. In the 199=88 draft the Blast chose Mike Agnew as their 1st choice (4th overall). Other draft picks included defender Mark Mettrick.

During the season the Blast featured in an indoor exhibition against the touring Lokomotiv Moscow, beating the Russians 8-4.

After 2 years of disappointing regular season the Blast turned it around in 1988-1989 to top the regular standings. After 48 games, they had won 29 and lost 19, scoring 215 and conceding 208. They went straight into the Semi-finals of the playoffs where they dispatched the Wichita Wings over the 7 game series, ending it with a crushing 11-1 victory.

The final was for the 3rd time against the San Diego Sockers, and for the 3rd time they lost. They won the 1st 4-3 in overtime, before losing the second in overtime again 5-4. The Sockers won the next two 5-2 and 4-3, but managed to claw back in the next two winning 6-3 and 7-0. The decider went down to the wire but the Sockers triumped 6-5.

Canadian Dominic Mobilio was the team’s leading goal scorer with 36, South African David Byrne registered most assists with 29, and Canuck Carl Valentine scored the most points overall with 57. In the end of season awards Kenny Cooper was voted ‘Coach of the Year’, defender Rusty Troy was ‘Rookie of the Year’, and midfielder Dominic Mobilio won ‘Newcomer of the Year’. Strangely given the award winners the two players the Blast placed on the MISL All-Star team were goalkeeper Scott Manning, and defender Bruce Savage. The Blast’s average attendance fell again, despite their successful season, to 8,170. The franchise lost around $1,000,000 during the season.

The 1989-90 season saw the MISL revert back to two separate divisions, both comprising 4 teams. The Blast were placed in the Eastern, lining up against the expansion Cleveland Crunch, the Kansas City Comets, and the Wichita Wings.

The ownership changed again, with Nathan Scherr selling his interest to Ed Hale for $700,000 ($2.200,000 less than Scherr paid for it in 1984) on the 16th September 1989. Ed Hale was involved in shipping, containers, and haulage. He said he was purchasing the team to keep them in Baltimore and to show the NFL that Baltimore deserved an American football team too. Hale had been trying to bring the NFL to Baltimore since the Colts had left in 1983. Hale said he was prepared to lose money for 3 seasons. Mitch Burke left his position as General Manager and was replaced by Stan White.

The 1989-1990 season saw the return of defender Mike Stankovic after one season with the Wichita Wings. He arrived in a trade alongside Peter Ward that took Brazilian forward Keder, and South African forward David Byrne to Wichita.

During the season Ed Hale was named on the MISL’s management committee.

The Blast topped the Eastern Division after the 52 game regular season, winning 32 and losing 20. They scored a season league high 231 goals, and conceded only 191. Winning their division placed them directly into the Semi-finals of the playoffs where they easily dispatched the Kansas City Comets, and put them into the MISL Championship Series.

For the 4th time, they met the all-powerful San Diego Sockers in the final, and again they were to come up short. They won the first game of the series 7-4 which gave them hope, before losing the next three games 4-3, 5-2 and 4-1. Needing to win to keep in contention, they scraped a 3-2 win, but lost the series in the next game, losing 6-4.

Dominic Mobilio was the team’s leading goal scorer and points scorer, with 41 and 61 respectively. Fellow Canadian Carl Valentine registered the most assists with 34. Despite reaching the final their players won no awards, and no player was placed on the MISL All-Star team. Their average attendance rose slightly, up to 8,530. The Blast reputedly lost $1,100,000 this season.

The 1990-1991 MISL rebranded as the MSL (Major Soccer League). A 9 game deal was signed with ESPN to televise the games. The MSL retained all the same teams as the season before, and no changes were made to the divisions. Despite this show of stability a lot of the franchises were struggling financially after the bidding war with the NPSL. Each team’s salary cap was limited to $630,000.

Before the season General manager Stan white resigned to pursue other business opportunities , and his duties were mostly taken over by the owner Ed Hale. Ex-player and Director of Marketing John Borozzi took over the role and was also named as Vice President. Kenny Cooper was named as President as well as fulfilling his Head Coach role. Drew Forrester was appointed assistant GM, replacing ex-player Dan Counce. Assistant Coach Jim Pollihan quit in order to become Head Coach at the Harrisburg Heat in the NPSL.

During the season veteran Tim Wittman injured his back, and had to sign a special amendment to his $52,000 a year contract, which meant he wasn’t paid during his injury lay-off. Also during the season English midfielder Billy Ronson spoke out about the stay-away fans, and the discrepancy between those who attend the promotions and those who actually attend the games. One reason given for this was the state of the Baltimore Arena. Hale had plans to build a new 20,000 capacity arena on Timonium racecourse, however what type of arena this would be, would be dependent on if he was granted an NFL franchise. They also offered fans who attended the game against the Kansas City Comets free tickets for the next home game against the Tacoma Stars.

Hale was also fined 1,000 for having a go at referee Toros Kibritjian, suggesting he retire. The referee had reported the Blast to the league about the state of their playing surface., which ended up with the Blast spending $30,000 on upgrading it. Hale also had a feud running with Cleveland Crunch owner George Hoffman, Hoffman had said some uncomplimentary things about the Blast after his Crunch side had beaten them 11-2. Hale also got involved in a feud with Baltimore broadcaster Tom Davis, who had compared him to Baltimore Colts Head Coach Robert Irsay. Irsay was thought to have been a “cheap” owner. Mid season the Blast visited the UK and played against Oldham Athletic in an exhibition, winning 6-1.

During the season Hale and MISL commissioner Earl Foreman began negotiations with the NPSL with regards to a merger. This eventually came to nothing. Also due to their poor play during the season Hale was forced to defend Kenny Cooper. He also expressed a desire to have more Baltimore natives on the roster for the 1991-1992 season. To keep his run of feuds going Hale also fell out with Tim Wittman. Reportedly at a team meeting in Hale’s office in March, Wittman stormed out, cursing at Hale. Hale apparently thought Wittman was too concerned with “scoring points”.

For the first time in their history the Baltimore Blast failed to make the playoffs, finished 3rd in the Eastern Division after 52 games. They won 21 and lost 31 of their games, scoring 298 and conceding 315. Their average attendance dropped to an all-time low of 7,432. The Blast reputedly lost around $674,000.

Due to budgetary concerns the Blast had to lay off 3 of its front office. Art Sinclair, voice of the Blast since the start, and the Director of Sales and Corporate broadcasting, was laid off (only a year after quitting his day job to join the Blast full-time), PR Director Tim Donelli, and Leah Miller. Also during the close season the owners had approached the players trying to get them to reduce the salary cap to $525,000 per team (one year after the players had agreed to lower it to $630,000, with a collective bargaining deal and no morefuture cuts for 3 years. This was rejected by the players union.

For the 1991-1992 season, which was to be the last of the MISL/MSL, the league decided to reduce the schedule to 40 games to reduce costs (up to a potential $750,000). This idea was put forward by Blast owner Ed Hale Also the league concluded a new collective bargaining agreement with the players to keep salaries in check. Despite this the NPSL was still the league on the up, and after the Kansas City Comets folded the league had to go back to a single division set-up. Ominously a lot of players were jumping ship to the NPSL, which although a lower level league, was financially stable. Tragedy struck the Blast in the off season, when defender and 5-year veteran Mike Reynolds suffered a stroke whilst making an appearance with 5 other Blast members at the Jessup Pre-Release Clinic, part of the Maryland correctional system. He briefly regained consciousness before passing away. The Blast retired Reynolds’ jersey after the event. They also wore black armbands throughout the 1991-1992 season.

