American Soccer League (1976-1979)
Tombstone
Born: 1976 -ASL expansion franchise
Folded: January 29, 1980
First Game: April 17, 1976 (T 0-0 vs. Sacramento Spirits)
Final Game: August 29, 1979 (L 3-2 @ Sacramento Gold)
American Soccer League Champions: 1976
Stadia
1976-1977: Birmingham Stadium
1976: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
1978-1979: Pierce College Stadium (8,500)11978 American Soccer League Press Radio Television Guide
Marketing
Team Colors:
Radio:
- 1979: KGIL (1260 AM)
Radio Broadcasters:
- Joe Buttitta (play-by-play) & John Hayward (color)
Ownership
Owners:
- 1976-1977: Jack Young, R.J. Smith, et al.
- 1977-1979: Robert Nordskog
Our Favorite Stuff
Los Angeles Skyhawks
Logo T-Shirt
We liked in distressed effect on this eye-catching L.A. Skyhawks throwback Tee from American Retro Apparel. After all, the chaotic 2nd division American Soccer League, in which the Skyhawks toiled from 1976 to 1979, was nothing if not rough around the edges.
This design is available from American Retro Apparel in sizes small through 4XL 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 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)
Los Angeles Skyhawks 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
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
January 1976 Los Angeles Skyhawks 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
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11 Responses
My name is John smith I played for Skyhawks 1979 if anyone has any pictures , write ups , could you please forward them to me
Regards
John smith
Hey pal, do you remember an English guy called Mark that played for skyhawkes??
Hi, Do you recall hosting some members of the Royal Navy? if so I was the one who curved his penalty towards the corner flag 🙂
Good effort mate
If your name is Christian I have tried to reply to your email but I don’t think you are getting my messages
Hi John
Could you please confirm whether there was a James (Jimmy) John Weston played for the Skyhawks. He played professionally in England for Blackpool, Torquay United and Wigan Athletic.
I know someone who used to work for him and he always said he played for the Skyhawks but I can find no details on the net.
Yes, Jimmy played for the Skyhawks in 1977 and 1978. Their season ran over the summer so he played for them in the English close season whilst still registered as a Blackpool player.
You can find his profile here:
https://www.nasljerseys.com/ASL/Players/W/Weston.Jim.htm
hi John,
not sure if you would remember me or my father and brother, as i was a little kid (4 or 5) at the time.
hi John,
not sure if you would remember me or my father and brother, as i was a little kid (4 or 5) at the time. me and my brother attended Jimmy Rollands summer soccer camp and team party or two but that was like 43-44 years ago
Do you know DF 1977 Francisco Loza for LA SKYHAWKS?
Hi everyone who has replied I am sorry I haven’t got back to you as I have only just seen the messages I hope you are all well and I will look at any replies and hopefully be able to answer any questions you have would love to have a response from any ex player
Regards
John smith