New York Apollo

American Soccer League (1973-1979)

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For most of its existence, the American Soccer League was a collection of ethnically-based semi-pro clubs clustered in the northeast. But in the 1970’s, the ASL expanded nationwide and became American’s de facto 2nd Division, underneath the bigger-budgeted NASL. This logo was used by the league from the 1970’s until its demise in 1983. 

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Background

Thank you to former Apollo broadcaster and PR manager Howard Freshman for contributing many of the programs and images for this entry.

New York Apollo were a 2nd Division pro soccer club in the American Soccer League that languished in the shadow of the far more popular New York Cosmos of the NASL during the mid-to-late 1970’s.  Apollo started out at Metropolitan Oval in Queens and later moved to Mt. Vernon’s Memorial Field in 1975. The club moved to Hofstra Stadium on Long Island in 1976, the venue where the Cosmos had their own modest beginnings earlier in the decade.

Apollo was a powerhouse within the obscure ranks of the 2nd division.  The club appeared in five American Soccer League championship games between 1973 and 1979.  They won league titles outright in 1973 and 1978 and were declared co-champions with the Boston/Worcester Astros in 1975, after their championship match remained unresolved through nine overtime periods.

Peak & Decline

Apollo arguably reached its peak in 1978. Under Head Coach Jimmy McGeough, the club posted a dominant 18-5-1 record. The team’s final home game of the season, a decisive 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Americans in the second leg of the playoff semi-finals, drew a large lower-division crowd of 5,136 to Hofstra Stadium. In the championship final in California one week later, fullback Rupert De Los Reyes scored his only goal of the season to lift Apollo to a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Skyhawks and clinch the club’s third and final ASL championship.

The 1979 season, however, was a disaster. Despite McGeough returning as head coach, Apollo’s form plummeted. The club struggled to score, losing six of fourteen home appearances by shutout and finishing with the ASL’s worst record at 6-18-4.

Move To Shea Stadium & Name Change

In February 1980, the club re-branded itself as New York United and tried to go big time, moving to 55,000-seat Shea Stadium in Queens and signing English star Rodney Marsh as Head Coach.  The move failed miserably. Crowds at Shea often numbered less than 1,000 spectators. After a retreat to decrepit Randall’s Island the following year, the club formerly known as New York Apollo folded for good in 1981.

Trivia

Long-time NBC, USA Network and MSG Network broadcaster Al Trautwig got his start calling Apollo games on the radio on WBAU 640 AM.

New York Apollo Shop

Downloads

1976 New York Apollo Schedule Flyer

4-28-1976 – Apollo Opens Season Saturday Press Release

4-29-1976 – Barry Small To Miss Apollo Opener Press Release

4-30-1976 – Apollo To Test Cobras’ Venom – Season Opener Press Release

5-13-1976 – Apollo to Face Metropolitan All-Stars at Hofstra Press Release

5-18-1976 – Apollo Entertains Irish Cork Hibernians at Hofstra Press Release

1976 – Apollo Signs Scottish Star Billy Pirre Press Release

7-6-1976 – Apollo Coach Gene Chyzowych Resigns Press Release

9-2-1978 Apollo vs. New Jersey Americans Playoff Rosters

1979 American Soccer League All-Star Game Program @ Hofstra Stadium

Links

American Soccer League Media Guides

American Soccer League Programs

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