North American Soccer League

North American Soccer League (1968-1984)

Tombstone

Formed: 1968
Disbanded: March 28, 1985

First Game: 1968
Last Game: October 3, 1984

Seasons: 17
States & Provinces: 28
(AB, BC, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, MD, MA, MI, MI, MI, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, ONT, OR, PA, QUE, TN, TX, VA, WA)

Leadership

Commissioner

President & Chief Executive Officer*

  • June 1982 – October 1984: Howard Samuels (Deceased 1984)

*This newly created position supplanted the Commissioner as the league’s chief executive in June 1982, effectively pushing aside long-time Commissioner Phil Woosnam, though Woosnam would remain in the now diminished role of Commissioner for one more year.

President

  • December 1984 – March 1985: Clive Toye

Attendance

Trophy Case

 

OUR FAVORITE STUFF

North American Soccer League
Logo T-Shirt

Pay home to the late, great North American Soccer League (1968-1984) with this great distressed logo tee from our friends at Cincinnati’s Old School Shirts!. 
This design is available now in sizes Small through 4XL.

 

When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

 

North American Soccer League Franchise List

Franchise Years Active NASL Champions
Atlanta Apollos 1973 None
Atlanta Chiefs 1968-1972 1968
Atlanta Chiefs 1979-1981 None
Baltimore Bays 1968-1969 None
Baltimore Comets 1974-1975 None
Boston Beacons 1968 None
Boston Minutemen 1974-1976 None
Calgary Boomers 1981 None
California Surf 1978-1981 None
Caribous of Colorado 1978 None
Chicago Mustangs 1968 None
Chicago Sting 1975-1984 1981-1984
Cleveland Stokers 1968 None
Connecticut Bicentennials 1977 None
Dallas Tornado 1968-1981 1971
Denver Dynamos 1974-1975 None
Detroit Cougars 1968 None
Detroit Express 1978-1981 None
Edmonton Drillers 1979-1982 1981 (Indoor)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1977-1983 None
Golden Bay Earthquakes 1983-1984 None
Hartford Bicentennials 1975-1976 None
Houston Hurricane 1978-1980 None
Houston Stars 1968 None
Jacksonville Tea Men 1980-1982 None
Kansas City Spurs 1968-1970 1969
Las Vegas Quicksilvers 1977 None
Los Angeles Aztecs 1974-1981 1974
Los Angeles Wolves 1968 None
Memphis Rogues 1978-1980 None
Miami Gatos 1972 None
Miami Toros 1973-1976 None
Minnesota Kicks 1976-1981 None
Minnesota Strikers 1984 None
Montreal Manic 1981-1983 None
Montreal Olympique 1971-1973 None
New England Tea Men 1978-1980 None
New York Cosmos 1971-1985 1972-1977-1978-1980-1982
New York Generals 1968 None
Oakland Clippers 1968 None
Oakland Stompers 1978 None
Philadelphia Atoms 1973-1976 1973
Philadelphia Fury 1978-1980 None
Portland Timbers 1975-1982 None
Rochester Lancers 1970-1980 1970
St. Louis Stars 1968-1977 None
San Antonio Thunder 1975-1976 None
San Diego Jaws 1976 None
San Diego Sockers 1978-1984 1982 (Indoor)-1984 (Indoor)
San Diego Toros 1968 None
San Jose Earthquakes 1974-1982 None
Seattle Sounders 1974-1983 None
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1975-1984 1975 (Outdoor)-1980 (Indoor)
Team America 1983 None
Team Hawaii 1977 None
Toronto Blizzard 1979-1984 None
Toronto Falcons 1968 None
Toronto Metros 1971-1974 None
Toronto Metros-Croatia 1975-1978 1976
Tulsa Roughnecks 1978-1984 1983
Vancouver Royals 1968 None
Vancouver Whitecaps 1974-1984 1979
Washington Darts 1970-1971 None
Washington Diplomats 1974-1981 None
Washington Whips 1968 None

 

North American Soccer League Shop

Editor's Pick

Rock n' Roll Soccer

The Short Life and Fast Times of the North American Soccer League

by Ian Plenderleith

The North American Soccer League – at its peak in the late 1970s – presented soccer as performance, played by men with a bent for flair, hair and glamour. More than just Pelé and the New York Cosmos, it lured the biggest names of the world game like Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio, Gerd Müller and George Best to play the sport as it was meant to be played-without inhibition, to please the fans.

The first complete look at the ambitious, star-studded NASL, Rock ‘n’ Roll Soccer reveals how this precursor to modern soccer laid the foundations for the sport’s tremendous popularity in America today. 

 

When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

 

 

 

Downloads

9-3-1982 “Top NASL Players at Each Position Named” Press Release

9-3-1982 - Top NASL Players at Each Position Named Press Release

 

1983 “NASL Goes Year-Round With Indoor and Outdoor Soccer” Press Release 

 

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Comments

4 Responses

  1. I’m trying to find out more about Ronnie sharp who was my dad.i never met the man hence wanting to know more.

    1. Ronnie Sharp (born 30 January 1948) is a former professional footballer who played in the North American Soccer League and Mexican Primera División.

      Career
      Born in Scotland, Sharp began his football career with junior side Glenrothes. The Winger played part-time with Scottish Second Division side Cowdenbeath from 1968 to 1973.[1] Miami Toros’ coach John Young scouted Sharp on a trip to Scotland, and he joined the NASL club in 1973.[2] During the off-season, Sharp and teammates Warren Archibald and Steve David joined Mexican side San Luis for five weeks of the 1973–74 Mexican Primera División season.[3]

      Sharp returned to the Miami Toros for three more seasons before finishing his career with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 1977.[4] He was named to the 1975 NASL All-Star team.[5]

      Sharp owned the Fort Lauderdale Sun of the United Soccer League in 1984, but was forced to sell the team shortly after winning the USL championship, because of his involvement in a Texas marijuana smuggling operation.[6][7] In September 1984 he testified as a witness for the U.S. government, as part of a plea deal. Sworn testimony indicated that Sharp was more likely a middle-man than an active participant in the operation.[8]

  2. I acquired at an estate sale last night a 1983 Ft Lauderdale Strikers Media Guide. I believe the clubs last year in Ft. Lauderdale under the NASL. It is in good shape. I was wondering what it might be worth. Any ideas or whom I could contact to find out. No comps on ebay. Thanks

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