American Soccer League (1974-1977)
Tombstone
Born: 1974 – ASL expansion franchise
Re-Branded: 1977 (New England Oceaneers)
Moved: February 9, 1978 (Indy Daredevils)
First Game: May 11, 1974 (W 6-1 vs. Cincinnati Comets)
Last Game: August 27, 1977 (L 2-1 @ New York Apollo)
ASL Champions: 1974
Stadium
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owners:
- 1974: Michael Bosson, James Kirker, et al.
- 1975: George Patrick Duffy, et al.
- 1976-1977: Alexander Walsh, et al.
Our Favorite Stuff
American Soccer League
T-Shirt
For most of its existence, the American Soccer League was a collection of ethnically-based semi-pro clubs clustered in the northeast. But in the 1970’s, the ASL expanded nationwide and became American’s de facto 2nd Division, underneath the bigger-budgeted NASL. This logo was used by the league from the 1970’s until its demise in 1983.
We like this ASL logo tee from American Retro Apparel (they offer a grey version also) and it’s available today in sizes small through XXXL!
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Background
I was thrilled to finally dig up a program (above) from the old Rhode Island/New England Oceaneers soccer club earlier this week. The Oceaneers played in the 2nd division American Soccer League from 1974 to 1977. Any material from the ASL is tough to find.
The Oceaneers started out as an expansion club in 1974. Rhode Island took the ASL by storm in its debut year. The team finished the regular season at 16-2, allowing just 9 goals in 18 matches. American goalkeeper Arnie Mausser was the breakout star of the league. The Oceaneers defeated New York Apollo in the league championship series.
Mausser departed for the 1st Division North American Soccer League in 1975. The club fell back to mediocrity for the remainder of its mid-70’s existence.
Tony DiCicco
The Oceaneers’ starting goalkeeper from 1975 to 1977 was the late Tony DiCicco. I had the pleasure of working with Tony thirty years later, when we were both with the Boston Breakers of Women’s Professional Soccer (2009-2011). By that time, Tony was a coaching legend in the women’s game. Winner of 1996 Olympic Gold and then 1999 Women’s World Cup as Head Coach of the U.S. National Team. But his own playing career, spent entirely in the American Soccer League from 1973 to 1977, was obscure. The history of the ASL has largely vanished into the dusty microfiche reels of public libraries in fading industrial cities.
Final Season & Move To Indianapolis
The club was known as the Rhode Island Oceaneers for its first three seasons and then became “New England” in 1977. But this was just a semantic change – the club was always based out of Providence, RI. The ’77 Oceaneers featured a rogues gallery of minor league characters, straight out of central casting: Mohammed “The Baby Jet” Attiah, Helio “Boom-Boom” Barbosa and Tarik “The Mad Turk” Kupoglu.
The new Oceanereers Head Coach & General Manager for 1977 was a man named John Bertos. Bertos was a Greek soccer fanatic who brought dozens if not hundreds of Brazilian immigrants to Massachusetts in the 1960’s and 1970’s to play for his Lowell/Fall River/Boston Astros teams of the ASL. Many of the Brazilian imports worked in Bertos’ janitorial firm by day and played for his ASL clubs on the weekends.
In February 1978, an Indiana group purchased the Oceaneers and moved the club to Indianapolis, where a name change was obviously in order. The Indy Daredevils lasted two seasons before going bankrupt and closing their doors in March 1980. The American Soccer League went out of business after the 1983 season.
Rhode Island Oceaneers Shop
Downloads
June 1974 – Oceaneers Press Release on Telmo Pires and Altino Dominigues
1974 Rhode Island Oceaneers Telmo Pires and Altino Domingues Release
July 1974 – Oceaneers at Cincinnati Comets Game Preview Press Release
July 1974 – Oceaneers to Face Werder Bremen of West Germany Press Release
1976 (Undated) – Oceaneers Roster on Letterhead
5-5-1976 – Oceaners to Face Cobras Press Release
5-10-1976 – Oceaneers Defeat Cleveland Cobras in Season Opener Press Release
5-18-1976 – Oceaneers to Face Cork Hibernians of Ireland Press Release
5-26-1976 – Oceaneers Host Sacramento Spirits Press Release
1977 New England Oceaneers Booster Club Newsletter
1977 New England Oceaneers Ticket Brochure
Links
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2 Responses
“Many of the Brazilian imports worked in Bertos’ janitorial firm by day and played for his ASL clubs on the weekends.”
Hi Andy ! Fantastic site here. I worked for the Astros in the 70’s, and I remain a close friend of John Bertos to this day . ( We’ve have two great reunions , 2013, and another in 2015)….anyway, while it is true John recruited, housed, help gain employment, to the guys, only ONE ever worked for him – and that was quite briefly. The guys all held jobs on their own, while the team actually practiced at least 3 times each week. Great story/ bunch of guys. I would love to make a documentary film. Looking for ASL footage (Apollo, Oceaneers (1974,75) Let me know what you come up with ! Hope you are well !
David
Was thrilled to see something written about a huge part of the attempts towards soccer development in the US.
As part of this development, the league, in 1977, conducted a draft. This draft was designed to recruit American players
(from local colleges)so as to attract fans who knew these local players from their college careers.
I was fortunate to be drafted 2nd by the Oceaneers out of URI where I played for the legendary Geza Henni.
Bertos seemed to barely acknowledge who I was despite my draft status, regular goal scoring and good play in practice as well as regular attendance at practice and played me about 15 minutes the whole season as well as snubbing me for playing time against the New York Apollo at Hofstra where all my relatives came to see me. Not a second of playing time. I wish my experience would have been better with the Oceaneers and that my GM and Coach would have followed through with the effort to “Americanize” the game. Instead, he went with a lot of slower, over the hill players who didn’t show up for practice while we American players regularly did, brought energy and performed well in practice. The Oceaneers loss I guess. We had a losing record, didn’t draw at the gate and the play was uninspired and disjointed. Good to see others make the game here what it is now and achieving some success. Would love to hear from you, especially if you need more info on life with the Oceaneers. Have good detail. Sincerely, Dave Names