The A-League Archives (original) (raw)

UPDATED - November 20, 2010

Champions - Awards/Leaders - The A-List

Turning Tricks - FAQ's

Contact: a-leaguearchive@lycos.com

The A-League Archives

1985 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988 (WSA/ASL) - 1989 (WSL/ASL) - 1990 (WSL/ASL)

1991 - 1992 - 1993 - 1994 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000

2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 -2010

UPDATES - November 20, 2010

Hey look, an update!

What's new?

Results: 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Updated: Champions, Awards/Leaders, The A-List, Turning Tricks

Welcome to the A-League Archives, your one stop spot for U.S. Second Division history!

The U.S. Second Division (currently USL PRO and possibly NASL) traces it's roots back to the Western Soccer Alliance, formed in 1985. Along with the American Soccer League, established in 1988, both leagues eventually merged, and through the years grew to what the US D2 is today!

The U.S. Second Division is the longest running current professional soccer league in the United States. This website is here to present the vast history of the U.S. Second Division.

A Brief timeline of USL First Division History

1985 - In the ashes of the NASL, the Western Alliance Challenge Series is formed

1986 - League changes it's name to Western Soccer Alliance

1988 - The third incarnation of the American Soccer League is formed, with 10 teams

1989 - Ft. Lauderdale defeats San Diego 3-1 to crown a national champion between the

ASL and WSL winners

1990 - ASL and WSL merge, forming the American Professional Soccer League

1991 - APSL shrinks from 22 to 8 teams

League terminates the Salt Lake Sting in July, due to ownership trouble

1992 - APSL drops to an all-time low 5 teams

1993 - League adds Vancouver and Montreal, from the disbanded Canadian Soccer League.

First Canadian clubs since Edmonton played in the WSA in 1986.

1994 - League terminates the Houston Force franchise after just one game, due to

ownership problems

1995 - Name Change: A-League from APSL

1997 - A-League and USISL Select League announce merger. League grows from 7 teams

to 24

1998 - U.S. Pro-40 joins the league. Comprised of developmental MLS players, the

team plays every match on the road

1999 - League membership grows to an all-time high of 30 clubs.

Sacramento becomes the only team in league history to go winless for an entire

season (0-28)

Rochester Raging Rhinos become first A-League club to win the U.S. Open Cup

2004 - With the addition of the Puerto Rico Islanders, the A-League featured teams in

three different FIFA-sanctioned countries (U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico)

2005 - Name Change: USL First Division from A-League

2007 - The Puerto Rico Islanders enter qualifying for the 2007 CONCACAF

Champions Cup, the first USL-1 club to enter the competition since the

Seattle Sounders in 1996

2008 - Montreal and Puerto Rico advance to the Quarterfinals of the CONCACAF

Champions League, while only one of the four MLS entrants make the final eight

The Charleston Battery become second USL-1 club to reach the Lamar Hunt

U.S. Open Cup Final, falling to D.C. United 2-1

2010 - Several clubs leave the USL-1 to form the North American Soccer League.

As lawsuits from both sides threaten the 2010 season, the two groups agree

to play under the banner of the USSF D2 Pro League, which each league's

teams comprising separate conferences with an interlocking schedule.

After the 2010 regular season, the USL announced plans for a USL PRO league,

combining their USSF D2 teams with teams from the USL Second Division that

choose to participate. NASL formally submits a bid to become a sanctioned

Division 2 league with US Soccer with eight teams in it's fold.

U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame members who have appeared in the league

Jeff Agoos - Maryland Bays (1991)

Marcelo Balboa - San Diego Nomads (1987-89), San Francisco Bay Blackhawks (1990-91), Colorado Foxes (1992)

Paul Caligiuri - San Diego Nomads (1996), Los Angeles Heat (1989)

John Harkes - Albany Capitals (1989)

**Arnie Mausser**- Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (1988-92)

Tab Ramos - New Jersey Eagles (1988), Miami Sharks (1989)

**Hugo Perez**- Los Angeles Heat (1986, 1989), Los Angeles Salsa (1994)

Michael Windischmann - Albany Capitals (1989)

Eric Wynalda - San Diego Nomads (1988-89), San Francisco Bay Blackhawks (1990-91)

Some places of USL-1 Interest Online

USLSoccer.com - USL First Division website

USLFans.com - Fan website with tons of news and info on the USL First and Second Divisions

USLDiscussions.com - The place to go to talk about the USL

American Soccer History Archives - Website dedicated to the history of soccer in the United States

GoalSeatttle.com** Museum **- Online museum of Seattle-area soccer history

Soccer in Toronto - Robin Glover's website dedicated to soccer in Toronto since 1993

Seattle Pitch - Longtime Seattle Sounders fan website with tons of history on the club

The Timber Mill - Portland Timbers fan website with tons of news and info on past Timbers seasons

Montreal Impact Archives - Historical stats for the Montreal Imapact (all in .pdf format)

This website and it's content is unofficial, and is not endorsed by, or affiliated with United Soccer Leagues or the clubs associated with them. The content within this website is intended for informational purposes only.