Los Angeles Skyhawks

American Soccer League (1976-1979)

Background

The Los Angeles Skyhawks were a 2nd Division pro soccer outfit that competed in the American Soccer League during the late 1970’s. The team won a league championship in its debut season under the direction of British coach Ron Newman, who went on to be a highly successful coach in the NASL, MISL and Major League Soccer.

The Skyhawks came into existence in 1976 as part of a major West Coast expansion by the ASL.  The ASL traced its roots back to the Depression years, but remained a ragtag assemblage of Northeastern ethnic semi-pro clubs until the early 1970’s.  The West Coast experiment last only until 1980, when the league contracted and retreated East back across the Mississippi.

During the ASL’s brief run as a truly national league from 1976 to 1980, the Skyhawks were probably the most successful West Coast club. The team drew decent crowds by 2nd Division standards, including 9,652 for a 1976 exhibition match against the Mexican Olympic Team at L.A. Memorial Coliseum. The club’s normal home grounds were Birmingham Stadium and Pierce College Stadium in the San Fernando Valley.

Demise

The final play in Skyhawks’ club history came on an own goal in sudden death overtime of a quarterfinal playoff match in late August 1979. Playing on the road in Sacramento before 7,223 fans – a huge crowd by ASL standards – the Skyhawks held a 2-1 lead over the Gold with 1:29 left in regulation. After a late equalizer sent the match to sudden death, Skyhawks defender Brian Gardner inadvertently headed the ball past keeper Brian Parkinson on a botched clearance to conceded the match and the season. The Skyhawks never took the field again.

Team owner Bob Nordskog pulled the Skyhawks out of the ASL following the 1979 season, which helped to hasten the collapse of 2nd Division soccer on the West Coast and the subsequent retreat of the league back to the Eastern U.S.  The ASL folded for good in early 1984.

Voices

“Time after time, our club has been recognized as the flagship team of the ASL, and we hoped that recognition, along with our efforts on behalf of youth soccer and the general community, would have established a large and positive fan reaction to our club.

However, this has not been the case. Therefore, we feel a choice must be made, and we have made that choice. We will spend our time, effort and money where it will do the most good and we believe that is with youth soccer, not as a member of the American Soccer League, an organization dedicated to mediocrity and which appears to have no future whatsoever.”

-Bob Nordskog, Owner 1977-1979 (January 1980 press release²ASL Action, Soccer Corner magazine, May 1980)

In Memoriam

Midfielder Micky Cave (Skyhawks ’76) died of carbon monoxide poisoning on November 6, 1984 at age 35.

Former Skyhawks owner Bob Nordskog passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage July 15, 1992 at age 79. New York Times obituary.

Midfielder Alan Sproates (Skyhawks ’77-’79) passed away on February 5, 2015 at age 70. Marin Independent Journal tribute.

Downloads

January 1976 “Hawkeye” Team Newsletter

5-20-1976 – Skyhawks to Face Cork Hibernians Press Release

6-3-1976 – Skyhawks Head Out on East Coast Road Trip Press Release

6-12-1976 – Skyhawks @ Cleveland Cobras Game Notes

6-15-1976 – Skyhawks Host New Jersey Americans Press Release

6-30-1976 – Skyhawks Travel to Golden Bay Buccaneers Press Release

7-20-1976 – Skyhawks Face Utah Golden Spikers Press Release

7-27-1976 – Skyhawks Host Media All-Stars vs. Playboy Bunnies Exhibition Press Release

Links

American Soccer League Media Guides

American Soccer League Programs

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