Before the season Blast veteran Tim Wittman left to join the San Diego Sockers after a team record 332 games and 168 goals His run-in with Hale was the reason for the trade, and he signed a one-year contract worth $45,000. Wittman also had to file a grievance against the Blast in an attempt to get $6,250 in back pay. This was in relation to the back injury he had the previous season where he wasn’t paid despite being under contract. Legendary goalkeeper Scott Manning left to join the Wichita Wings after 193 games, but was upset that he had to learn from a friend that he’d been released. In another surprising move, forward Dale Mitchell was released.

General Manager and Vice President John Borozzi quit to become Deputy Commissioner at the MISL. His GM duties were taken on by his assistant, Drew Forrester, and the new Vice President of Sales & Marketing Rob Schraf.

During the season the Blast acquired Nigerian forward Jean Harbor, for his first season indoors. Harbor took up a leave of absence from his job as a chemist to take up his position on the Blast roster. He had to work his 2 week’s notice before joining up with the team. Midfielder Waad Hirmez filed a grievance against the Baltimore Blast for them releasing him whilst he had a knee injury. He said that this violated the collective bargaining agreement between the player’s association and the owners. Assistant GM Drew Forrester said that after an MRI scan he was fit enough to play.

In January 1992 Ed Hale and Kenny Cooper had papers filed against them (along with the Cleveland Crunch) charging them with unfair labour practices concerning their attempts to lower the salary cap in the summer. They allegedly interrogated players and created the impression of surveillance regarding which players continued to oppose a reduction in the salary cap. Players Bernie James and Mike Sweeney were convinced that they had been blackballed after the July salary cap, and were told that Kenny Cooper were responsible. The matter was taken to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), who found no wrongdoing by Cooper, Hale or the Crunch. NLRB Regional Director Louis D’Amico said that “there was no evidence whatsoever”. Hale threatened action against the players responsible.

During the season they again travelled to England, beating Sheffield Wednesday 8-3 in a match played by MSL rules.

The Blast finished the 40 game season placing 4th out of 7 teams and qualifying for the playoffs. The Blast won 19 and lost 21 of their regular season games, scoring 213 and conceding 230. They went out in the semi-finals of the playoffs to their old nemesis the San Diego Sockers. Kenny Cooper had offered his resignation if they failed to beat the Sockers, but this was turned down by Ed Hale. Dominic Mobilio led the team in all areas, scoring 45 goals, making 20 assists and scoring 65 points. The average attendance dropped slightly again down to 8,206.

At the end of the season the MSL and all of its teams folded (apart from the Cleveland Crunch and Dallas Sidekicks who joined the rival NPSL). Baltimore was not long without a professional indoor soccer team, as the expansion Baltimore Spirit joined the NPSL ready for the 1992-1993 season. Head Coach Kenny Cooper, who had been instrumental in the founding of the Baltimore Spirit joined as Head Coach, and a number of Blast players followed suit. Joe Koziol, Doug Neely, Mike Stankovic, Rusty Troy, and goalkeeper Cris Vaccaro all moved to the Spirit.

Over the 12 season history of the Baltimore Blast, they played 576 regular season games, winning 327 and losing 249. They scored 2,778 goals and conceded 2,609.
In the playoffs they played 90 games, winning 49 and losing 41. They scored 444 goals and conceded 420. They won one MISL championship in the 1983-1984 season, lost the championship series 4 times (each time to the San Diego Sockers). They also won 4 divisional titles.

Bruce Savage holds the all-time appearance record for the Blast with 347 games. Tim Wittman holds the goals scored record with 168. Dave MacWilliams holds the Blast record for playoff games played and playoff points scored with 47 and 73 respectively.
Their average attendance over 12 seasons was 9,146.

Atlanta Chiefs (1979-1981)

This page deals with the second incarnation of the Atlanta Chiefs, who played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) for 3 summer seasons between 1979 and 1981. The earlier version of the franchise had operated from 1967 to 1972. The original franchise was owned by the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise, and was the brainchild of the vice-President Dick Cecil, who had seen the 1966 World Cup and was intrigued by Soccer’s potential. They won the second NASL championship in 1972. They played their final season, 1973, under a different name (Atlanta Apollos) and under different ownership. The Chiefs were created when the ownership bought the franchise rights to the Colorado Caribous in August 1978 and moved them to Atlanta. The Caribous had been a 1978 expansion franchise, but had flopped in Denver.

The Chiefs were again owned by Dick Cecil, ex Vice-President of the original Chiefs, Al Thornwell, and media mogul Ted Turner. Dick Cecil opted to return to the NASL after 7 years away as the league was stable and seemed stronger than before. Seeing the 10 year development of the league, and the grassroots strength of the sport, Cecil firmly believed that Soccer was going to be one of the major games of the future in America. He wasn’t expecting huge crowds like those that the New York Cosmos were drawing, but felt that over time the franchise would be solid and have a bright future. He was expecting the franchise to lose money over the first few seasons, and hoped for an average of 10,000 fans, although 20,000 would be needed to break even. Turner made his money in advertising, and also owned numerous TV stations in the southern United States. Prior to him becoming involved in professional soccer he also purchased the Atlanta Braves (baseball) and Atlanta Hawks (basketball) franchises in 1976. He was also a reputedly a very “hands-on” owner. During his spell as Chiefs owner he founded CNN in 1980. Co-owner Al Thornwell, was appointed President of the team, as well as running his electrical business, and his rubbish hauling business. Terry Hanson was named as Vice-President. Michael Oglesby was named as Public Relations Director.

The team also ran the Atlanta Chiefs indoor franchise in the NASL’s indoor league, also operating over 2 winter seasons between 1979 and 1981.

The outdoor team played at the local government owned Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium which had a capacity of 50,000. The Chiefs shared the stadium with the Atlanta Braves (baseball) and the Atlanta Falcons (American Football). For their indoor seasons the Chiefs played at the Omni Coliseum, a 15,278 capacity arena. The Omni was shared with the Atlanta Flames (NHL), and the Hawks (NBA). It too was owned by the City of Atlanta.

The first Head Coach of the franchise was also one of the youngest. Dan Wood was 33 years old when he was appointed. He had also been the Head Coach of the Colorado Caribous at the end of the 1978 season, and moved with the franchise regardless of the Caribous’ poor performance. He had also been Head Coach of Cornell University’s soccer program, and the Tacoma Tides of the American Soccer League (ASL). Wood wanted the team and their style to be fun for the American fans, providing a fun night out for the family.

Co-owner Dick Cecil had stated he wanted a young team competing, and with a base of American players. He wouldn’t guarantee a playoff spot, but said that they would be competitive. He wanted slow and steady progress for what he felt was still an expansion franchise, what with the Caribous only having played for one season. Financially, they were not going to over-extend themselves, or try and compete with the likes of the New York Cosmos and their multi-million pound budgets. He also felt that there wouldn’t be any competition with the Atlanta Braves who were paying at the same time in the same stadium.

