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The North American Soccer League (NASL) was the top-level major professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. It is considered the first soccer league to be successful on a national scale in the United States. The league final was called the Soccer Bowl from 1975 to 1983 and the Soccer Bowl Series in its final year, 1984. The league was headed by Commissioner Phil Woosnam from 1969 to 1983. The NASL laid the foundations for soccer in the United States that helped lead to the country hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the set-up of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996.
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The Soccer Bowl was the annual championship game of the North American Soccer League (NASL), which ran from 1968 to 1984. The two top teams from the playoffs faced off in the final to determine the winner of the NASL Trophy. From the league's founding in 1968 through 1974, the championship game was known as the NASL Championship Final, and in 1984 the single game was replaced by a best-of-three series known as the Soccer Bowl Series.
The Oakland Clippers were an American soccer team based in Oakland, California. They played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in 1967 and the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the following season. Their home field was Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum.
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The Philadelphia Fury was an American soccer team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that last competed in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). The club formerly competed in the American Soccer League and is currently owned by Martin E. Judge and Matt Driver. The team continues to sport the colors of the original NASL team.
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Derek Alan Trevis was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Active in both England and the United States, Trevis made nearly 500 career league appearances.
Brooks Cryder is a retired American soccer defender who played professionally in the American Soccer League, North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.
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Ryan Richter is an American former professional soccer player and current assistant coach for Philadelphia Union in MLS.
The North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional men's soccer league based in the United States. The league was named for, but had no connection to, the original North American Soccer League. The later NASL was founded in 2009, and began play in 2011 with eight teams.
Fabrice Jean-Ian "Fafà" Picault is a professional footballer who plays as a winger. Born in the United States, he was initially called up by the Haiti national team in 2014 for a friendly against Chile but did not make an appearance. Picault was then called up by the United States national team in 2016 before eventually switching back to represent the Haiti national team in 2023.
North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. Beginning in 1975, the league final was called the Soccer Bowl.
References
- ↑ Shope, Dan (January 24, 1984). "The Stoners Fade Out With A Touch Of Class" . Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ↑ "Philly Soccer History". philadelphiaunion.com. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ↑ Savit, Michael K. (November 1, 1975). "Crimson Kickers Lose, 2-0, To Strong Penn Offense". thecrimson.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.