The numbers are quite staggering, actually. Of the 16 teams who will play in the A-League in 2004 a full 10 of them will do so in cities/areas that at one time were homes to NASL (North American Soccer League) clubs. Atlanta, Rochester, Toronto, Montreal, Minnesota, Edmonton, Calgary, Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver were once home to the Apollos/Chiefs, Lancers, Metros/Blizzard, Manic, Kicks/Strikers, Drillers, Boomers, Sounders, Timbers and Whitecaps in another era, in another world, in a league far, far away. Or is it so far?
I have spent a great deal of time trying to reconcile the NASL past and the A-League past, present and future of my team, the Seattle Sounders. After a while the lines of league play become blurred in the overall history of the club itself. The NASL Sounders went to two league finals, losing both to the New York Cosmos (2-1 in 1977, 1-0 in 1982). The A-League Sounders have two title victories to their credit (1995 over Atlanta, 1996 over Rochester).
Perhaps it is easier to see the “whole” of the Sounders history because Seattle’s A-League team is called by its NASL nickname. Supporters in Portland and Vancouver have this pleasure as well. The Timbers and Whitecaps are alive and still playing footy nearly 30 years after they were born. The Timbers fans can claim a title appearance: 1975 (Their first ever season!) ended in a Soccer Bowl loss to Tampa Bay’s Rowdies, 2-0. The Vancouver Whitecaps won an “International” Championship in 1979 with their 2-1 NASL title triumph over the Rowdies. Rochester’s NASL Lancers won the 1970 NASL crown. Toronto claimed the 1976 title when they were known as the Metros-Croatia.
Major League Soccer (MLS), the current USA first division, has 9 of its 10 teams in former NASL cities. Only Columbus is on its first run as a major soccer city. Remember the Dallas Tornado, LA Aztecs, San Jose Earthquakes, New York Cosmos, Chicago Sting, Denver Dynamos/Colorado Caribous, New England Tea Men/Boston Minutemen, Washington Darts/Diplomats and the Kansas City Spurs?
2004 will mark the 30th year since the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps were born. Supporters of both sides, rooting at cross purposes for all these years, can unite in celebration at the long history their clubs possess. Portland will hit the 30-year mark in 2005. Looking back at our North American Soccer League years has become even more fun because we know that all this history is leading us somewhere…like, say, the 2004 A-League season.
Maybe the coming campaign will see more and more A-League fans looking into the NASL past of the city they live in. If they take the time to do this it will only enrich the experience of watching matches in the here and now. When your club runs out onto the pitch for its first home match of the new season your thoughts can flash back to what it must have been like in the old days. Perhaps supporters long-since passed on will add their cheers, wave their faded flags, join in the moment. Silent accept in the hearts of fans whom to this day, still remember.
You are invited to discover more about the NASL through these links. Don’t see your city? You are encouraged to start a website for your NASL team!
The “Mother Site” http://home.att.net/~nasl/nasl.htm
Seattle Sounders: Puget Sound Pro Soccer Museum
Vancouver Whitecaps: Vintage Galleries
Portland Timbers: Soccer History
