American Soccer League (1976-1978)
Tombstone
Born: October 9, 1975 – ASL expansion franchise1NO BYLINE. “Capital Among ASL Franchises”. The Bee (Sacramento, CA). October 10, 1975
Folded: June 15, 1978 (Folded midseason, immediately replaced by Sacramento Gold)
First Game: April 17, 1976 (T 0-0 @ Los Angeles Skyhawks)
Last Game: May 25, 1977 (L 2-1 vs. California Sunshine)
ASL Championships: None
Stadia
1976-1977: Hornet Stadium
Opened: 1969
1978: American River College
Branding
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owners: Charles Carlen & Frank Szantho
Our Favorite Stuff
Sacramento Spirits Logo T-Shirt
The Spirits were Sacramento’s first professional soccer club, formed in the spring of 1976. In their finest hour, the Spirits played in the championship game of the American Soccer League in September 1977, but less than a year later they were gone.
This eye-catching Spirits logo tee is available from our partners at American Retro Apparel. Sizes small through XXXL are available today!
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 Sacramento Spirits were a pro soccer club formed in 1976 as part of a westward expansion of the 2nd Division American Soccer League (ASL). Traditionally based in the Northeastern U.S. and the Rust Belt, the ASL added a Western Division consisting of clubs in L.A., Oakland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City and Tacoma that spring.
The next two-and-a-half seasons were a roller coaster ride for the Spirits. The 1976 squad put up the worst record (4-14-3) in the 11-team ASL.
In 1977, under the direction of new head coach Bob Ridley, the Spirits ran away with the Western Division title with 18 wins, 4 losses and 4 draws. The team advanced through the playoffs to earn a road date against the New Jersey Americans in the 1977 ASL championship game. The Americans defeated the Spirits 3-0 before a crowd of 6,493 at Rutgers Stadium on September 4th, 1977.
Replaced
Ridley and company limped into a third season in the spring of 1978 but it was clear that things were not well behind the scenes. The Spirits were deeply in debt and left Cal State Sacramento’s Horney Stadium to play at a community college. Owner Charles Carlen cast about for a buyer. After a 2-3 start to the season, the insolvent Spirits were forced to cancel a home match against the Indianapolis Daredevils on June 9th, 1978 and took a forfeit. The team sat idle for three weeks.
Finally, on June 15th, 1978, the ASL terminated the Spirits franchise in midseason. They immediately awarded a fresh Sacramento franchise to new owner John Andreotti who signed on Ridley and many of the unemployed Spirits players. The new club, soon after dubbed the Sacramento Gold, took on the rest of the Spirits schedule and completed the 1978 season.
The Gold would go on to win the American Soccer League title in 1979 but the team experienced financial problems the following year and folded in 1980. The ASL itself went out of business following the 1983 season.
Sacramento Spirits Shop
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.
Our favorite distressed ASL logo tee is made by American Retro Apparel and 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!
Downloads
“The Spirits of ’76 … Sacramento Soccer Style!” – 1976 Press Release
Spirits of '76 - Sacramento Soccer Style Press Release
April 1976 Spirits Host Tides Press Release
5-2-1976 Spirits vs. Buccaneers Game Preview Press Release
May 1976 Spirits Host Golden Spikers Press Release
5-31-1976 Spirits vs. Cork Hibernians (Ireland) Exhibition Flyer
6-9-1976 Spirits vs. Americans Game Preview Press Release
Links
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