The Chiefs were placed in the Central Division of the National conference, lining up against the Dallas Tornado, Minnesota Kicks, and the Tulsa Roughnecks. Each team in the NASL had to post a $150,000 bond to the league at the start of each season.
NASL rules stated that each team could have a roster of up to 30 players under contract at any one time. The Chiefs retained 10 members of the 1978 Colorado Caribous. Prior to the season they traded experienced goalkeeper Arnie Mausser to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for cash and naturalized Yugoslav forward George Nanchoff. Nanchoff’s brother Louis was also on the Chiefs roster having been a holdover from the 1978 Caribous. Forward Bob Rohrbach was traded to the Detroit Express for cash and a 2nd round draft pick. The 1979 draft was held at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. The Chiefs had first choice overall in the draft, which they traded away to the Dallas Tornado for English striker Jeff Bourne, and their 2nd and 10th draft picks. Their first choice in the draft was English born midfielder Adrian Brooks from Philadelphia Textile University who signed a 2 year contract. Wood felt he was the standout college player of the 1978 season.

The Chiefs also acquired English defender Colin Waldron from the Philadelphia Fury for cash a second round selection in the 1980 draft.

Their pre-season was hugely successful, winning 6 of their 7 games, including victory against the strong Tampa Bay Rowdies franchise.

During the season NASL players voted to go on strike over team’s management refusing to recognize their union. The Chiefs players however opted out of the strike action, The Chiefs took a while to get going, losing their first 5 games, before 2 straight wins stabilized the team. English striker George Dewsnip was signed from the Los Angeles Aztecs. To make way for him Yugoslav striker Nino Zec was sold to the Houston Hurricane mid-season, after 5 goals in 14 games. Continuing signing players during the season, English defender Mike Balson was acquired from South African side Highlands Park.

The Chiefs had some big wins, putting 6 past the Memphis Rogues, and 5 past the Edmonton Drillers, but overall were quite inconsistent, alternating from winning runs to losing runs with frequency. In August, Dan Wood was given a 2 year contract extension as Head Coach, as well as assuming duties as the team’s Director of Player Personnel. Towards the end of the season they were still in with chance of a wildcard playoff slot, but they just missed out.

After the 30 game season the Chiefs placed last in their division, failing to qualify for the NASL playoffs. They won 12 of their 30 regular season games, losing 18, scoring 60 and conceding 60 goals in the process. English striker Jeff Bourne was the Chiefs leading goal scorer and assist maker, scoring 18 and assisting on 15 goals. This earned him 51 points, placing his 4th in the list of NASL leading points scorer.
The average attendance at the 50,000 capacity Atlanta-Fulton Stadium was low, only 7,350. This figure was far lower than the expected 10,000, and nearly 13,000 short of their break-even figure of 20,000. The sight of a few thousand fans rattling around massive stadia was a common sight in the NASL. The highest attendance was 13,012 when the Dallas Tornado were the visitors.

In the close season the Chiefs joined the NASL’s indoor season for 1979-80. This was the first of the NASL indoor seasons, started up as a response to the successful Major Indoor Soccer League that had started up in 1978. Teams were limited to a roster of 14 players, 5 of which had to be American or Canadian citizens. However, only 10 of the NASL’s 24 franchises opted to play.

Dan Wood continued as head coach, and the roster was comprised of 12 members of the outdoor team, the 2 new members being defender Stuart Lilley and Joe Mui. Lilley was signed from South African side Highlands Park, where he had played for 10 years. He signed a one year contract for covering the outdoor season as well.

The Chiefs were placed into the Eastern Division, lining up against the Detroit Express, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, New England Tea Men, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
The season was only 12 games long, and the chiefs finished the regular season top of the division with 10 wins and only 2 losses, scoring 70 and conceding 46. Topping the division put them directly into the semi-finals of the playoffs, however they were defeated by the Tampa Bay Rowdies 7-3 and 6-5. David Byrne finished as both the Chiefs, and the league’s top goal scorer and points scorer with 23 goals and 11 assists for 57 points. The average attendance was good, 5,069, and they frequently outdrew the outdoor team.

Returning to outdoor action in the summer of 1980, Dan Wood remained at the helm. He also brought in Englishman Dave Chadwick, and Scottish born ex-player to act as assistant coaches. McMahon prime role was in a scouting capacity.

David Irving and Tony Whelan came in from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Whelan was traded for 3 1981 draft picks, cash, and future considerations. Scottish midfielder Brian Alderson was purchased from the New England Tea Men for cash and a 1981 3rd round draft pick. American defender Greg Makowski was sent to the Toronto Blizzard in exchange for 2 players, although he ended up at the Seattle Sounders. In the 1980 draft the Chiefs drafted defender Bruce Savage from Miami Dade, he was the 6th pick overall in the 1st round of the draft. They sold 2 South African forwards, Neill Roberts after a contract dispute, was sold to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and Jomo Sono to the Toronto Blizzard.

The team lined up in the same division, with the same teams as the season before. The Chiefs opened their home 1980 campaign with a 2-1 defeat of the New England Tea Men in front of 5,442 fans. Louie Nanchoff and Brian Alderson got the goals, with Keith Weller replying for the Tea Men.

During the season the Chiefs released Adrian Brooks, who moved to the ASL’s Pennsylvania Stoners, as well as acquiring French striker Oliver Barthou from Bordeaux on a 2 year contract. Draft pick Bruce Savage was impressive at left back, Coach Dan Wood proclaiming that he wouldn’t trade him for any other left back in the league. As he had been drafted from High School he was also the youngest starter in the NASL. He developed into a minor celebrity in Atlanta, frequently being interview by local radio and newspapers. Back-up goalkeeper Tad DeLorm left to join the Minnesota Kicks in exchange for cash and a 1st round draft pick in 1981.

Al Thornwell resigned as Chairman of the Board, being replaced by Robert Wussler. English forward Keith Furphy, was signed from the Detroit Express in exchange for cash and a 1981 1st round draft pick. Keith’s father Ken was the Head Coach at Detroit. One of the reasons for the trade was the fact that the Express’ fans frequently booed him for being the coach’s son. Mike Otiz-Velez was signed from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for cash, however the deal was not concluded when he was sent back for failing to pass the physical.

The Chiefs went on a 6 game losing streak during a terrible season, and were rumoured to have approached Ron Newman, who was managing the Miami Americans of the ASL to replace Dan Wood. This didn’t come to pass but Wood was fired as Head Coach on the 27th June, only a few months after signing a new 2 year contact. The Chiefs were 5 and 11 at the time of his dismissal, and in total his record in 56 games in charge was 19 wins and 37 losses, and he was replaced by his assistant David Chadwick until the end of the season. Robert Wussler said the ownership were disappointed with the record and were thinking of the team’s future.
Chadwick’s first game in charge was a 3-0 defeat against the Seattle Sounders, losing to a Roger Davies hat-trick. Ex-player Pat McMahon was hired as his assistant coach.
The change of coaches didn’t help as the team went on an 11 game losing streak(9 under Chadwick).They also set the all-time NASL record for going 13 games without scoring. Assistant Pat McMahon quit to take up a similar position with the Portland Timbers, as well as coaching their NASL indoor team. To spice up the team the Chiefs acquired 2 English forwards, David Irving and Tommy Ord from the Tulsa Roughnecks in a cash deal. Surprisingly the previous season’s leading scorer, and fellow Englishman Jeff Bourne was sent to the Seattle Sounders, also in a cash deal. He was having a disappointing season with only 5 goals, but the whole team was struggling. Goalkeeper Slobodan Illijevski was released, along with French striker Barthou, who had only been at the club just over a month and had signed a 2 year contract.

