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The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For several years it was the second most popular professional sports league in the country. Disputes with the United States Football Association and the onset of the Great Depression in 1929 led to the league's collapse in spring 1933. That summer, the second American Soccer League was created on a smaller scale and with smaller budgets. This league existed until over-expansion and financial limitations led to its collapse in 1983. In 1988, the third American Soccer League was created as an east coast counterpart to the west coast-based Western Soccer Alliance. The third iteration of the ASL lasted only two seasons, merging with the WSA in 1990 to form the American Professional Soccer League.











ASL I[]

The original American Soccer League, operating between 1921 and 1933, was the first significant, viable, professional soccer league in the United States. The league operated primarily in the Northeastern United States, mainly in the New York metropolitan area and Pennsylvania. The ASL was created by the merger of several teams from the National Association Football League (NAFBL) and Southern New England Soccer League in 1921. The move came from a growing disenchantment with the mismanagement of the NAFBL as well as the desire by the United States Football Association (USFA) to create a unified first division league.[1]

By 1924, the combination of excellent pay and a high level of play drew talented overseas players, especially from Scotland and England. This led to a significant amount of resentment in Europe and threats of sanctions from FIFA, including the possible expulsion of the USFA.[2] At the Sixteenth Annual Congress of FIFA on June 4, 1927, the USFA and the other national associations came to an agreement regarding player transfers which defused the situation.[3] The ASL then ran afoul of the USFA when team owners complained that USFA's requirement that ASL teams play in the National Challenge Cup created an unnecessary financial burden. At the time the Challenge Cup ran during the ASL season forcing the ASL teams to travel long distances by train or bus to play cup games, then return to the Northeast to play league games. Therefore, the ASL boycotted the 1924 National Challenge Cup. They reentered the competition the next year after the USFA reduced its take of the gate receipts from 33.3% to 15%. However, resentment continued to simmer between the league and governing body. Matters came to a head in 1928, when the ASL decided to again boycott the Challenge Cup. When three ASL clubs, most prominently Bethlehem Steel F.C., defied the league and entered the cup anyway, the ASL suspended them. In response, the USFA and FIFA declared the ASL an "outlaw league". This sparked the "Soccer War".[4][5][6] The ASL team owners defied USFA and FIFA, relying on the league's reputation to continue to draw players. At first it seemed as if the ASL might win; however, USFA then helped bankroll the creation of a new league, the Eastern Professional Soccer League (ESL), to rival the ASL. The three ex-ASL teams joined with several teams from the Southern New York Soccer Association (SNYSA) to form the ESL.[7] This led to the SNYSA, under the leadership of Nat Agar, owner of the ASL Brooklyn Wanderers, to leave USFA and ally with the ASL. Despite the alliance between the ASL and SNYSA, the creation of a competing league caused severe financial strains on the ASL.[8] The league finally broke and came into compliance with USFA and FIFA. In the fall of the 1929/30 season, the ESL and ASL merged to form the Atlantic Coast League which began a 1930 spring-fall season. After the summer break, the league was renamed the American Soccer League and the league finished the fall half of the 1930 season with a different name than it began the spring half.

However, the Soccer Wars had permanently crippled the ASL and it collapsed at the end of the 1933 spring season. Ironically, while USFA and FIFA "won" the wars and established their pre-eminence over the ASL, the spectacle of a U.S. athletic association conspiring with a European organization to undermine a U.S. athletic league alienated many U.S. sports fans by creating an image of soccer as a sport controlled by foreigners. These fans turned their backs on soccer, relegating the sport to the position of a minor league, ethnic-based sport for decades to come.[9][10]

Champions[]

Year Winner (number of titles) Runners-up Top Scorer
1921-22 Philadelphia Field Club (1) New York Field Club Harold Brittan
1922-23 J&P Coats (1) Bethlehem Steel F.C. Daniel McNiven
1923-24 Fall River Marksmen (1) Bethlehem Steel F.C. Archie Stark
1924-25 Fall River Marksmen (2) Bethlehem Steel F.C. Archie Stark
1925-26 Fall River Marksmen (3) New Bedford Whalers Andy Stevens
1926-27 Bethlehem Steel F.C. (1) Boston Davey Brown
1927-28 Boston (1) New Bedford Whalers Andy Stevens
1928-29 Fall River Marksmen (4) Brooklyn Wanderers Werner Nilsen
János Nehadoma
Fall 1929 Fall River Marksmen (5) Providence Gold Bugs Bill Paterson
1930 Fall River Marksmen (6) New Bedford Whalers Jerry Best
1931 New York Giants (1) New Bedford Whalers Bob McIntyre
1932 New Bedford Whalers (1) Hakoah All-Stars
1932-33 Unknown Unknown

