The Philadelphia Atoms won the North American Soccer League championship in the debut season of 1973. In doing so, they became the first American pro soccer club to earn the cover of Sports Illustrated. After that charmed first season, though, the Atoms’ fortunes fizzled out and the club was out of business by the end of 1976.
United States Football League (1983-1984) Born: May 11, 1982 – USFL founding franchise Moved: October 1984 (Baltimore Stars) First Game: March 6, 1983 (W 13-7
The Philadelphia Fury marked the second go round for the North American Soccer League in the City of Brotherly Love. The Fury followed on the heels of the Philadelphia Atoms (1973-1976), who won the league championship as an expansion team in 1973 and became the first NASL team featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. A handful of popular players from the Atoms era returned, including goalkeeper Bob Rigby and defender Bobby Smith.
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