Category: United Soccer Association

1967 New York Skyliners program from the United Soccer Association

New York Skyliners

July 14, 2013

The New York Skyliners were a professional soccer entry that lasted for one season at Yankee Stadium during the summer of 1967. The Skyliners were members of the United Soccer Association, a league that imported European and South American clubs into the United States to play under pseudonyms during their domestic offseasons. The Skyliners were actually Cerro of Uruguay. All of the Skyliners were Uruguayan except for leading scorer Benedicto Ribeiro (Brazil), forward Luis Suarez (Argentina) and goalkeeper Osmar Miguelucci (Argentina).

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Cleveland Stokers Soccer

Cleveland Stokers

May 8, 2013

The Cleveland Stokers were Cleveland’s first professional soccer team of real significance. The club began play in 1967 in the United Soccer Association, a league which grew up out of the enthusiasm of the 1966 World Cup.  The USA imported entire teams from Europe and South America to represent member cities.  The Stokers were actually Stoke City F.C. from England. 

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1968 Vancouver Royals program from the North American Soccer League

Vancouver Royal Canadians / Vancouver Royals

March 29, 2013

The Royal Canadians/Royals were Vancouver’s original pro soccer franchise during the late 1960’s. The club formed as the Royal Canadians in the start-up United Soccer Association in 1967. The following year, the re-dubbed Royals moved to the North American Soccer League and played their second and final campaign. The Royals disbanded following the 1968 season. The NASL would return to Vancouver and Empire Stadium with the Vancouver Whitecaps expansion club in 1974.

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1968 Dallas Tornado Media Guide from the North American Soccer League

Dallas Tornado

December 16, 2011

That the Dallas Tornado existed as long as they did – 15 seasons from 1967 to 1981 – is a testament to the endurance of American Football League founder Lamar Hunt and fruitcake baron Bill McNutt.  The Tornado existed longer than the famed New York Cosmos. They developed the first American-born “Superstar” of the soccer (at least by ABC’s definition) in Kyle Rote Jr.  But the team was never wildly popular in Dallas. The club wandered around the metroplex in nomadic fashion, shifting among five different stadiums in little more than a decade of play.

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