After the expanded 32 game regular season the Chiefs again finished dead last, winning only 7 games and losing 25 for the worst record in the whole NASL. They also scored the lowest amount of goals (34), and conceded the most (84). The franchises top goal scorer was Keith Furphy with 8 goals, he was also the leading points scorer with 21. Leading assist-maker was David Byrne with 6.

The average attendance slumped dramatically down to 4,884, making the Chiefs the lowest draw in the whole NASL. Given they needed 20,000 to break even this figure was a disaster.

Heading in to the 1980-81 indoor season, the Chiefs again fielded most of the team that had performed poorly outdoors. The season was conducted with nearly a full complement of the outdoor teams, with only the New York Cosmos and the Philadelphia Fury not competing. Due to this the divisions were re-organized. The Chiefs were placed in the Eastern Division alongside the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Jacksonville Tea Men, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Jacksonville franchise had actually begun as the New England Tea Men, but the franchise moved from Boston after only 2 games.

English forward Paul Child was signed, coming back to a club where he had started his American soccer career in 1972. He at that point was 4th on the all-time NASL points scorers list. The Chiefs acquired him from the Calgary Boomers in exchange for a “substantial” amount of cash and a 1981 1st round draft pick. Child had never played for the Boomers, who were a new franchise for 1981 who had previously been the Memphis Rogues. The Chiefs also signed Ken Mokgojoa from the Washington Diplomats. The Nanchoff brothers left in cash deals to join clubs in the more stable MISL, George signed for the Phoenix inferno, and Louie for the Philadelphia Fever. Ex-South African player of the year Lawrence Chelan was signed from the Arcadia Shepherds for cash.

Surprisingly, the Chiefs who had been so abysmal outdoors yet again won their division indoors. Of the 18 game schedule, the Chiefs won 13 and lost only 5, scoring 97 and conceding 75. In the 1st round of the playoffs the Chiefs dispatched the Minnesota Kicks 10-8 and 5-4. However they failed in the semi-finals, losing to the Chicago Sting in a mini-game after they won a game apiece. They also vastly outdrew the outdoor team, attracting an average of 10,287 to the Omni Coliseum. This was the highest average attendance in the whole history of the NASL indoor league . Keith Furphy scored the most goals with 32, scoring 76 points. The leading assist-makers were Brian Alderson and Tony Whelan with 16 each.

Before the start of the outdoor 1981 season, Ted Turner had stated that this season was their last chance to make a success, otherwise he would look to sell or close the franchise. The team retained Dave Chadwick as Head Coach for the 1981 NASL season. The team boosted its frontline considerably by signing English forward Brian Kidd on loan from Bolton Wanderers in England, pairing him alongside Paul Child. Also signed were English goalkeeper Graham Tutt. Defender Hayden Knight signed from Edmonton Drillers, in exchange for a 1982 draft pick.

In a league re-jigging, the Chiefs were placed in the Southern Division alongside the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Jacksonville Tea Men, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

There was hope that the team’s attendance might rise as the baseball season was delayed by strike action. Ted Turner offered any Atlanta Braves ticket-holders the chance to watch Chiefs’ games for free. The affect was only minimal however, with around 700 fans taking up the offer. Due to their success indoors Ted Turner was considering dropping the Chiefs and moving them indoors into the MISL. General Manager Terry Hanson partially blamed Turner for the team’s low attendances because he chose to televise all home Chiefs games in its debut season, thus not encouraging fans to come to the stadium, especially as they lost the first 5 games.

After 2 regular seasons finishing in last position, the 1981 season saw an impressive turnaround with them topping the division and qualifying for the playoffs. In 32 games the Chiefs won 17 and lost 15 games, scoring 62 goals and conceding 60. They went out in the first round of the playoffs however, losing 3-2 and 2-1 against divisional rivals the Tea Men.

Brian Kidd was the Chiefs leading goal scorer with 22 in only 27 games, placing him 3rd in the NASL’s goal scoring table behind Giorgio Chinaglia of the Cosmos and Mike Stojanovic of the San Diego Sockers. He was also the Chiefs leading points scorer with 52 (4th overall in NASL). The Chiefs leading assist maker was Scot Brian Alderson with 13.

The average attendance rose from the 1980 level back up to 6,189, but this was still the 3rd worst in the NASL that year, even though the Chiefs were successful.

On the 28th August 1981, 2 days after going out of the NASL playoffs, the Atlanta Chiefs announced that they were to fold. They blamed low attendances and the fact that they had lost $7,000,000 over the team’s 3 year history. Robert Wussler said the team would terminate operations on the 7th September, one day after the Soccer Bowl. The NASL had a rule prohibiting any team to cease operations before the Soccer Bowl. Up until that point they would consider any viable offers to buy the franchise. He also confirmed that the team was not going to be moving indoors and joining the MISL. They were put off by the potential of lawsuits from the NASL about jumping leagues. Turner had said in June that if the team won their division (they did) that he would sell everything he owned to keep the Chiefs going, however he now felt he couldn’t afford it, as he needed every dollar for his new CNN network.

Bruce Savage and Carl Strong were sold to the Portland Timbers, the Montreal Manic purchased the NASL rights to defender Hayden Knight and goalkeeper Victor Nogueira. Any players not signed went into a dispersal draft.

Ex-General Manager Terry Hanson said that if the Chiefs had still been going he would have wanted to get them into a smaller stadium, as the atmosphere in the Atlanta-Fulton stadium was the worst in the league and like a mausoleum due to the number of empty seats.

Outdoors there record in regular season game was:
Played: 94 Won: 36 Lost: 58 Goals for: 156 Goals against: 204
Most Appearances: Webster Lichada (93)
Most Goals: Jeff Bourne (23)
Most Assists: Jeff Bourne (20)
Most Points: Jeff Bourne (66)

Their playoff record was 2 games played, both losses scoring 3 and conceding 5.

Their total attendance outdoors over 3 seasons was 18,434, and their overall average was 6,141 fans in the 50,000 capacity Atlanta-Fulton stadium.

Their record indoors was
Games Played : 30 Won: 23 Lost: 7 Goals Scored 167 Goals Against 121
David Byrne scooped all the Atlanta Chiefs indoor records, with most appearances (28), most goals (37), most assists (20), and most points (94).

In the NASL indoor playoffs they played 6 games, winning 3 and losing 3. They scored 37 and conceded 42.

Their total attendance at the 15,278 capacity Omni Coliseum over 2 seasons was 15,356, making their overall average indoors, 7,678. This was a substantially higher average that their outdoor figures.

Atlanta Attack

The Atlanta Attack were a professional indoor soccer team from Atlanta, Georgia. They were founded in 1989, but only lasted for 2 seasons until the franchise was moved to Kansas City in 1991. They played their first season (1989-1990) in the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA), which changed it’s name for their second season (1990-91) to the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL).

Their home ground was the Omni Arena in Atlanta, which had a capacity of 15,278. They shared the arena with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA.

The franchise’s majority owner was Ron Terwilliger. He was the owner of Trammell Crow Residential, a company which is the largest developer of multi-family housing in the USA. The President was announced as Bob Moreland. After 4 games of the season Terwilliger announced he was taking over day-to-day team operations from Moreland, who was sacked.

