Detroit Besa

Last updated
Full nameDetroit Besa SC
Founded1974
Stadium Keyworth Stadium
Hamtramck, Michigan

Detroit Besa is an American soccer club based in Hamtramck, Michigan, an enclave of Detroit. The club was founded in 1974 and originally competed in the Second Division of the Detroit Soccer League (DSL). In 1979, the club made the transition to the professional level by becoming the fourth American franchise (Buffalo Blazers, Detroit Canadians, and Detroit Vardar) to compete in Canada's National Soccer League (NSL). [1] After competing in the NSL for three seasons they returned to the amateur level by rejoining the Detroit Soccer League. [2]

Contents

Detroit originally played their home matches at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Michigan. The club was later renamed Drita S.C. and played in the Michigan Premier Soccer League in 2018.

History

Detroit Besa was formed in 1974 as a soccer club which represented the Albanian American community in the Metro Detroit, and played in the Second Division of the Detroit Soccer League (DSL). [3] [4] Detroit would also make their debut in the National Amateur Cup tournament during their inaugural year. [5] In 1976, Detroit defeated Carpathia Kickers by a score of 2-0 for the DSL second division title. [6] In 1977, the club was promoted to the First Division, and was fined by the league after a brawl erupted between fans during a match. [7] [8] The remainder of the season Besa competed in the 1977 National Amateur Cup, but were eliminated in the state semifinal to Detroit Sport Club. [9]

For the second consecutive season Detroit reached the state semifinal of the 1978 National Amateur Cup. [10] Throughout the regular season Besa clinched the National Conference title, and faced Detroit Vardar for the DSL Championship but were defeated by a score of 6-1. [11] [12] In 1979, the club entered the professional ranks by securing a franchise in the National Soccer League (NSL), and became one of the few American representatives in the history of the Canadian league. [13] [14] The following season Detroit briefly played in the Detroit Soccer League, but returned to the NSL for the 1981 season. [13] [15] [16] The 1981 team was managed by former Yugoslav player Nino Berisic with an assembled roster of players with experience in the American Soccer League. [4] [17] Detroit returned to the NSL for the 1982 season, but withdrew from the competition near the conclusion of the season. [18] [19]

In 1985, the team competed in the Budweiser Indoor League [20] The club was later renamed Drita S.C. and played in the Michigan Premier Soccer League in 2018. [21]

Honours

Seasons

SeasonLeagueTeamsRecordRankPlayoffsRef
1979 National Soccer League 157–6–117th– [22]
1981 117–2–118th– [2]
1982 withdrew from competition

Related Research Articles

The Open Canada Cup was an annual knock-out cup competition in Canadian Soccer. The competition was first held during the 1998 season as the CPSL League Cup. It was organized by the Canadian Soccer League originally as a League Cup for CSL member clubs. After operating the competition for several seasons as an exclusive tournament the league's ownership decided in 2003 to grant accessibility to all Canadian professional and amateur clubs. The decision was influenced by the lack of initiative by the Canadian Soccer Association in providing a potential candidate for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

John Kerr Sr. was a North American Soccer League and Canadian international soccer midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamilton Steelers (1981–1992)</span> Football club

The Hamilton Steelers were a Canadian soccer team in Hamilton, Ontario that competed in the original Canadian Soccer League, the original Canadian Professional Soccer League, National Soccer League and the Challenge Trophy. The club played mainly out of Brian Timmis Stadium, which was adjacent to Ivor Wynne Stadium.

Thomas Angus Moffat was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a right winger. Active in England, Scotland, the United States and Canada between 1964 and 1983, Moffat made nearly 200 career league appearances.

Niels Guldbjerg is a Danish retired professional footballer who played in the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League for the Detroit Express, Philadelphia Fever, New Jersey Rockets and Buffalo Stallions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Gauss</span>

Harry Paul Gauss was a German-born Canadian soccer businessman, head coach, general manager, and soccer player.

Boris Psaker is a Croatian former footballer who played in the National Soccer League, North American Soccer League, and the American Soccer League.

Buffalo Blazers was a soccer team in Buffalo, New York. They competed in the National Soccer League from 1976-1978, 1980. They were one of only four American teams to have competed in the National Soccer League which was based in Canada.

The 1991 National Soccer League season was the sixty-eighth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season concluded on September 22, 1991, with Toronto Italia securing the NSL Championship by finishing first in the standings by a single-point difference between Scarborough International and St. Catharines Roma.

The 1988 National Soccer League season was the sixty-fifth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began on May 10, 1988, and concluded on September 14, 1988, with Toronto Italia winning the NSL Championship by finishing first in the First Division. Toronto would also secure a double by defeating Montreal Superga of the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ) for the NSL Canadian Championship. The NSL Ontario Cup was won by Toronto Croatia on September 17, 1988. Croatia would face St. Leonard-Corfinium of the LNSQ for the NSL Canada Cup but was defeated by a score of 3-1. St. Catharines Roma II was the reserve division champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Marconi</span> Canadian association football team

London Marconi Soccer Club is a Canadian soccer club based in London, Ontario, that plays in the Western Ontario Soccer League. The club was founded in 1962 and originally competed in the London and District League. After several notable achievements at the amateur level, the organization joined the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1984. After competing in the NSL for five seasons they returned to the amateur level by joining the Western Ontario Soccer League.

