Connecticut Bicentennials: Difference between revisions

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image = [[Image:ConnecticutBicentennialsLogo.png|150px]] |
image = [[Image:ConnecticutBicentennialsLogo.png|150px]] |
fullname = Connecticut Bicentennials|
fullname = Connecticut Bicentennials|
nickname = Bicentennials|
nickname = Bicentennials<br>The Bi's|
founded = 1975 |
founded = 1975 |
dissolved= 1977 |
dissolved= 1977 |
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The '''Hartford Bicentennials''' was a [[soccer]] team based out of [[Hartford, Connecticut]] that played in the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]]. The team played at [[Dillon Stadium]].
After the 1976 season the team moved to [[New Haven, Connecticut]] and was renamed the '''Connecticut Bicentennials'''. Their home field was the [[Yale Bowl]].

The team name took its roots from the fact that the United States was approaching its bicentennial anniversary in 1976 and Connecticut was one of the original British colonies.

The franchise was relocated to [[Oakland, California]] for the 1978 season, where they became known as the [[Oakland Stompers]]. The Stompers were only in the Bay Area for one season before moving to [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]] to become the [[Edmonton Drillers (NASL)|Edmonton Drillers]] for the 1979 through 1982 seasons.

A notable ex-player to turn-out for Connecticut Bicentennials is former [[West Ham Utd]] midfielder [[Geoff Pike]] who made 39 appearances in the NASL scoring 7 goals in the process.

{{Infobox football club
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Hartford Bicentennials (1975-76)
| clubname = Hartford Bicentennials (1975-76)
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| American = true
| American = true
}}
}}

The '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' were an American [[Association football|soccer]] team that competed in the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League (NASL)]] from [[1975 North American Soccer League season|1975]] to [[1977 North American Soccer League season|1977]]. Originally founded as the '''Hartford Bicentennials''', the team relocated to [[New Haven, Connecticut]] after the [[1976 North American Soccer League season|1976 NASL season]]. At the end of 1977 season, the team was sold and relocated to California becoming the [[Oakland Stompers]].

==History==
Founded in 1975, and owned by local businessman Bob Darling, the team's name was a reference to the upcoming [[United States Bicentennial|bicentennial anniversary]] of the United States founding in 1976. The team began play during the [[1975 NASL Indoor tournament]], finishing second in Region 2 and missing the final four on [[Goal difference|goal difference]].<ref name="NASL Indoor">{{cite web|title= History of Indoor Soccer in the USA|url=http://www.rsssf.com/usadave/usindoor.html| last=Holroyd |first=Steve |access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref> Prior to the [[1975 North American Soccer League season|1975 outdoor season]], the Bicentennials signed fourteen players from the [[1974 American Soccer League|1974]] [[American Soccer League (1933–1983)|American Soccer League (ASL)]] champions [[Rhode Island Oceaneers]], including goalkeeper [[Arnie Mausser]], [[Charlie McCully]], and [[Mohammad Attiah]], as well as hiring the Oceaneers' head coach [[Manfred Schellscheidt|Manny Schellscheidt]] and General Manager Michael Bosson.<ref name="Robinson">{{cite news|title=Hartford Bicentennials soccer club undergoes front-office clean-up |last=Robinson |first=Ken |work=The Morning Record |date=16 March 1976 |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2M9HAAAAIBAJ|access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Orr |first=Michael |title=The 1975 Portland Timbers: The Birth of Soccer City, USA. |publisher=Arcadia Publishing Incorporated|date=2012 |isbn=9781614233138}}</ref> The Bicentennials finished their inaugural season in last place of the Northern Division with a record of six wins and sixteen loses and an average attendance of 3,720 playing their home games at the [[Dillon Stadium]] which they shared with the [[Connecticut Yankees (soccer)|Connecticut Yankees]] of the ASL.<ref name="NASL">{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/usadave/nasl.html|title=North American Soccer League|website=rsssf.com|access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="Robinson"></ref> After the season, Bosson was replaced by the GM of the Connecticut Yankees Rudi Schiffer and, along with the signing of three european players, the contract of goalkeeper Arnie Mausser, who had allowed a record 50 goals during the season, was sold to the [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]].<ref name="Robinson"></ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rowdies Add A 'Yank'|work=The Evening Independent |date=25 November 1975 |page=1C |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qfcLAAAAIBAJ|access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hammond's signing clouds Mausser's future|last=Blankenship |first=Ken |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=29 January 1977|page=6C |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pa4pAAAAIBAJ|access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref> Schellscheidt was replaced by Bobby Thompson after a 2-3 start to the 1976 outdoor season.<ref>{{cite news|title=People in Sports|work=Eugene Register-Guard |date=11 May 1976 |page=2B |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oOZVAAAAIBAJ|access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref> The team ended the [[1976 North American Soccer League season|1976 season]] with a record of twelve wins and twelve losses and averaging 3,420 fans per game.<ref name="NASL"></ref> The team relocated to [[New Haven, Connecticut]] and rebranded as the Connecticut Bicentennials before the 1977 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bicentennials Comes to Yale|last=Mitchell |first=Charles |work=The Hour |date=5 January 1977 |page=29 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tVcpAAAAIBAJ|access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref> Playing their home games at the [[Yale Bowl]], the team finished the [[1977 North American Soccer League season|1977 season]] in last place of the Atlantic Conference Northern Division with a record of seven wins and nineteen losses.<ref name="NASL"></ref> The Bicentennials drew their biggest crowd ever, with 17,302 fans in attendance, for their 1977 home opener against the [[New York Cosmos (1970–1985)|New York Cosmos]] featuring Brazilian star [[Pelé]], but averaged only 3,848 fans for the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bicentennials fall to Pele & Cosmos |last=Robinson |first=Ken |work=The Morning Record and Journal |date=9 May 1977| page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PNFHAAAAIBAJ |access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref> Citing low gate revenues and the cost to adequately light the Yale Bowl for night games, Darling sold the team to [[Milan Mandarić]] who relocated the team to [[Oakland, California]] for the 1978 season, where they became known as the [[Oakland Stompers]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bicentennials leaving state for California |work=The Morning Record and Journal |date=16 September 1977 |page=10 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XwVIAAAAIBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false|access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref>