The Head Coach was American Keith Tozer, who also saw playing time in the 1989-90 season. He stayed for the duration of the team in Atlanta. Prior to taking up the position he had been working as Sales Manager for Boxing at the Forum in Los Angeles. He’d been doing that role since he lost his job as head coach of the Los Angeles Lazers when they went out of business after the 1988-1989 season. Englishman Adrian Brooks was named as player/assistant coach.

For their first season in the AISA the Attack were placed in the American Division, lining up against the Canton Invaders, Hershey Impact, and the Memphis Rogues. Being a new franchise the team participated in both the expansion draft as well as the Amateur draft. In the expansion draft the Attack were allowed to choose 2 players from every existing AISA franchise, although the existing teams were allowed to protect 12 members of their 16 player rosters. In the amateur draft the Attack had first pick in each of 4 rounds. They chose Brian Haynes (1st), Guy Furfaro (2nd), Angelo Panzetta (3rd) and goalkeeper Jon Halliwell (4th). Of these only Haynes would make any impact. In the main draft they chose Hayden Knight from the Milwaukee Wave, a surprise as the veteran ahd only played 5 games the previous season. Knight opted not to sign, and instead continue wih his teaching career. Zoltan Meszaros was drafted from the Chicago Power, but refused to sign a contract as he had a salesman’s job and a new house in Chicago.

Notable players on the roster for the first year were Americans Peter Hattrup and Keith Tozer, Yugoslavs Drago Dumbovic and Zoran Savic, and Trinidadian midfielder Brian Haynes. The team was limited by the league to a 16 man roster.

7 of the Attack’s away fixtures were televised on Channel 46 – WGNX. However after 2 games the Attack announced that it was pulling out of the contract because it couldn’t afford it (franchises paid the TV stations for the air-time). This gave the indication that the team’s finances weren’t quite right. WHCK 105.7 however offered live radio coverage of the Attack for both seasons. Neil Williamson was the colour announcer.

The franchise began life with a home game against the Indiana Kick on the 10th November 1989. They won 23-11 in front of 10,462 fans, which was the largest ever first game total for an expansion team in the AISA. Attendances were low, and the franchise was worried that not many people knew that they even existed, a fact confirmed by the teams President John Durham.

During the season the Attack acquired Zoran Savic, a leading indoor player in a trade with the Memphis Rogues. In return the Rogues got cash, Glenn Lurie and Paul Carollo. During the season goalkeepr John Halliwell was waived and signed with the Chicago Power. He was replaced with Hank Henry from the Dallas Sidekicks. Forward Jeff Rogers was added from the Milwaukee Wave.

Drago Dumbovic, high scoring crowd favourite, was traded out to the Hershey Impact mid-season for English forward Franklin McIntosh. The Impact had drew 4,000 fans to their arena earlier in the season against the Attack by making it a “Stop Drago” night, which confirmed his prowess as a player indoors. The trade turned acrimonius when Drago’s lawyers stated that he was entitled to incentives worth $45,000 that were verbally agreed by Attack team representative’s. Drago stated that he had a “no-cut, no-trade” clause in his contract. This was disputed by Ron Terwilliger. Drago then went to Cobb County Superior Court to get a temporary restraining order blocking the trade. This was denied and he ended up in Hershey making the trade. On Drago’s return to the Omni later in the season, he was welcomed by a fan’s banner proclaiming “Drago Drago Yugoslavian Ball Hog”.

The team played attacking football, constantly pressing the opposition. This high tempo style of play was exciting, although it frequently left them running on empty towards the end of the match and letting in cheap goals.

By the start of March it was estimated that the franchise had already lost $415,000.

The season lasted 40 games, of which the Attack won 23 and lost 17, scoring 443 goals and conceding 382. This placed them second in the division and entered them into the playoffs. They got through the first round beating the Hershey Impact 13-10 and 13-9. For the semi-finals they were paired against the Dayton Dynamo. After crushing the Dynamo 15-2 in the first game, they ended up losing the decisive second game in overtime. They then lost the third game 13-6.

Leading goal scorer for the Attack was Peter Hattrup with 88 goals. Brian Haynes was voted ‘Rookie of the Year’. Hattrup was placed on the AISA All-star team for his performances.
The teams highest attendance was 13,858 against the Memphis Rogues, a season high for the AISA. It’s lowest was 2,622 against the Milwaukee Wave. Approximately the average (as I don’t have all the attendance figures) was around 7,466. This is certainly very on the optimistic side.

As the league’s name changed for the 1990-1991 season, Atlanta again took their place in a re-jigged American Division. They were again alongside the Canton Invaders and Hershey Impact, but also alongside newcomers the New York Kick, and the Detroit Rockers.

Off the field changes included English ex-professional Graham Tutt was named as a Vice-President of Operations. Tutt had played for Charlton in England, in South Africa, and in the States with the Columbus Magic, Atlanta Chiefs and the Georgia Generals. The team’s President John Durham quit after being ask to take a pay cut. Majority owner Ron Terwilliger was named the NPSL’s Executive Committee Chairman. Vernon Riggs was promoted to the position of General Manager, having only been assistant GM the previous season. He had also previously been in charge of Marketing for the MISL’s Wichita Wings.

In the off season the Attack signed goalkeeper A.J. Lachowski from the MISL’s Tacoma Stars. Notable players were Polish-American Janusz Michallik, Brian Haynes, Zoran Savic, and English forward Franklin McIntosh.

Before the season in an effort to drum up support the Attack enlisted Atlanta marketing firm T.G. Madison, who ran ads in newspapers and on radio, as well 16 billboards around the city proclaiming “Everybody’s Going Socco!”, with faces with soccer ball eyes.

The team started the season badly, and their defence was the worst in the league, although they still maintained their all-out attack approach of the previous season. Their form turned around though and they embarked on a 7 game winning streak.

During the season they had to release midfielder Chris Hellenkamp to stay within the league’s $132,000 salary cap. Defender Todd Smith was traded to the Hershey Impact for cash and a 2nd round draft pick. After the success of their first season Atlanta were given the honour of hosting the NPSL All-star game, however with attendances lower, Ron Terwilliger was non-committal about their future for the flowing season. Midfielder John Diffley was waived. Star player Franklin McIntosh was traded back to the Hershey Impact for defender Larry Julius. Coach Keith Tozer was showered with water and ice cubes after his 100th career AISA/NPSL coaching victory.

Attendances were low. 1,786 (2nd lowest in franchise history) paid to see them play the Illinois Thunder. By the end of January 1st year GM Vernon Riggs was fired by the owner due to the attendances. Graham Tutt also resigned, and the team went on a five game losing streak. By April the players weren’t sure if they were going to be getting their salaries due to ‘cash-flow problems’. Ron Terwilliger stated he wouldn’t be sure if he was going to bring back the franchise until he saw how well financially the Atalanta Attack’s summer coaching schools went. Due to finances they cancelled the WHCK radio broadcasts, only to be met by a fans backlash. The broadcasts were restarted for the playoffs. Also both playoff games were to be held in Dayton, as the Omni was already booked.

They finished the division second after the 40 game regular season, behind the all-powerful Canton Invaders again. They won 25 and lost 15 of their 40 games, scoring 544 and conceding 401. For the second year running they crashed out of the playoffs to the Dayton Dynamo, this time in the first round losing 11-6 and 17-6.
Yugoslav Zoran Savic was the team’s leading goals and assists scorer with 56 and 33 respectively.

The average attendance (again an approximate figure) was around 3,748. It was revealed that the Omni was charging the Attack the highest rent in professional soccer, indoor or outdoor.

