American Soccer League (1978-1979)
Tombstone
Born: February 9, 1978 – The New England Oceaneers relocate to Indianapolis, IN1UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL. “Indianapolis gets soccer team”. The Evening Press (Muncie, IN). February 10, 1978
Folded: March 19802Wade, Susan. “Daredevils fold, are bankrupt”. The Star (Indianapolis, IN). March 12, 1980
First Game: April 29, 1978 (L 1-0 @ Cleveland Cobras)
Last Game: August 26, 1979 (W 4-1 vs. Columbus Magic)
ASL Championships: None
Stadium
Butler Bowl (19,000)31978 American Soccer League Press Radio Television Guide
Opened: 1928
Marketing
Team Colors: Black, Red & White41979 Indy Daredevils Program
Mascot: Dual-D
Ownership
Owners:
- 1978: Phil Bryant, et al.
- 1978-1979: Bob Stoppenhagen
Our Favorite Stuff
Indy Daredevils T-Shirt
I always dug the Daredevils logo! From the stylized “Indy” rather than Indianapolis to that razor sharp trident, the whole thing just clicks for me. Plus, there’s an Easter Egg with that face in profile tucked into the fireball.
Most American soccer logos of the 1970’s looked like cartoons and this one is no exception. But as far as that aesthetic goes, this is one of the best.
This Daredevils design is also available as a Crewneck Sweatshirt, 3/4 Sleeve Raglan or Women’s Tank Top from our friends at Old School Shirts!
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!
Background
The Indy Daredevils were a short-lived 2nd Division soccer club that played at the Butler Bowl in Indianapolis during the late 1970’s.
The 1978 Daredevils squad posted a 8-13-3 record, good for 3rd place in the American Soccer League’s Eastern Division. The Daredevils lost to the New Jersey Americans in the first round of the 1978 playoffs. Forward Steve Newman tied for second in the ASL with 14 goals despite missing five matches. The club selected goalkeeper Pete Mannos as it’s Most Valuable Player.
Off the field, the ‘Devils led the 10-team ASL in attendance in 1978, with a reported average of 4,376 fans per game.
Sophomore Slump & Demise
Indy’s second campaign was a mess from the outset. The Daredevils ran out of money early in the season. Club owner Bob Stoppenhagen and head coach Sam Donnelly raged against one another in the pages of The Indianapolis Star. Stoppenhagen fired the second year coach. At one point, the ‘Devils went through five head coaches in the span of one month. The team finished the under the direction of Dr. Martin Funderberger, a local opthamologist who volunteered to coach the team for free for the final two months of the season. The team finished 8-17-3 and out of the playoffs.
The Indy Daredevils played their final game at the Butler Bowl on August 26, 1979, pulling out a 4-1 victory against the Columbus Magic. The club declared bankruptcy after the season and folded in the spring of 1980.
The American Soccer League went out of business in early 1984.
Indianapolis Daredevils Shop
Fun While It Lasted COFFEE SHOP
Indianapolis Daredevils
Ceramic mug
Available now from our friends at Extra Time Vintage Soccer, this fully-insulated porcelain mug is ideal for your morning brew.
Ceramic | Capacity: 11 fl oz
Dishwasher safe
Lead and Cadmium free
Imported; processed and printed in the U.S.A.
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!
Our Favorite Stuff
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!
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!
In Memoriam
Public Relations Director Nick Matavuli (Daredevils ’78-’79) passed away following a brief illness on October 19, 1987. He worked for the Bloomington Herald-Telephone as a columnist at the time and was 55 years old.
Links
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