1994 American Professional Soccer League Media Guide

American Professional Soccer League / A-League (1990-1996)

Tombstone

Formed: February 22, 1990
Disbanded: 1997 – merged with USISL Select League to form the USISL A-League

First Game:
Last Game: October 6, 1996

Seasons:
States & Provinces: 6
(Alberta, AZ, British Columbia, CA, OR, WA)

Leadership

APSL East Chairman:

  • 1990:

APSL West Chairman:

  • 1990: Bill Sage

Co-Chairmen:

  • 1991: Bill Sage & ?

Commissioner/Chairman:

  • – October 1993: Bill Sage (Commissioner)
  • 1994: William De La Pena (Acting Chairman)
  • September 1994 – ?: Richard Groff (Commissioner)

Attendance

Trophy Case

American Soccer League Most Valuable Player

Year Player Position Team
1990 Phillip Gyau Forward Maryland Bays

Western Soccer League Most Valuable Player

Year Player Position Team
1990 Mark Dodd Goalkeeper Colorado Foxes

American Soccer League Rookie of the Year

Year Player Position Team
1990 Steve Pittman Defender Ft. Lauderdale Strikers

 

American Soccer League Coach of the Year

Year Coach Team
1990 Thomas Rongen Fort Lauderdale Strikers

 

Background

After the demise of the North American Soccer League in January 1985, American outdoor soccer wandered in the wilderness for several years.  To the extent that soccer existed as a pro sport in America in the mid-1980’s, it was the indoor six-on-six format as played by the Major Indoor Soccer League.

In 1985, a small group of pro clubs launched a regional league on West Coast known as the Western Soccer Alliance (changed to the Western Soccer League for 1989).  Their national profile was virtually zero, other than coverage in a few diehard publications like Soccer America and Soccer Digest.  In 1988, a similarly low-budgeted East Coast League debuted, the American Soccer League.  The ASL, in particular, exhibited a nostalgia for the glory days of the NASL, with a trio of clubs – the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Tampa Bay Rowdies and Washington Diplomats – reviving NASL identities and, in some cases, ownership.  Some former NASL players returned, but the budgets were far, far smaller and regional play was the rule of the day.

After the 1989 season, the champions of the ASL (Ft. Lauderdale Strikers) and WSL (San Diego Nomads) met in a post-season national championship match at Boston’s Nickerson Field.  In 1990, the ASL and WSA merged, forming the nationwide American Professional Soccer League (APSL).  From 1990 to 1995, the APSL was essentially the United States 1st Division league, although FIFA never granted the APSL that official sanction, since the league also included teams from Canada.

The formation of Major League Soccer in 1994 and its debut in 1996 effectively ended any pretensions that the APSL had to top flight status.  The league played it’s final two seasons (1995 and 1996) under a new name: The A-League.  Prior to the 1997 season, the remnants of the APSL were absorbed into the United Soccer Leagues and the league became a de facto 2nd division feeder league to Major League Soccer.  The A-League name continued until 2004, when the re-branded the league as USL 1st Division.

The teams covered here played in the Western Soccer Alliance, American Soccer League or the APSL between 1986 and 1996.  For teams that played in The A-League after its absorption by the USL in 1997, please see the A-League/USL 1st Division page.

For the sake of clarity, clubs are listed here in each version of this league in which they played:

 

American Soccer League Franchise List

Franchise Years Active ASL Champions
Albany Capitals 1988-1989 None
Boston Bolts 1988-1989 None
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1988-1989 1989
Maryland Bays 1988-1989 None
Miami Sharks 1988-1989 None
New Jersey Eagles 1988-1989 None
Orlando Lions 1988-1989 None
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1988-1989 None
Washington Diplomats 1988-1989 1988
Washington Stars 1988-1989 None

 

APSL/A-League Franchise List

FRANCHISEYEARS ACTIVEWSA/WSL CHAMPIONS
Albany Capitals1990-1991Never
Arizona Condors1990Never
Atlanta Ruckus1995-1996Never
Boston Bolts1990Never
California Emperors1990Never
Colorado Foxes1990-19961992 & 1993
Fort Lauderdale Strikers1990-1994Never
Los Angeles Heat1990Never
Los Angeles Salsa1993-1994Never
Maryland Bays1990-19911990
Miami Freedom1990-1992Never
Montreal Impact1993-19961994
New Jersey Eagles1990Never
New Mexico Chiles1990Never
New York Centaurs1995Never
New York Fever1996Never
Orlando Lions1990Never
Penn-Jersey Spirit1990-1991Never
Portland Timbers1990Never
Real Santa Barbara1990Never
Rochester Raging Rhinos1996Never
Salt Lake Sting1990-1991Never
San Diego Nomads1990Never
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks1990-19921991
Seattle Sounders1995-19961995 & 1996
Seattle Storm1990Never
Tampa Bay Rowdies1990-1993Never
Toronto Blizzard1993Never
Toronto Rockets1994Never
Vancouver 86ers1993-1996Never
Washington Diplomats1990Never
Washington Stars1990Never

 

American Professional Soccer League Shop

 

 

Downloads

Press Release: April 12, 1989 – Western & American Soccer Leagues Plan Merger

4-12-1989 Western & American Soccer Leagues Plan Merger

 

Links

American Professional Soccer League Media Guides

American Professional Soccer League Programs

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