New York United

American Soccer League (1980-1981)

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American Soccer League
T-Shirt

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. 

We like this ASL logo tee from American Retro Apparel (they offer a grey version also) and it’s available today in sizes small through XXXL!

 

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Background

New York United were a men’s 2nd Division soccer club that played in the American Soccer League in 1980 and 1981. The club was previously known as New York Apollo between 1973 and 1979 and captured three ASL titles during that period. The Apollo split their time between Queens, Mount Vernon and Long Island during those seasons.

After an uncharacteristic last place finish in 1979 and dwindling attendance on at Hofstra Stadium on Long Island, new management sought to spiff up the team’s image. At a February 1980 press conference at City Hall in Manhattan, New York City Mayor Ed Koch announced that the city would grant a permit for the team to play their 1980 home games at 55,000-seat Shea Stadium in Queens, on selected Wednesdays and Sundays when Major League Baseball’s New York Mets were out of town. At the same event, club officials announced that the team would change its name to New York United.

Soon afterwards, United hired the former Queens Park Rangers and Manchester City star Rodney Marsh as Manager. Marsh had recently finished out his playing career as the flamboyant front man of the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League, where he helped make that club one of the most popular soccer teams in America. Romanian Vintila Mardarescu, former Moroccan National Team manager, joined as Technical Director. Mardarescu’s appointment created and awkward (and short-lived) co-coaching arrangement with the much younger Marsh.

Shea Stadium Flop

United returned to attractive form on the field in 1980, posting a 17-11 mark and making the ASL playoffs. United fell to the Pennsylvania Stoners in the semi-final round. The club’s strong showing came in spite of utter chaos in the front office and among United’s technical staff.

The move to Shea Stadium was nothing short of a catastrophe. United re-scheduled its home opener at Shea three times. Matches on April 27th and May 11th were lost when United management couldn’t pull together a $100,000 security bond required by stadium authorities. On May 18th, New York Mets officials invoked their “rain clause” rights and cancelled United’s third attempted opener just 90 minutes prior to kickoff over concerns about damage to the playing surface. When United finally debuted at Shea on their fourth try – a 3-0 victory over the Golden Gate Gales on May 28th – only 1,109 fans showed up.

Other United matches were scheduled at the same days and times as New York Cosmos matches at Giants Stadium.

In July, club ownership changed hands with Long Island businessman Jimmy Sorrentino taking charge of the club. At his introductory press conference, Sorrentino stoked United’s aspirational rivalry with the Cosmos.

“The Cosmos don’t belong to New York anymore,” Sorrentino told the gathering. “We’re the only team who’ll do anything for New York.”³Cassata, Donna. “Press, brass not ‘United'”. The Citizen-Register (Ossining, NY). July 4, 1980

Ultimately, the Cosmos would average over 42,000 fans per match at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. According to Soccer Monthly, United would draw just 30,044 fans for the entire 1980 season at Shea.⁴Herbst, Dan. “New York’s Other Soccer Team. Soccer Monthly. June 1981.

Coaching Carousel

Before United was able to make their belated Shea debut, Rodney Marsh and Vintila Mardarescu’s forced coaching partnership came apart. In late May, Marsh left the team for ten days and issued a “him or me” ultimatum to ownership. Mardarescu was sent packing, only to return as head coach in July when Marsh resigned anyway. Despite the soap opera, United finished the season with the second best record in the ASL (17-11).

In the playoff semi-finals, United faced the league’s top regular season club, the Pennsylvania Stoners in a two-leg aggregate goals format. New York hosted game one, but played at decrepit Downing Stadium on Randall’s Island rather than Shea. The teams tied 1-1 in a chippy contest that saw one of United’s top players, English forward Paul Kitson, sent off for a headbutt that bloodied Pennsylvania’s Richie Reice. Kitson would miss the 2nd and decisive leg in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  As would Vintila Mardarescu, since United owner Jimmy Sorrentino fired him between semi-final games and decided to coach United himself, along with fellow team investor Vincent Scotto.⁵Herbst, Dan. “New York’s Other Soccer Team. Soccer Monthly. June 1981.