Complete team list[]

  • Bethlehem Steel F.C. (1921/22-27/28, 1930, as Philadelphia Field Club in 1921/22)
  • Boston Wonder Workers (1924/25-30)
  • Boston Bears (soccer) (1931–32)
  • Bridgeport Hungaria (1930, as Newark for last 5 games)
  • Brooklyn Wanderers (1922/23-31)
  • Brooklyn Hakoah (1929, merged with New York Hakoah to form Hakoah All-Stars
  • Brooklyn Wanderers (1932–33)
  • Fall River Marksmen (1921–1930) originally as Fall River United in 1921/22; merged with New York Soccer Club to form New York Yankees
  • Fall River F.C. I (1924/25-1931, as Providence Clamdiggers in 1924/25-27/28; as Providence Gold Bugs in 1928/29-30; as Fall River Football Club in 1931; absorbed New Bedford Whalers during spring 1931 season; absorbed by New York Yankees before fall 1931 season)
  • Fall River F.C. II (1932)
  • Fleisher Yarn (1924/25)
  • Hakoah All-Stars (1929/30-1932), merger of New York Hakoah and Brooklyn Hakoah
  • Harrison Field Club (1921/22-22/23, as Harrison Soccer Club in 1921/22)
  • Hartford Americans (1927/28)
  • Holyoke Falcos (1921/22)
  • Jersey City Celtics (1921/22, folded after 5 games)
  • Jersey City (1928/29)
  • Newark Skeeters (1923/24-28/29, withdrew during season)
  • Newark Americans (1930–32)
  • New Bedford Whalers II
  • New Bedford Whalers III, merger of New York Yankees and Fall River F.C. I
  • New York Field Club (1921/22-23/24)
  • New York Giants II, originally played as Paterson F.C., later changed name to New York Soccer Club
  • New York Giants III, previously played as Indiana Flooring and as New York Nationals
  • New York Americans (1931–33)
  • New York Field Club (1932)
  • New York Yankees, merger of Fall River Marksmen and New York Soccer Club
  • New York Brookhattan (1933)
  • Pawtucket Rangers (1921/22-32/33, as J&P Coats in 1921/22-28/29)
  • Philadelphia Celtic (1922/23-27/28, as Philadelphia Field Club in 1922/23-26/27)
  • Philadelphia Field Club (1928/29)
  • Philadelphia Field Club (1929, as Bridgeport Bears earlier in 1929)
  • Queens Bohemians (1932–33)
  • Shawsheen Indians (1925/26)
  • Springfield Babes (1926/27)
  • Todd Shipyards (1921/22)

ASL II[]

In the fall of 1933, a second American Soccer League was established. This second league survived until 1983. Like the original ASL, this league primarily operated in the Northeastern United States for much of its existence. In order to compete with the North American Soccer League, the ASL went national in 1976, expanding to the Western United States by adding teams in Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City and Tacoma. In addition, Bob Cousy was hired as commissioner and the league changed the standings scoring system to more closely resemble the NASL. ASL teams were awarded 5 points for a win, 2 points for a tie, and 1 point for each goal up to a maximum of 3 per game. The NASL awarded 6 points for a win and 3 for a tie, with 1 for each goal up to 3 per game. The ASL also had a limit on the number of foreign players each team could have in an effort to gain popularity among American fans.

While this expansion gave the ASL national exposure, the league and teams were no match financially for the NASL. On rare occasions, an ASL team would outbid a NASL team for a recognizable player, but more often than not, the better players in the ASL were offered more money to jump to the NASL. The high point in the history of the league may have been the 1976 championship game between the Los Angeles Skyhawks and New York Apollo; Skyhawks won 2-1 in front of over 9,000 fans. But by 1979, attendance was down, every team was losing money, and the league finally folded in 1983. After the ASL II ceased operations, several of its teams formed the original United Soccer League, which played seasons in 1984 and 1985.

