The Cleveland Cobras were a lower-division American pro soccer club, active through the mid-70’s and into the early 1980’s. The team started out as the Cleveland Stars (1972-1974) before changing to the Cobras name in 1975. The Cobras played their home matches on the campus of Baldwin-Wallace University in suburban Berea.
The Pittsburgh Miners were a 2nd Division soccer club that competed in the American Soccer League in the summer of 1975. The club had a miserable season, winning just one of 20 matches (1-16-3). Coal executive William Renton of Cleveland owned the Miners. The team went out of business at the end of the season.
The Georgia Generals were a One-Year Wonder in the 2nd Division American Soccer League, playing in the summer of 1982. The Generals played in the Atlanta suburb of DeKalb. The Generals sought to fill the pro soccer void in greater Atlanta after the big budget Ted Turner-owned Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer League went out of business in September 1981. Former Chiefs manager David Chadwick hired on as head coach of the Generals and the roster featured several other Chiefs’ refugees, including goalkeeper Graham Tutt.
The Carolina Lightnin’ were a popular 2nd division soccer club that played three seasons in Charlotte during the early 1980’s. The Lightnin’ won the championship of the American Soccer League during the debut season in 1981. The club was the first pro soccer franchise ever established in the Carolinas.
The Golden Gate Gales were an obscure 2nd Division pro soccer club, that existed for only one season in the American Soccer League. The team moved its home matches in midseason from Pioneer Stadium in the East Bay to Tak Fudenna Stadium in Fremont. Former University of San Francisco star Mal Roche led the ASL in scoring with 17 goals, but the Gales finished in last place and quietly went out of business following the season.
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