==Year-by-year==
==Year-by-year==
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[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1975]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1975]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1977]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1977]]


{{Connecticut-footyclub-stub}}

Revision as of 16:21, 28 December 2021

Connecticut Bicentennials (1977)
Full nameConnecticut Bicentennials
Nickname(s)Bicentennials
The Bi's
Founded1975
Dissolved1977
StadiumYale Bowl
Dillon Stadium
Capacity70,000
LeagueNASL
Hartford Bicentennials (1975-76)

The Connecticut Bicentennials were an American soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1975 to 1977. Originally founded as the Hartford Bicentennials, the team relocated to New Haven, Connecticut after the 1976 NASL season. At the end of 1977 season, the team was sold and relocated to California becoming the Oakland Stompers.

History

Founded in 1975, and owned by local businessman Bob Darling, the team's name was a reference to the upcoming bicentennial anniversary of the United States founding in 1976. The team began play during the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament, finishing second in Region 2 and missing the final four on goal difference.[1] Prior to the 1975 outdoor season, the Bicentennials signed fourteen players from the 1974 American Soccer League (ASL) champions Rhode Island Oceaneers, including goalkeeper Arnie Mausser, Charlie McCully, and Mohammad Attiah, as well as hiring the Oceaneers' head coach Manny Schellscheidt and General Manager Michael Bosson.[2][3] The Bicentennials finished their inaugural season in last place of the Northern Division with a record of six wins and sixteen loses and an average attendance of 3,720 playing their home games at the Dillon Stadium which they shared with the Connecticut Yankees of the ASL.[4][2] After the season, Bosson was replaced by the GM of the Connecticut Yankees Rudi Schiffer and, along with the signing of three european players, the contract of goalkeeper Arnie Mausser, who had allowed a record 50 goals during the season, was sold to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.[2][5][6] Schellscheidt was replaced by Bobby Thompson after a 2-3 start to the 1976 outdoor season.[7] The team ended the 1976 season with a record of twelve wins and twelve losses and averaging 3,420 fans per game.[4] The team relocated to New Haven, Connecticut and rebranded as the Connecticut Bicentennials before the 1977 season.[8] Playing their home games at the Yale Bowl, the team finished the 1977 season in last place of the Atlantic Conference Northern Division with a record of seven wins and nineteen losses.[4] The Bicentennials drew their biggest crowd ever, with 17,302 fans in attendance, for their 1977 home opener against the New York Cosmos featuring Brazilian star Pelé, but averaged only 3,848 fans for the season.[9] Citing low gate revenues and the cost to adequately light the Yale Bowl for night games, Darling sold the team to Milan Mandarić who relocated the team to Oakland, California for the 1978 season, where they became known as the Oakland Stompers.[10]

Year-by-year

Year League W L T Pts Regular Season Playoffs Avg. Attendance
1975 NASL indoor 1 1 — 2 2nd, Tournament Region 2 Did Not Qualify 2,682
1975 NASL 6 16 — 61 5th, Northern Division 3,720
1976 12 12 — 107 4th, Atlantic Conference, Northern Division 3,420
1977 7 19 — 72 5th, Atlantic Conference, Northern Division 3,902

References

  1. ^ Holroyd, Steve. "History of Indoor Soccer in the USA". Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Robinson, Ken (16 March 1976). "Hartford Bicentennials soccer club undergoes front-office clean-up". The Morning Record. p. 9. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  3. ^ Orr, Michael (2012). The 1975 Portland Timbers: The Birth of Soccer City, USA. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. ISBN 9781614233138.
  4. ^ a b c "North American Soccer League". rsssf.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Rowdies Add A 'Yank'". The Evening Independent. 25 November 1975. p. 1C. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  6. ^ Blankenship, Ken (29 January 1977). "Hammond's signing clouds Mausser's future". St. Petersburg Times. p. 6C. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  7. ^ "People in Sports". Eugene Register-Guard. 11 May 1976. p. 2B. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  8. ^ Mitchell, Charles (5 January 1977). "Bicentennials Comes to Yale". The Hour. p. 29. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  9. ^ Robinson, Ken (9 May 1977). "Bicentennials fall to Pele & Cosmos". The Morning Record and Journal. p. 12. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Bicentennials leaving state for California". The Morning Record and Journal. 16 September 1977. p. 10. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
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