Champions[]

Year Winner (number of titles) Runners-up Top Scorer MVP
1933-34 Kearny Irish (1) New York Americans Archie Stark
Razzo Carroll
Not Awarded
1934-35 Philadelphia German-Americans (1) New York Americans Millard Lang
1935-36 New York Americans (1) Baltimore Canton Alex Rae
1936-37 Kearny Scots (1) Brooklyn Hispano Charlie Ernst
1937-38 Kearny Scots (2) Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic Fabri Salcedo
1938-39 Kearny Scots (3) Philadelphia German-Americans Bert Patenaude
1939-40 Kearny Scots (4) Baltimore S.C. Charlie Ernst
1940-41 Kearny Scots (5) Philadelphia German-Americans Fabri Salcedo
1941-42 Philadelphia Americans (2) Brookhattan John Nanoski
1942-43 Brooklyn Hispano (1) Brookhattan Chappie Sheppell
1943-44 Philadelphia Americans (3) Brooklyn Wanderers Tommy Marshall
1944-45 Brookhattan (1) Philadelphia Americans John Nanoski Steve Rozbora
1945-46 Baltimore Americans (1) Brooklyn Hispano Fabri Salcedo Ray McFaul
1946-47 Philadelphia Americans (4) Brooklyn Wanderers Bill Fisher Servile Mervine
1947-48 Philadelphia Americans (5) Kearny Scots Nicholas Kropfelder John O'Connell
1948-49 Philadelphia Nationals (1) New York Americans Pito Villanon John O'Connell
1949-50 Philadelphia Nationals (2) Kearny Celtic Joe Gaetjens Joe Maca
1950-51 Philadelphia Nationals (3) Kearny Celtic Nicholas Kropfelder John Donald
1951-52 Philadelphia Americans (6) Kearny Scots Dick Roberts Benny McLaughlin
1952-53 Philadelphia Nationals (4) Newark Portuguese Pito Villanon Pito Villanon
1953-54 New York Americans (2) Brookhattan Jack Calder Cyril Hannaby
1954-55 Uhrik Truckers (7) Brooklyn Hispano Jack Ferris Jack Ferris
1955-56 Uhrik Truckers (8) Elizabeth Falcons Gene Grabowski Jack Hynes
1956-57 New York Hakoah-Americans (1) Uhrik Truckers George Brown John Oliver
1957-58 New York Hakoah-Americans (2) Ukrainian Nationals Lloyd Monsen Walter Kudenko
1958-59 New York Hakoah-Americans (3) Ukrainian Nationals Pasquale Pepe Yuriy Kulishenko
1959-60 Colombo (1) Ukrainian Nationals Mike Noha Andy Racz
1960-61 Ukrainian Nationals (1) Falcons S.C. Herman Niss Mike Noha
1961-62 Ukrainian Nationals (2) Inter-Brooklyn Italians Peter Millar Peter Millar
1962-63 Ukrainian Nationals (3) Inter S.C. Ismael Ferreyra Peter Millar
1963-64 Ukrainian Nationals (4) Boston Metros Walter Chyzowych Abbie Wolanow
1964-65 Hartford S.C (1) Newark Portuguese Herculiano Riguerdo Alberto Falak
1965-66 Roma S.C. (1) Newark Ukrainian Sitch Walter Chyzowych Walter Chyzowych
1966-67 Baltimore St. Gerards (1) Newark Ukrainian Sitch Jorge Benitez Myron Worobec
1967-68 Ukrainian Nationals (5) New York Inter Ivan Paleto Robert Waugh
1968 Washington Darts (1) Rochester Lancers Gerry Brown
1969 Washington Darts (2) Syracuse Scorpions Jim Lefkos Robert Waugh
1970 Philadelphia Ukrainians (6) Philadelphia Spartans Juan Paletta
Willie Mfum
Albert Trik
1971 New York Greeks (1) Boston Astros Charles Duccilli Bob Hatzos
1972 Cincinnati Comets (1) New York Greeks Charles Duccilli Ringo Cantillo
1973 New York Apollo (1) Cincinnati Comets Eddy Roberts Helio Barbosa
1974 Rhode Island Oceaneers (1) New York Apollo Ringo Cantillo Ringo Cantillo
1975 New York Apollo (2), Boston Astros (1) co-champions José Neto José Neto
1976 Los Angeles Skyhawks (1) New York Apollo Jim Hinch Jim Hinch
1977 New Jersey Americans (1) Sacramento Spirits José Neto Ringo Cantillo
1978 New York Apollo (3) Los Angeles Skyhawks Jim Rolland Jim Rolland
1979 Sacramento Gold (1) Columbus Magic Ian Filby Poli Garcia
1980 Pennsylvania Stoners (1) Sacramento Gold Mal Roche George Gorleku
1981 Carolina Lightnin' (1) New York United Billy Boljevic Billy Boljevic
1982 Detroit Express (1) Oklahoma City Slickers Brian Tinnion Brian Tinnion
1983 Jacksonville Tea Men (1) Pennsylvania Stoners Jeff Bourne Peter Simonini

