Category: North American Soccer League

George Benitez on the cover of a 1968 Los Angeles Wolves program from the North American Soccer League

Los Angeles Wolves

August 30, 2016

The Los Angeles Wolves were a pro soccer club founded in 1967 by Los Angeles Lakers and Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke. In the scramble to get ready to play the 1967 season, each United Soccer Association franchise imported an entire team from Europe or South America to cosplay as an American club. The 1967 Wolves were actually Wolverhampton of England, and the American club derived its name from the English club’s nickname. The Wolves won the 1967 United Soccer Association championship, defeating the Washington Whips at L.A. Memorial Coliseum. In 1968, the Wolves moved to the Rose Bowl and the newly formed North American Soccer League. The club disbanded following the 1968 campaign.

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Trevor Francis Detroit Express

Detroit Express

August 16, 2016

The Detroit Express began life as an expansion team in the North American Soccer League in 1978. The Express, who played at the Pontiac Silverdome, swiftly gained international attention by acquiring English soccer star Trevor Francis on loan from Birmingham City. It was an era when NASL owners lured numerous aging European stars to America with eye-popping paychecks.  Francis was an exception to this NASL retirement plan.  He was only 25 years old and at the peak of his powers during his two Express seasons in 1978 and 1979. The NASL Express franchise moved to Washington D.C. after three seasons in early 1981. A new version of the Express immediately formed and joined the lower division American Soccer League, playing three more seasons from 1981 through 1983.

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Toronto Blizzard NASL

Toronto Blizzard

June 5, 2016

North American Soccer League (1979-1984) Canadian Soccer League (1987-1992) American Professional Soccer League (1993) Born: February 13, 1979 – Re-branded from Toronto Metros-Croatia Folded: Postseason

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Montreal Olympique North American Soccer League

Montreal Olympique

April 26, 2016

Montreal Olympique was a pro soccer outfit that competed briefly in the North American Soccer League in the early 1970’s. The team shared both their owner, Sam Berger, and their stadium, the 33,000-seat Autostade, built for Expo 67, with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

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Tulsa Roughnecks players on the cover of a 1980 North American Soccer League Kick Magazine program

Tulsa Roughnecks (1978-1985)

December 29, 2015

North American Soccer League (1978-1984) Independent Club (1985) Born: November 15, 1977 – Team Hawaii relocates to Tulsa, OK Folded: August 31, 1984 (Roughnecks a

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