The A-League Archives (original) (raw)
UPDATED - November 20, 2010
Champions - Awards/Leaders - The A-List
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.