Tom Kenny a businessman who made his fortune through 1-800 numbers, began negotiating to buy the franchise, however this came to nothing.On September 4th the franchise was moved to Kansas City ready for the 1991-1992 season, becoming the Kansas City Attack. Terwilliger retained a minority ownership stake, the majority stake was owned by Chris Economides & Lou Gatsis, who had been trying to get an NPSL franchise in Rochester off the ground without much success. Coach Keith Tozer and nearly the whole roster followed the franchise to Kansas City.

In total they played 80 regular season games, winning 48 and losing 32, scoring 987 and conceding 783. In the playoffs they won 3 and lost 4 games, scoring 65 and conceding 70.

Arizona Sandsharks

The Arizona Sandsharks were an indoor soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They were founded on August 3rd 1992, and were founder members of the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL). They played in the league between 1993 and the leagues collapse in 1997, although they spent the 1996 season on hiatus.

The CISL was an indoor soccer league, which operated from April through to September, with the playoffs taking place at the start of October. It was created largely by owners of Hockey and Basketball arenas, as well as the ownership of the San Diego Sockers and Dallas Sidekicks, the only surviving members of the now defunct Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) that had collapsed in 1992. They created the league as a way of keeping indoor soccer going during the summer (traditionally it had been an autumn to Spring season), as well as keeping arenas busy during the slow summer months.

The Sandsharks were owned by Jerry Colangelo. He was a sports mogul who also owned at various points, the Phoenix Suns (basketball), Phoenix Mercury (women’s basketball), Arizona Rattlers (Indoor American football), Arizona Diamondbacks (baseball), and the Phoenix Coyotes (ice hockey).

He also owned the America West Arena, the 15,505 capacity venue in Phoenix where the Sandsharks played, along with Colangelo’s other sports franchises. The arena was new, having only been finished in 1992.

1993:
The inaugural season of the CISL was a one division league. Alongside the Sandsharks were the Dallas Sidekicks, Los Angeles United, Monterrey LaRaza, Portland Pride, Sacramento Knights, and the San Diego Sockers. Monterrey were the first ever Mexico based professional soccer franchise. 3 further franchises were scheduled to play, but they delayed for a season due to organization problems.

Peter Duh was named as head coach.

Under the league’s salary rules, a player could not expect more than $3,000 a month. Each team also had a salary cap of $150,000 for the season, with a 16 player roster. 6 players would earn $3,000, and the rest $2,000 a month for the 4 month season. Players signed to reserve contracts could expect to earn $500 a month. Each team was also required to pay a $200,000 fee to the league at the start of each season.

Under CISL rules any player drafted was tied to that team for 2 years, unless traded or sold to another team. The player has the right to decline to play, but cannot sign with any other team. The Sandsharks had wanted to draft Wes Wade, a player from Phoenix, and making him as the main draw of the team. However he was drafted first by the San Diego Sockers and protected. Wade himself wanted to play in for the Sandsharks, but under league rules found he couldn’t. On their 2nd and 3rd draft picks, the Sandsharks chose Alex Golovnia and Thompson Usiyan, two ex-Sockers players who lived in San Diego as leverage for a trade as the Sockers wanted these 2 players for their own roster. After a dispute between the teams, Wade was traded to the Sandsharks for Golovnia, Thompson Usiyan, and Nassim Olabi.

The 1993 roster featured a fair few standouts. On the roster was striker, and Phoenix native, Mark Kerlin, Englishmen Paul Kitson and Franklin McIntosh, and goalkeeper Warren Westcoat. Also American defender Bill Becher, and Ghanaian forward Paul Agyeman.

The first game for the Sandsharks was at home against the Los Angeles United on June 17th 1993. This was also the first ever CISL game. The Sandsharks won the game 6-4.
The game against the San Diego Sockers was marked by the debut of on-field referee Rosalie Kramm, the first female referee in US soccer history.

The Sandsharks finished the season placed 6 out of 7 franchises, missing out on the playoffs. In the 28 game season their record stood at 6 wins, 22 losses, 201 goals scored, and 243 conceded. At one stage they went on a 12 game losing streak.

Englishman Franklin McIntosh was the leading goal scorer for the franchise with 35 goals. Wes Wade was the leading assist maker and point’s scorer with 25 and 64 respectively.

The Sandsharks average attendance was a respectable 5,316.

1994:
In 1994 7 new franchises were added to the CISL, and the league was split into Eastern and Western Divisions. The Sandsharks were placed in the Western, facing the Anaheim Splash, San Diego Sockers, Las Vegas DustDevils, Sacramento Knights, Portland Pride, and the San Jose Grizzlies.

In an attempt to prevent NPSL players performing in the rival league, NPSL commissioner Steve Paxos implemented a $4,000 “processing fee” for players who switched leagues to the CISL for the summer season. This led to players bringing a lawsuit against the league claiming restraint of trade, forcing the NPSL to back down.

The 1994 roster, again under Head Coach Peter Duh, saw a few changes. In came English defender Terry Woodberry, as well as Americans Rick Soderman and Lee Tschantret. They kept hold of leading scorer Franklin McIntosh, Bill Becher, and Paul Agyeman.
The Sandsharks placed dead last of their 7 team division, again missing the playoffs. In their 28 games they won 11 and lost 17, scoring 200 and conceding 214.

Head coach Peter Duah resigned on September 8th, and was reassigned as a special consultant.

1995:
For 1995 the CISL was re-organized again, this time into 3 divisions, Eastern, Western and Southern. The Sandsharks were placed in the 5 team Southern Division, pitted against the Anaheim Splash, Houston Hotshots, Mexico Toros, and the San Diego Sockers.

After Peter Duh resigned, they turned to the English coach and American soccer veteran, Ron Newman. Prior to taking over the Sandsharks he had won titles outdoors with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the NASL, and indoors with the San Diego Sockers in the MSL. He was the winning coach who was going to transform the lacklustre Sandsharks. He left the more successful Sockers as he wanted a new challenge, and also he wanted to work with a settled owner, and on a financially stable team. Luis Dabo was named as his assistant.

The 1995 roster saw the arrival of Peruvian forward Mirko Castillo, and the loss of Franklin McIntosh. A few weeks into the season however, when they acquired CISL star forward Dale Ervine in a trade with the Anaheim Splash. The deal saw Paul Agyeman move in the opposite direction. Ervine had fallen out with his coach, George Fernandez in Anaheim.

Some games in the Sandsharks 1995 season were televised live by Tucson’s KHRR Channel 40.

During the season in a match against the Portland Pride a brawl broke out between the teams. Dave MacIntosh of the Sandsharks continued to fight into the car park. When owner Jerry Colangelo attempted to intervene, MacIntosh hit him breaking his nose. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back, as Colangelo had suffered financial losses running a consistently underperforming team. After the season Colangelo put the franchise up for sale.

The Sandsharks 7-6 overtime victory over the Sacramento Knights also marked Newman’s 700th career victory as a coach, making him the most successful coach in American soccer history.

The hiring of Newman didn’t improve their records on the pitch as they placed 4th in the division, again missing out on the playoffs. In the 28 game season they won 11 and lost 17. Yugolav forward Bojan Vuckovic finished second to the San Diego Sockers’ Mark Chung in the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award.

