American Soccer League (1988-1990)
American Professional Soccer League (1990-1991)
Tombstone
Born: 1987 – ASL founding franchise
Folded: Postseason 1991
First Game:
Last Game: September 28, 1991 (L 2-0 & L mini-game in 4-3 shootout @ San Francisco Blackhawks)
ASL/APSL Championships: None
Stadium
Bleecker Stadium (6,000)
Marketing
Team Colors: Blue & White
Ownership
Owner: Armand Quadrini
Background
The Albany Capitals were a late 80’s/early 90’s professional soccer team in the capital district of New York. The club played in the American Soccer League, which was the highest level of professional soccer in the United States at the time, despite it’s very modest scale and budget. The ASL later changed its name to the American Professional Soccer League during the Caps final two seasons, as the result of a merger with the Western Soccer League in 1990. The team played in 55-year old Bleecker Stadium, the city’s Depression-era multi-purpose stadium.
The Capitals, owned by local property developer Armand Quadrini, were a shoestring operation. During the ASL’s first season 1988, the league salary cap was a meager $50,000 and the entire operating budget for the Capitals was reportedly just $250,000. Attendance was barely over 1,000 fans per game in 1988 and the Caps never drew more than 2,000 for a single match that year. Crowds would pick up slightly in the seasons to follow.
Notable Names
Despite the low budget, the Capitals managed to attract some interesting players over the years, mostly because there were just very few opportunities to play outdoor soccer in the United States at the time. U.S. National Team mainstay John Harkes made his pro debut with the club in 1989, playing alongside U.S. teammates Brian Bliss and Mike Windischmann. Forward Chico Borja was a former New York Cosmos who earned the bulk of his living during the winter playing indoors. Like Borja, goalkeeper Arnie Mausser was another North American Soccer League veteran playing out his final few outdoor seasons in the ASL. Future ESPN and NBC soccer broadcaster Glenn Davis also played for the Caps.
Final Season & Demise
During the Capitals’ final season in 1991, the club advanced to the APSL Championship Series against the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks, despite a losing regular season record of 10-11. The Capitals won Game One by a score of 3-1, but dropped Game Two and the tie-breaking “mini-game” to lose the series. These proved to be the last matches the club ever played.
The Capitals folded during the winter of 1991-1992.
Albany Capitals Shop
In Memoriam
English forward Paul Mariner (Capitals ’89-’91) passed away at age 68 on July 9th, 2021 following a battle with brain cancer. The Guardian obituary.
Downloads
7-23-1989 Capitals @ Maryland Bays Roster
7-23-1989 Albany Capitals @ Maryland Bays Roster
Links
American Soccer League Media Guides
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4 Responses
Hi,
Thanks for compiling this stuff!
Arnie Mausser didn’t play for Albany. Arnie played with Fort Lauderdale and maybe one season in Washington (?).
“The Capitals won Game One by a score of 3-1, but dropped Game Two and the tie-breaking “mini-game” to lose the series.”
What were the rules of the “mini-game” tie-breaker?
I believe it was golden goal – not sure as it was along time ago.
The mini game was 30 minutes. It went scoreless and then to penalties which SF won.