Coaches
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Rodney Marsh 1980–1983 -
Bob Benson 1980–1983
The Carolina Lightnin' was an American soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina that was a member of the American Soccer League. The Lightnin' played home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Attendance at home games averaged 6,000 spectators. 20,163 fans attended the September 1981 match against the New York United in which the Lightnin' won the American Soccer League championship by a score of 2–1.
After the ASL folded, the club joined the newly formed United Soccer League as the Charlotte Gold. However, the team folded at the end of the 1984 season. Pro soccer returned to the city when the Charlotte Eagles elevated to the USISL in 1993.
ASL Champions
ASL Rookie of the Year
ASL First Team All Star
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2 | ASL | 1st, Freedom | Champion | did not enter |
| 1982 | 2 | ASL | 4th | Semifinals | did not enter |
| 1983 | 2 | ASL | 3rd, Eastern | Semifinals | did not enter |
| 1984 | N/A | USL | 2nd, Southern | did not qualify | did not enter |
Rodney Marsh 1980–1983
Bob Benson 1980–1983 Bobby Moore (1983) Paul Child (1982) 
Pat Fidelia (1982–1984) Matt Kennedy (1983) Stuart Lee (1983) 25 Apps 11 Goals Scott Manning (1981–1982) Dave Philpotts (1978–83) 
Dave Pierce (1981–1983) 60 Apps Winning assist ASL Final 1981 Mal Roche (1981) 22 Apps 8 Goals
Derek Smethurst (1982) 6 Apps Don Tobin (1981)
Tony Suarez (1981–1983) 22 Apps 15 Goals Dave Power (1981–1983) Captain Hugh O'Neill (1981–1982) Winning goal ASL Final 1981 Santiago Formoso (1981, 1983)
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded. They played their home games in Kemper Arena.
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.
The Jacksonville Tea Men were a soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Overall, the Tea Men played a total of four seasons in Jacksonville, first in the major league-level North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1980–1982, then in the lower level American Soccer League and United Soccer League from 1982–1984. The NASL incarnation of the club was Jacksonville's first professional soccer team, and the first major league-level sport franchise ever based in the city.
Pittsburgh Spirit was an indoor soccer team based in Pittsburgh and one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). The Spirit was founded in 1978, suspended operation for the 1980–81 season, then returned to the MISL until owner Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. folded the team on April 11, 1986. In its seven seasons of play in Pittsburgh, the Spirit amassed an overall regular season win-loss record of 153–139, two postseason appearances, and an average regular season attendance of 6,351.
The California Sunshine was an American soccer club based in Fountain Valley, California that was a member of the American Soccer League. The team was owned by Dr. Robert Everakes and his wife Alexandra, who was the general manager. Their home games were held at Orange Coast Community College in Costa Mesa, California and at El Camino Community College in Torrance, California but had exhibition games at the University of California in Riverside, California and Palm Springs Stadium in Palm Springs, California. Their first season was 1977, but the team folded in 1981 after four seasons. The head coach was Derek Lawther.
The Oklahoma City Slickers was the name given to two different American soccer clubs based in Oklahoma City. The first team competed in the second American Soccer League in 1982 and 1983. The second Oklahoma City Slickers competed in the USISL from 1993 to 1996. Home games were played at historical Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City.
The Pennsylvania Stoners were an American soccer team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2007, the team played in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Eastern Keystone Division.
Scott Manning is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. He spent four seasons in the American Soccer League where he was the 1980 league leading goalkeeper. He also played thirteen seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League where he was the 1985 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year.
Antonio Jose "Tony" Suarez was a Cuban-American soccer forward. He played professionally in the American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League and was the 1981 American Soccer League Rookie of the Year.
Paul Child is an English-American former soccer player who played as a forward, spending nine seasons in the North American Soccer League. He led the league in scoring in 1974 and was a two-time first team All-Star. He also earned two caps with the United States national team in 1973. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Jose “Poli” Garcia is an American former soccer player. He spent at least four seasons in the American Soccer League, three in the North American Soccer League and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was the 1979 American Soccer League MVP and earned two caps with the United States in 1975.
Pat Fidelia is a retired Haitian-American soccer forward who spent four seasons in the North American Soccer League, two in the American Soccer League and one in the United Soccer League. He also earned one cap playing with/for the national team.
Stuart Lee is an English former football forward. Lee was born in Manchester, and played professionally in England, Wales and the United States.
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena. The Steamers were popular for a number of years, with average attendance exceeding 12,000 for each season from 1980–81 through 1984–85, and outdrawing the NHL's St. Louis Blues for four consecutive seasons from 1980–81 through 1983–84.
Don Tobin is an English retired footballer who played in leagues including the English Football League, the League of Ireland, the American Soccer League, and Major Indoor Soccer League. Since 1995 he has coached at various levels in the Tampa Bay Area, most often with women's teams.
Mal Roche is an English retired football forward who played seven seasons in the American Soccer League and at least one in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was the 1977 ASL Rookie of the Year and the 1980 ASL Leading Scorer.
Statistics of American Soccer League II in season 1981.
Statistics of the American Soccer League II for the 1983 season.
Hugh O'Neill is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, Scottish First Division, American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.
Dave Power is an English-born, American retired professional footballer.
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