Complete team list[]

  • Allentown (1938/39-39/40, as Bethlehem Hungarian in 1938/39; folded during 1939/40 season)
  • Baltimore Americans (1934/35-48/49, as Baltimore Canton in 1934/35-35/36; as Baltimore S.C. in 1936/37-41/42)
  • Baltimore Americans (1938/39-41/42, as Baltimore German in 1938/39)
  • Baltimore S.C. (1943/44-47/48)
  • Baltimore Pompei (1953/54-60/61, as Baltimore Rockets in 1953/54-56/57)
  • Baltimore Flyers (1966/67-67/68; as Baltimore St. Gerards in 1966/67)
  • Baltimore Bays (1972–73, as Baltimore Stars in 1972)
  • Boca Juniors (1961/62-63/64, as Inter-Brooklyn Italians in 1961/62; as Inter S.C. in 1962/63)
  • Boston Tigers (1963/64, 1965/66-67/68, as Boston Metros in 1963/64)
  • Brooklyn F.C. (1933/34, withdrew after 12 games)
  • Brooklyn Hispano (1933/34-55/56, as Brooklyn Giants in 1942/43)
  • Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic (1933/34-41/42, as Brooklyn Celtic in 1933/34-34/35; replaced Brooklyn F.C. during 1933/34 season)
  • Brooklyn Wanderers (1942/43-48/49, withdrew after 1 game in 1948/49)
  • Brooklyn Hakoah (1948/49-55/56, replaced Brooklyn Wanderers in 1948/49 season; merged with New York Americans to become New York Hakoah after 1955/56 season)
  • Brooklyn Italians (1956/57-60/61, merged with Inter S.C. to become Inter-Brooklyn Italians after 1960/61 season)
  • California Sunshine (1977–80) - based in Orange, California and Oxnard, California.
  • Carolina Lightnin' (1981–83)
  • Chicago Americans (1972, only played a few games)
  • Chicago Cats (1975–76)
  • Cincinnati Comets (1972–75)
  • Cleveland Cobras (1974-1981) <wiki/cleveland cobras>
  • Colombo (1959/60)
  • Columbus Magic (1979–80)
  • Connecticut Yankees (1972–78, as Nor'East United in 1972, as Connecticut Wildcats in 1973-74)
  • Dallas Americans (1983)
  • Delaware Wings (1972–74)
  • Detroit Mustangs (1972–73, as Detroit S.C. earlier in 1972)
  • Detroit Express (1981–83)
  • Fall River S.C. (1957/58-62/63)
  • Galicia-Honduras (1933/34-61/62, as New York Brookhattan in 1933/34-37/38; as Brookhattan in 1938/39-56/57; as Brookhattan-Galicia in 1957/58-58/59; as Galicia S.C. in 1958/59-60/61, merged with non-league Honduras after 1960/61 season)
  • Georgia Generals (1982, as Cleveland Stars in 1972-73; as Cleveland Cobras in 1974-81)
  • Golden Gate Gales (1980) - based in San Francisco, California.
  • Hartford S.C (1964/65-68, as Hartford Kings in 1966/67 & 1968)
  • Indiana Tigers (1973–74, as Gary Tigers in 1973)
  • Indianapolis Daredevils (1974–79, as Rhode Island Oceaneers in 1974-76; as New England Oceaneers in 1977)
  • Inter S.C. (1960/61, merged with Brooklyn Italians to become Inter-Brooklyn Italians after 1960/61 season)
  • Jacksonville Tea Men (1983)
  • Kearny Celtic (1933/34-50/51, as Kearny Irish in 1933/34-41/42)
  • Kearny Scots (1933/34-52/53, technically as Kearny Americans in 1941/42-52/53)
  • Las Vegas Seagulls (1979)
  • Los Angeles Skyhawks (1976–79)
  • Ludlow Lusitano (1955/56-57/58, as Ludlow S.C. in 1956/57)
  • Miami Americans (1976–80, as New Jersey Americans in 1976-79)
  • Nashville Diamonds (1982)
  • Newark Portuguese (1951/52-62/63, 1964/65-67/68)
  • Newark Falcons (1954/55-66/67, as Elizabeth Falcons in 1954/55-58/59; as Falcons S.C. in 1959/60-61/62; as Falcons-Warsaw in 1962/63-63/64)
  • Newark Sitch (1962/63-63/64, 1965/66-70, as Newark Ukrainian Sitch in 1962/63-68)
  • New Brunswick Hungarian (1963/64-67/68, as New Brunswick Hungarian Americans in 1963/64-66/67)
  • New England Sharks (1981)