1996:
The Sandsharks were purchased from Colangelo by Kerry Dunne & Brian Weymouth. The Purchase was only completed days before the 1996 season was due to begin. With not enough time to construct a front office or team, they opted to go on hiatus for the 1996 CISL season and return in 1997.

1997:
The Sandsharks returned to CISL action in 1997, in what would turn out to be the last season for both the franchise and the league itself. The CISL was now a 2 division league again, split between an Eastern and Western Division. Arizona were in the Western, facing the Anaheim Splash, Portland Pride, Sacramento Knights, and the Seattle SeaDogs.

The new head coach was Luis Dabo, who had been assistant coach under Ron Newman’s reign.

After a year on hiatus the 1997 roster featured returning striker Mark Kerlin, who’d last played for the franchise in 1993. Also returning were Terry Woodberry and Rick Soderman.

They placed dead last again in the division, winning 8 and losing 20 of their 28 games. They scored 135 goals and conceded 189. Mark Kerlin was the leading goal scorer with 31.

After the season the CISL folded. Arizona and the Portland Pride founded the Premier Soccer Alliance in the summer of 1998. The CISL however claimed the rights to the nicknames and logos of all the CISL franchises (except the Dallas Sidekicks), so the franchise had to be renamed the Arizona Thunder. The CISL’s Dallas Sidekicks and Sacramento Knights also joined the league.

The Sandsharks never had a winning record in the CISL, and they never made the playoffs. In total they played 112 games, winning only 36 and losing 76.

Anaheim Splash

The Anaheim Splash was an indoor soccer team based in Anaheim, Los Angeles. They were founded as the Los Angeles United, and competed in the 1993 Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) season, before being bought and relocated to Anaheim and renamed. They competed in 4 summer CISL seasons, from 1994 through to 1997 when the team and the league folded.

They were bought by Ogden Facility Management in 1994, the company that operated the Arrowhead Pond, and they owned the franchise for 2 years until it was sold to Bill Williams in 1996. 2 months later he sold it again to The Anaheim Splash Inc just before the start of the 1996 season.

The team played its home games at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, which had a capacity of 17,163 and was shared with the Anaheim Ducks (NHL), Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), Anaheim Bullfrogs (Roller Hockey), Anaheim Piranhas (Arena Football), and the Anaheim Storm (Lacrosse).

The team began life as Los Angeles United in the inaugural 1993 CISL season, and were owned by Jerry Buss, the ex-owner of the MISL’s Los Angeles Lazers franchise. He also owned the Los Angeles Lakers. He sold the franchise to Ogden Facility Management in 1994 and the team was relocated to Anaheim and became the Splash. Ogden are a New York based operation, and the running of the team was left to The Ponds general manager Ryan Mayne, and its governer’s (Brad Payne & Tom Orchard). At the start of each season every club in the CISL had to post a $200,000 letter of credit with the CISL.

For their first season they were placed in the Western Division, lining up against the San Diego Sockers, Las Vegas DustDevils, Sacramento Knights, Portland Pride, San Jose Grizzlies and the Arizona Sandsharks.

Their first coach was George Fernandez, appointed on 4th May 1994. As he was a player in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) with the Cleveland Crunch, and the NPSL prohibited their players or coaches playing in the rival CISL the Crunch had to release him from his contract. Also as the CISL prohibited player-coaches he couldn’t play and had to remain on the sidelines.

Their squad included a number of holdovers from the franchises previous Los Angeles United incarnation. These players included stars defender Ralph Black, midfielders Dale Ervine and Doug Neely, and forwards Rod Castro & Raffaele Ruotolo. Also on their roster was the actor Andrew Shue (brother of the more famous Elisabeth), who was starring in the hit soap opera ‘Melrose Place’. Shue signed up as a ‘protected amateur’ (whatever that means) and featured in 2 games.

Their CISL debut was on the 10th June 1994, and was a 7-4 win against the Las Vegas DustDevils, watched by 4,721 fans.

Splash games were covered on radio by Korg (1190). Joe Tutino was the main announcer, having turned down the chance to perform the same role with the Las Vegas DustDevils.

After their 28 games regular season they won the CISL’s Western Division with a record of 20 wins and 8 losses. They scored 227 goals and conceding 172. In the playoffs they defeated the Sacramento Knights in the quarter finals, before losing to the eventual champions the Las Vegas DustDevils in the semis.

George Fernandez was named coach of the year, and Ralph Black named ‘Defender of the Year’, as well as making the CISL All-star team. Defender Paul McDonnell was named on the CISL Rookie All-star team. Dale Ervine was the franchises top scorer with 39 goals, and he finished equal top on assists with Raffaele Ruotolo (37).

In a re-organization for the 1995 CISL the Splash were placed in a new Southern Division, alongside the Mexico Toros, San Diego Sockers, Arizona Sandsharks, and the Houston Hotshots. George Fernandez again coached the team. The Splash ownership stated that anything less than the championship in 1995 would be considered a failure.

They lost All-star defender Ralph Black, but kept hold of Ervine, Neely and Castro. They also added defender Sean Bowers (Sacramento Knights in a trade for forward Paul Wright ), forward Bernie Lilavois (San Jose Grizzlies for draft choices), and goalkeeper Ruben Fernandez.

The opening game of the 1995 season was away at the San Diego Sockers on the 24th June 1995 winning 8-5, with its home opener against the Portland Pride the next night. Sean Bowers missed the first 4 games of the season, due to his honeymoon. In the second game of the season Raffaele Ruotolo set an indoor record of registering an assist in 29 consecutive games lasting over the 1994 to 1995 seasons.

The season was characterised by a falling out between the coach George Fernandez, and the franchise’s star player, Dale Ervine. By the start of August the Splash were hawking him to other CISL teams, even though he was their top scorer at that point with 16 goals in 9 games . Ervine lashed out at Fernandez, accusing him of being a poor communicator, who let his ego and jealousy get in the way of rational thinking. He was traded mid-season to the Arizona Sandsharks for Paul Agyeman.

For the 2nd season running they topped their division after the 28 game regular season. They finished with 17 wins and 11 losses. They defeated the San Diego Sockers in the quarter finals, before falling for the second year running in the semis, this time to the Sacramento Knights.

Ruben Fernandez was the top ranked goalkeeper, but missed out on ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ to Mike Dowler of the Sacramento Knights. Defender Sean Bowers made the CISL All-Star team.

The Splash had just before the season kicked off sold 1,437 season tickets. General Manager Tim Ryan put this down to the high scoring action of indoor football, with games averaging 14 goals. This season saw the Splash break their attendance records a few times over. Their match against the Mexico Toros provided their record crowd up to this point, 10,934. Some games were also televised this year on Prime Ticket, although not live broadcasts.

In January 1996, Ogden announced that they were relinquishing their controlling interest in the franchise, though still remain minority partners. The losses were not substantial, but the head office wanted the management to concentrate on running the Pond, rather than the Splash. If no partners could be found they would close the team down. The league offered the team $100,000 assistance, but this was turned down by the Splash as it was too late to approach the head office with the offer. During the 1995 season the Splash had lost approximately $200,000. The Splash were nearly saved by Bob Bell, the ex-owner of the San Diego Sockers in the NASL and MISL. However, a deal could not be struck and the ownership rights were transferred to the league.

