American Indoor Soccer Association (1988-1990)
National Professional Soccer League (1991-1992)
Tombstone
Born: July 19, 1988 – AISA expansion franchise
Folded: July 1, 1991
First Game: November 4, 1988 (L 16-10 @ Canton Invaders)
Last Game: March 30, 1991 (W 16-10 @ Canton Invaders)
AISA/NPSL Championships: None
Arena
Hersheypark Arena (7,200)11989-90 Hershey Impact Program
Opened: 1936
Marketing
Team Colors: Red, White & Blue
Ownership
Owners: Larry Samples, et al.
Attendance
FWIL FAVORITE
Hershey Impact Logo T-Shirt
For three years at the end of the 1980’s, central Pennsylvania sports fans looking for an alternative to Hershey Bears hockey had another choice on cold winter nights at Hersheypark Arena. The Impact cultivated a small but loyal following in the area from 1988 through 1991.
This Impact design is also available as a Long Sleeve T, in a Women’s cut or as a Hoodie Sweatshirt from our partners at Extra Time Vintage Soccer!
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 Hershey Impact were a pro indoor soccer club that played three winter campaigns in central Pennsylvania at the end of the 1980’s. The club formed in July 1988 as an expansion franchise in the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA). The AISA, at the time, was basically a 2nd division indoor soccer loop that played in the eastern and midwestern U.S. The league was smaller and cheaper to compete in than the Major Indoor Soccer League (1978-1992), which played primarily in NBA and NHL arenas. The AISA did boast a few big city franchises wand gargantuan buildings in places such as Atlanta, Chicago and Milwaukee. But there were an equal number of small cities like Hershey; Dayton, Ohio and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Impact were distinctly mom-and-pop. The driving force behind the formation of the club was Dr. Larry Samples, a 45-year old veterinarian from nearby Hummelstown, PA. Samples led a group of 20 investors who put up the cash for the club and he served as team President. The Impact had a small but steady core of fans that never really grew. The club averaged between 3,400 and 3,700 fans for each of its three seasons of play, which was about half the capacity of Hersheypark Arena.
On The Carpet
The Impact hired Niki Nikolic, a Yugoslav veteran of the North American Soccer League and the MISL to coach the club. He would stay for all three seasons. The team reached the playoffs in each of its first two seasons, but was swept in the first round in 1989 and again in 1990.
The club’s most talented player was Drago Dumbovic, though he didn’t stay long with Hershey. Midway through the team’s second campaign in January 1990, the Impact traded leading scorer Franklin McIntosh to the Atlanta Attack for MISL veteran Drago Dumbovic. The bald-headed Yugoslav forward, known simply as “Drago”, went on to lead the AISA in scoring in 1989-90 with 167 points. Defensive stalwart Bob Lilley, a native of nearby Carlisle, Pennsylvania joined Drago on the AISA’s post-season All-Pro team.
Drago was also MVP of the league’s All-Star game in 1990, which saw a squad of AISA All-Stars defeat the Soviet Red Army team at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena on January 20, 1990. The following night, the Soviets traveled to Hershey to play the Impact in an exhibition match. The Impact took apart the Russians, 14-2.
Hershey fans would enjoy Drago’s scoring wizardry for just half a season. Prior to the 1990-91 season, the AISA re-branded itself as the National Professional Soccer League. The league also added an expansion team called the Detroit Rockers. The Rockers signed Dumbovic for the 1990-91 NPSL season.
The End
After three seasons of play, the Hershey Impact declared bankruptcy and ceased operations on July 1st, 1991. Dr. Rex Herbert quickly applied for an NPSL expansion franchise in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, just 15 minutes west of Hershey. Herbert’s Harrisburg Heat club was admitted to the league just a few weeks after the Impact closed down. Seven of the 16 players on the Heat’s pre-season roster for 1991-92 were holdovers from the 1990-91 Impact, including top scorers John Abe and Franklin McIntosh and mainstays Bill Becher, Kyle Boshen, Bob Lilley and Todd Smith.
Hershey Impact Shop
FWIL COFFEE SHOP
Hershey Impact 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!
In Memoriam
Former Impact defender Todd Smith died of leukemia on December 31, 2003 at age 38. Smith was General Manager of Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution when he was diagnosed in March 2002. Soccer America obituary.
Links
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One Response
I was at the 1990 AISA/Soviet All-Star Game and even interviewed one of the Russian players thru an interpreter. I said, “Hope to see you back in America again soon,” and he just laughed.
I went looking for Drago’s wiki page and was shocked that he didn’t have one!