  • New Jersey Brewers (1972–75, as New Jersey Shaefer Brewers in 1972)
  • New York Americans (1933/34-55/56, merged with Brooklyn Hakoah to become New York Hakoah after 1955/56 season)
  • New York Hakoah-Americans (1956/57-63/64, as New York Hakoah in 1956/57-61/62)
  • New York Inter (1965/66-69, as Inter S.C. in 1965/66)
  • New York United (1971–81, as New York Greeks in 1971-72; as New York Apollo in 1973-79)
  • New York Eagles (1978–79, 1981)
  • Oakland Buccaneers (later known at Golden Bay Buccaneers (1976–77)
  • Oklahoma City Slickers (1982–83)
  • Olimpia (1965/66-66/67)
  • Paterson F.C. (1936/37-40/41, as Newark Germans in 1933/34-36/37; moved to Paterson during 1936/37 season; as Paterson Caledonian 1936/37-37/38, absorbed amateur Trenton Highlanders after 1937/38 season and moved to Trenton; as Trenton Highanders in 1938/39)
  • Pennsylvania Stoners (1979–83)
  • Philadelphia Nationals (1936/37-53/54, as Passon Phillies in 1936/37-37/38; as Philadelphia in 1938/39; as Philadelphia Passon in 1939/40-40/41)
  • Philadelphia Ukrainians (1957/58)
  • Philadelphia Ukrainians (1957/58-63/64, 1965/66-70, as Ukrainian Nationals in 1957/58-63/64 & 1965/66-67/68; replaced Philadelphia Ukrainians during 1957/58 season)
  • Philadelphia Spartans (1969–72)
  • Pittsburgh Cannons (1972)
  • Pittsburgh Miners (1975)
  • Ponta Delgada S.C. (1951–53)
  • Rochester Lancers (1967/68-69)
  • Rochester Flash (1981–82)
  • Roma S.C. (1964/65-67/68)
  • Sacramento Gold (1976–80, as Sacramento Spirits in 1976-77)
  • St. Louis Mules (1972, as St. Louis Frogs later in 1972)
  • Santa Barbara Condors (1977)
  • Southern California Lazers (1978) - based in Torrance, California.
  • Syracuse Suns (1969–71, 1973–74, as Syracuse Scorpions in 1969-70; folded after 5 games during 1974 season)
  • Tacoma Tides (1976)
  • Trenton Athletics (1948/49-50/51)
  • Trenton Americans (1953/54-54/55)
  • Uhrik Truckers (1933/34-64/65, as Philadelphia German-Americans in 1933/34-40/41; as Philadelphia Americans in 1941/42-53/54; became Uhrik Truckers during 1953/54 season)
  • Utah Golden Spikers (1976, as Utah Pioneers earlier in 1976 season)
  • Washington Darts (1967/68-69, as Washington Britannia in 1967/68)
  • Washington Cavaliers (1971–72, as Virginia Capitol Cavaliers in 1971)
  • Worcester Astros (1967/68-75, as Fall River Astros from 1967/68-68; as Boston Astros in 1968-75; moved to Worcester at end of 1975 season)

ASL III[]

The next league to call itself the American Soccer League played two seasons in 1988 and 1989. This league comprised ten teams on the East Coast. During its second season, the league champion Fort Lauderdale Strikers played the San Diego Nomads, champions of the Western Soccer Alliance in a "national championship" game. By 1990, the ASL and WSA had merged to form the American Professional Soccer League.

Champions[]

Year Winner (number of titles) Runners-up Top Scorer
1988 Washington Diplomats (1) Fort Lauderdale Strikers Jorge Acosta
1989 Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1) Boston Bolts Ricardo Alonso
Mirko Castillo

Complete team list[]

  • Albany Capitals (1988–89)
  • Boston Bolts (1988–89)
  • Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1988–89)
  • Maryland Bays (1988–89)
  • Miami Sharks (1988–89)
  • New Jersey Eagles (1988–89)
  • Orlando Lions (1988–89)
  • Tampa Bay Rowdies (1988–89)
  • Washington Diplomats (1988–89)
  • Washington Stars (1988–89)

References[]

External links[]

Template:American Soccer League Template:USDefunctSoccer

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