The novice owner/coaches watched United fall 3-1 in the decisive match the next day.

1981 Championship Game & Demise

United turned back the clock after the disastrous 1980 campaign. The team planned to move back to Long Island, but renovations to Hofstra Stadium forced the team to play all but a handful of games at grimy Randall’s Island instead.  New/old coach Jimmy McGeough, who had managed the Apollo to the 1978 ASL title, returned after a one-year absence.

Under McGeough, who would earn ASL Coach of the Year honors, United posted a league best 19-5-4 record in 1981.  That should have earned United home field attendance for the playoffs.  But the team’s dismal fan support in New York led the ASL to move the September 18th, 1981 championship match to American League Memorial Stadium in Charlotte – where the opposing Carolina Lightnin’ were managed by old friend Rodney Marsh.

Before a league-record crowd of 20,163, United’s Solomon Hilton gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute.  But Carolina equalized in the 69th minute and the Lightnin’ hit the back of the net again in the 2nd overtime period to snatch away the ASL crown.

This turned out to be United’s swan song as the club folded during the offseason that followed. The ASL went out of business two years later following the 1983 season.

Trivia

United’s lone box office highlight at Shea Stadium was an exhibition match against the National Team of Ecuador on August 10th, 1980. An announced crowd of 11,332 witnessed United drop a 1-0 decision to the Ecuadorians.

In October of 1980, United undertook an extensive tour through Central America and the Carribbean. It was the kind of thing that the Cosmos did every fall, but it was virtually unheard of for an American 2nd Division club at the time.. The New Yorkers were winless in six matches against club and National Team competition:⁶“ASL Action”, Soccer Corner, February 1981

• T 1-1 vs. Colombian National Team
• L 3-2 vs. Peruvian National Team
• L 3-2 vs. Guatemalan National Team
• T 0-0 vs. Olympia of Honduras
• L 2-1 vs. Real Espana of Honduras
• T 1-1 vs. Deportiva Saprissa of Costa Rica

Voices

“About a week out [from the Ecuador match] there had been very few tickets sold, and little buzz about the game. I convinced [owner] Jimmy Sorentino to give us an advertising budget. We spent 10K in a week in New York newspapers and I even bought time on the New York Cosmos radio broadcasts. The phones started ringing, tickets started moving and we drew that big crowd.

“I went in to the United offices on Tuesday after the game. The owner showed us the ledger sheet with a $10,000 loss on the game, said that was the money spent on advertising, and fired us.”

– Charles Cuttone, Director of Public Relations 1980 (2015 FWIL Interview)

New York United Shop

The Stadium Store

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Shea Stadium
Graphic T-Shirt

Now-demolished Shea Stadium in Queens doesn’t get much love at Fun While It Lasted. Except for a brief pro soccer residency in 1980, Shea’s overseers steered clear of the flim-flam men and their fly-by-night leagues. Instead the old ballpark was revered for the greatest days of both the Mets and the Jets and for indelible moments in Rock history from the likes of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Clash and Billy Joel.

Available now in sizes Small through 4 XL at Old School Shirts!

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In Memoriam

Argentine forward Narciso Doval suffered a fatal heart attack at age 47 on October on October 12th, 1991. Doval was a 1st Team ASL All-Star with United during his only season in America in 1980.

Forward Paul Kitson (United ’80-’81) suffered a fatal brain aneurysm while conducting a soccer clinic on August 25, 2005.  Kitson was 49. Baltimore Sun obituary.

Downloads

1980 New York United Media Guide

February 28, 1980 – United Sign Rodney Marsh, Vintila Mardarescu as Coaches ASL Press Release

May 5, 1980 – New York United Sweeps Two Games ASL Press Release

May 13, 1980 – United to Open at Shea on Sunday Press Release

8-10-1980 United vs. National Team of Ecuador Game Notes

August 10, 1980 – United vs. National Team of Ecuador Program

October 13, 1980 – United Central American Tour Press Release

Links

American Soccer League Media Guides

American Soccer League Programs

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