Scottsdale, Arizona-based businessman Bill Williams bought a controlling interest in the team. He also brokered a deal to keep the Arrowhead Pond as the team’s venue, and agreed to keep the Splash in Anaheim for 10 years, and not move it to a new location. Williams had previously been a minority owner of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
Williams only owned the club for 2 months however, he sold up to a 20-strong group of investors headed by Gary Sparks just before the season started. The group registered its name as the Anaheim Splash Inc. Sparks was president of the Coast Soccer League, a youth league with over 700 teams.

The new ownership group decided to dispense with George Fernandez as coach, with him going back to the NPSL as coach of the Cincinnati Silverbacks. The Splash hired the Scotland-born Ian Fulton as the new head coach. He had spent the previous 2 years as assistant at the Las Vegas DustDevils.

Don Ebert was named as the franchise’s General Manager. He had previously played indoors with the St. Louis Steamers and the Los Angeles Lazers. He had combined this with a role as Director of Marketing & Operations at Forum Boxing Inc. He had also done colour commentary on CISL games during the 1995 season.

With his nemesis Fernandez leaving, Dale Ervine was brought back from the Arizona Sandsharks, who were on hiatus for the 1996. They lost a number of players in the 1996 inaugural MLS draft. All-star defender Sean Bowers went to the Kansas City Wizards, defender Denis Hamlett went to the Colorado Rapids.

Following a number of teams withdrawing from the CISL the divisions were reorganized again, with the Spash back in a Western Division, lining up against the San Diego Sockers, Sacramento Knights, Portland Pride, and the Seattle SeaDogs.

The Splash’s first fixture of the 1996 season took place on the 14th June 1996 at home against the Dallas Sidekicks.

Fulton had numerous problems with Raffaele Ruotolo throughout the season. Before the teams game with the Houston Hotshots, Ruotolo refused to play and take part in 3 player shifts, wanting more time playing. Fulton stated that the “inmates should not be allowed to run the prison”. For the next training Ruotolo came in dressed like a criminal. The club suspended him for a couple of weeks before bringing him back. After another complaint about lack of playing time Ruotolo walked out on the club saying he wouldn’t play whilst Fulton and General Manager Don Ebert were involved with the club got suspended again, and he never featured for the team again.
He also had problems with another star player, Armando Valdivia. Valdivia had been injured in a car crash that kept him out of the first 4 games. Concerned that he was earning $2,500 a month Fulton decided to waive him, much to the shock of his team-mates.

They finished the 28 game season in 2nd place, winning 15 games and losing 13. They scored 180 goals and conceded 169. They again qualified for the playoffs, but failed at the first hurdle, losing to the Dallas Sidekicks in the quarter finals. Dale Ervine was the top scorer with 45 goals, and Danny Barber led the team in assists with 30.

In 1997, the final year of the Anaheim Splash, and the CISL the Splash had another new coach. Dale Ervine who had played with the franchise since 1993 was named as the league’s first-ever player-coach (The CISL had softened their stance on player-coaches). The previous incumbent Ian Fulton had moved on to the Portland Pride.

New players included English defender Terry Rowe (Indianapolis Twisters in trade for Paul McDonnell), midfielder Kevin Sloan, and defender Thor Lee. Lee came in the dispersal draft from the defunct San Diego Sockers.

They remained in the western Division, with the returning Arizona Sandsharks franchise replacing the San Diego Sockers, who had been folded.

The 1997 campaign kicked off with a home game against the Portland Pride on the 20th June 1997.

Ervine, who had had a fractious relationship under previous coach George Fernandez, had his own fall out with players. After Paul Agyeman had been sent off for kicking Monterrey player’s Marco Coria’s groin failed to defend his player. This lead to one player speaking anonymously saying that he whilst he was extolling the virtues of being a team and all in it together, he was alienating one member of the team. His fiery nature was also shown after the last regular game of the season at the Sacramento Knights. Ervine went face-to-face with the Knight’s coach Keith Weller. Goalkeeper Ruben Fernandez also had to be restrained.

They finished the 28 game season in 2nd place behind the Seattle SeaDogs, winning 16 games and losing 12. This got them into the playoffs. They scored 165 goals and conceded 134. Bernie Lilavois was the team’s leading goal scorer with 44, and he also topped the assists with 18.

A week before the playoffs on September 30th, the league voted unanimously to seize the Splash, removing the Anaheim Splash Inc as owners. The league cited a “failure to meet financial obligations” as the reason and terminated the franchise rights. The CISL said that Gary Sparks had missed paying several quarterly assessment fees to the league. The fees, which totalled $200,000, go into a pool to fund player salaries, worker compensation, disability, TV production fees and league operating costs. This however would not stop them competing in the playoffs that began in October.

The players were considering boycotting the playoffs due to non-payment of wages and this was the only leverage that they had. However, they met with then ex-owner Gary Sparks prior to the playoffs. He gave his version of events regarding the situation with the league, and said he would do his best to make sure the players got paid what was owed to them. The players decided to play on.

However, scheduling conflicts with the Arrowhead Pond (owned by Ogden Facility Management, ex-owners of the Splash) meant that both of their playoff games had to take place in Sacramento. They were defeated by the Sacramento Knights in the first round of the playoffs. This turned out to be the last game the Splash ever played.
On December 5th, Ogden Facility Management were looking to re-purchase the franchise from the league with potential partners.

The CISL folded on December 23rd 2007. The Splash had been seized and 3 franchises (Dallas Sidekicks, Houston Hotshots & Portland Pride) withdrew. The CISL advised that they would still seek the $200,00 of delinquent fees from the ownership of the Splash.

Their overall record was 112 games played, winning 68 and losing 44.

Arizona Condors

he Arizona Condors were a professional soccer team based in Mesa, Arizona. They were founded in 1989 and joined the Western Soccer League as an expansion team. The team were based at Riggs Stadium, on the campus of the Mesa Community College.The team was owned by Tony Colecki.

For their inaugural season they chose Englishman Adrian Webster as coach. He had finished his professional career playing indoors in 1981 with the Phoenix Inferno. His assistant was Fran Bacon, formerly a soccer and baseball coach at the University of Bridgeport.

Star players were the forward Mark Kerlin and midfielder Wes Wade, both of who would remain with the franchise for its run.

They were placed in the Southern Division, alongside the San Diego Nomads, Los Angeles Salsa, Real Santa Barbara and the California Kickers.

In the 16 game season, they finished with a record of 5 wins and 11 losses, placing 4th in the division with 50 points and missing out on the playoffs. They scored 25 goals and conceded 39. Wes Wade finished as top soccer with 10 goals. Mark Kerlin was top assist maker with 4, and with his 9 goals finished as leading points scorer with 22. Kerlin was also placed on the WSA All-star team.

In 1990 the Western Soccer League and the eastern based American Soccer League merged to form the APSL (American Professional Soccer League). Although the league was a national one, the west and the east remained separate, only meeting in the grand final.

The Condors were placed in the South Division of the Western Conference, paired with the San Diego Nomads, Los Angeles Salsa, California Emperors, Real Santa Barbara, and the New Mexico Chiles.

They finished bottom of the division and failed to make the play offs. Their record consisted of 20 games played, with 5 wins and 15 losses for a total of 59 points. They scored 29 goals and conceded 51. Their top goal scorer was Mark Kerlin with 8 goals

After the 1990 season they folded, with much of the team joining the Phoenix Hearts of the USISL (United States Inter-regional Soccer League).

In total they played 36 professional games, winning 10 and losing 26, scoring 54 goals and conceding 90. Their total points score was 109. Their overall top goal scorer was Mark Kerlin with 17.