American Soccer League (1972-1975)
Tombstone
Born: 1972 ASL expansion franchise
Folded: January 20, 19761Murray, Jack. “Comets Fade Away Into Sunset”. The Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH). January 21, 1976
First Game: July 1, 1972 (W 7-2 vs. Chicago Americans)
Last Game: August 23, 1975 (W 2-1 vs. Pittsburgh Miners)
ASL Champions: 1972
Stadium
- 1972: St. Xavier High School
- 1973: Nippert Stadium
- 1974-1975: Trechter Stadium
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owners:
- 1972: Nick Capurro, John Capurro, Leo Gerbus, Richard Mulvey, Allen Slechter
- 1974: Nick Capurro, et al.
- 1974: Jim Scott, Jack Thornton, et al.
Trophy Case
ASL Most Valuable Player
- 1972: Ringo Cantillo
- 1974: Ringo Cantillo
OUR FAVORITE STUFF
Cincinnati Comets
Logo T-Shirt
This colorful retro tee honoring Cincinnati’s original pro soccer club of the early 1970’s comes from Cincy’s own Old School Shirts.
Comets tees are available today in sizes small through 4XL!
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 Cincinnati Comets were a lower division men’s pro soccer club that operated from 1972 through 1975 in the American Soccer League.
The Comets won the ASL championship during their debut season, defeating the undefeated defending champion New York Greeks 2-1 at Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School Field on September 9th, 1972.
The New York club would turn out to be Cincinnati’s ongoing arch rival. The clubs met again in the 1973 ASL championship game, this time played in New York and with the Greeks renamed the New York Apollo. This time the Apollo got the better of the match-up, edging the Comets 1-0 in sudden death overtime at New York’s Metropolitan Oval on September 9th, 1973. The Comets finished the 1973 season 13-3.
The Comets nearly folded midway through the 1974 season, but were saved thru the intervention of popular local DJ Jim Scott, who re-capitalized the team in July 1974. The Comets advanced to a postseason showdown with New York Apollo for a third straight season, this time losing to the New Yorkers 2-1 in the playoff semi-final.
The Comets played a fourth and final season during the summer of 1975 , missing the playoffs for the first season. The team went of our business in January 1976. The American Soccer League closed its doors following the 1983 season.
Cincinnati Comets 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!
In Memoriam
Comets co-founder, owner and head coach Nick Capurro passed away on January 27th, 2010 at the age of 83.
Links
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