Houston Dynamos
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| Full name | Houston Dynamos Soccer Team | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Dynamos | |||
| Short name | Houston Dynamos | |||
| Founded | 1983 | |||
| Dissolved | 1991 | |||
| Stadium | Houston, Texas, United States. | |||
| League | United Soccer League. | |||
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Houston Dynamos was a U.S. soccer team that existed in various forms from 1983 to 1991. In 1991, the team's owners changed the name to Houston International, but the team lasted only through the 1992 season before folding. The Dynamos were founded by Pete Kane and John M Gaughan. The Dynamos were founded with the intention of a continued building of the sport of soccer in Houston Texas. The Dynamos were the first team to give contracts to its players based on an entire year not on a season. The Houston Dynamos players year round went to parks, schools and events promoting the sport of soccer. In 1985 the Dynamos brought Pele to Houston creating great interest in the sport and spreading goodwill.
1984: United Soccer League
[edit]In 1983, the United Soccer League (USL) was formed after the second American Soccer League (ASL) folded that year. The ASL had served as the de facto U.S. second division for decades, but collapsed due to over expansion and financial insolvency. The USL intended to avoid this fate by creating a lean, financially responsible league. In 1984, the league began play with nine teams in three regional divisions. The Houston Dynamos joined the Oklahoma City Stampede and Dallas Americans in the Southwest Division. The Dynamos gained a significant boost when it signed José Neto. Houston finished third in the league, but second in its division. In the wild card game, the Dynamos defeated the Dallas Americans. In the semifinals, they defeated the Oklahoma City Stampede two games to none. In the championship round, the Fort Lauderdale Sun defeated Houston two games to one in a closely contested series in which the first and third games were both decided by penalty kick shootouts.[1][2]
1984 Roster
[edit]
Manny Andruszewski
Mike Barbarick 24 Apps 0 Goals- Giulio Bernardi
Beto Dos Santos[3]- Bob Bozada
- Glenn Davis
- Jim Elder
Soloman Hilton- Tony Johnson 22 Apps 11 Goals
Mark Lugris- William McDonald
Jose Neto 21 Apps 22 Goals (1984 league MVP)- Manny Neves
- Ed Puskarich
-
Nathan Sacks - Walter Schlothauer
- Joseph Serralta
Lesh Shkreli- Roland Sikinger
- Gary Vogel
1985-1986: Independent
[edit]In 1985, the Dynamos chose not to return to the USL for the league's second season when it became apparent the league would not survive. Despite the league's attempt at financial austerity, it indeed folded eight games into the 1985 season. Having forsaken the USL, the Dynamos played an exhibition schedule as an independent team.[4]
1987-1991: Lone Star Soccer Alliance
[edit]In 1987, the Dynamos entered a newly established league, the Lone Star Soccer Alliance.[5][6][7] At the end of the 1990 season, the team ownership changed the team's name to Houston International for the franchise's final season.[8]
Coaches
[edit]- Gary Hindley (1984-1985) (1984 Coach of the Year)
Year-by-year
[edit]| Year | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | USL | 2nd, Western | Finals | Did not enter |
| 1985 | Independent | N/A | Did not qualify | |
| 1986 | Independent | N/A | Did not qualify | |
| 1987 | LSSA | 2nd | Finals | Did not enter |
| 1988 | LSSA | 2nd | Finals | Did not enter |
| 1989 | LSSA | 3rd | Semifinals | Did not enter |
| 1990 | LSSA | 4th, Southern | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1991 | LSSA | 3rd, Southern | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
Honors
[edit]MVP
- 1984 José Neto
Coach of the Year
- 1984 Gary Hindley
Executive of the Year
- 1984 Peter Kane
Legacy
[edit]The MLS team the Houston Dynamo is named after the Dynamos.
References
[edit]- ^ "Fort Lauderdale News from Fort Lauderdale, Florida". Newspapers.com. 1984-09-02. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ "What can only be described as "Soccapocalypse"". Protagonist Soccer. 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ "1984 roster listing". Archived from the original on 2018-05-19. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "www.sover.net". Archived from the original on 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ Lone Star Soccer Alliance
- ^ "Sports Briefs". Houston Chronicle. Houston, TX. June 13, 1987.
- ^ "sover.net 1987". Archived from the original on 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ Conway, Joe (January 30, 2006). "Can 1836 be a hit where other soccer teams have missed?". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2014.