The 1985 National Soccer League season was the sixty-second season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began on May 12, 1985, and concluded in early October 1985 with the NSL Championship final where Toronto Italia successfully defended their title against Windsor AC Roma. London Marconi secured the regular-season title by finishing first in the standings, and Dinamo Latino won the NSL Cup.

The 1982 National Soccer League season was the fifty-ninth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May, 1982 and concluded in late October 1982 with the NSL Championship final where Hamilton Steelers successfully defended their title against Toronto Italia in a two-legged series final. Toronto Italia would still achieve a double by producing an undefeated streak to claim the regular-season title and the NSL Cup by defeating St. Catharines Roma.

The 1981 National Soccer League season was the fifty-eighth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May, 1981 and concluded in October 1981 with the NSL Championship final where Hamilton Steelers defeated Toronto Italia in a two-legged series final. Hamilton would achieve a treble by also securing the regular-season title, and defeating Toronto Ukrainians for the NSL Cup.

Detroit Vardar is an American club based in Detroit, Michigan. The club was founded in 1972, and originally competed in the Second Division of the Detroit Soccer League (DSL). After several notable achievements at the amateur level the organization made the transition to the professional level by becoming the fourth American franchise to compete in Canada's National Soccer League (NSL). Though their tenure in the NSL lasted for only a season, and returned to the amateur level in 1980 by joining the Michigan Soccer League.

The 1980 National Soccer League season was the fifty-seventh season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May 1980 and concluded in October 1980 with the NSL Championship final where Toronto Panhellenic defeated St. Catharines Roma. The Toronto Falcons won the regular-season title but were defeated by Toronto Italia for the NSL Cup.

The 1979 National Soccer League season was the fifty-sixth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May 1979 and concluded in September 1979 with Toronto First Portuguese producing a perfect season, which granted them the NSL Championship. First Portuguese would also secure the double by defeating Toronto Panhellenic for the NSL Cup. Toronto's undefeated streak lasted until the 1980 season and amounted to 52 games with Toronto Panhellenic breaking the streak.

Nacional Latino was a soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario. The club played in the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1982 originally under the name Dinamo Latino. In 1985, the ownership of the Toronto Blizzard purchased Dinamo's franchise rights, and competed in the NSL until the 1986 season. In 1987, the Blizzard joined the Canadian Soccer League, and the previous ownership retained control of the club under the name Nacional Latino. The club's final season at the professional level lasted until the 1987 season.

Chile Lindo was a soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario. The was founded in 1975 and originally played in the Liga Hispanoamerica de Football Amateur (LHFA). After several successes' at the amateur level, the club was granted a franchise in the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1987. Lindo played in the NSL for two seasons from 1987 till 1988. The club's franchise was revoked in 1988 after a series of on-field incidents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London German Canadians</span> Canadian association football team

London German Canadians is a Canadian soccer club based in London, Ontario. The club was formed in 1935 and originally competed in the London and District Soccer League. After a successful decade at the amateur level throughout the 1960s, the club joined the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1969. London played in the NSL for four seasons from 1969 until the 1972 season. In 1973, the club departed from the NSL with London City acquiring their NSL rights.

References

  1. ↑ Litterer, David A. (June 7, 2013). "Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation - Canadian National Soccer League". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  2. 1 2 "1979-1982 NSL Seasons" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca.
  3. ↑ "Detroit Soccer League". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. May 20, 1974. p. 46. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  4. 1 2 Pepper, Jon (August 6, 1981). "They play soccer for honor". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 41. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  5. ↑ "Germania Hits in Soccer Camp". Detroit Free Press . November 18, 1974. p. 48.
  6. ↑ "Vartar, Besa Soccer Champs". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. October 25, 1976. p. 44. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  7. ↑ "Soccer Games Cancelled After Brawl at Roseville". The Herald-Palladium . May 19, 1977. p. 27.
  8. ↑ Guidi, Gene (May 29, 1977). "Fans' Tempers Lead to Blowup in Soccer Ranks". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  9. ↑ "3-Goal Man a Soccer Hero". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. November 21, 1977. p. 66. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  10. ↑ "Soccer Cuppers back in action". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. December 8, 1978. p. 79. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  11. ↑ "Besa hosts Vardar in DSL". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. September 29, 1978. p. 62. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  12. ↑ "Vardar soccer champion again". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. October 2, 1978. p. 67. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  13. 1 2 Labow, Jeffrey (May 6, 1981). "Canadian flavor for new look NSL". The Globe and Mail . p. S4.
  14. ↑ Diener, Seymour (March 21, 1979). "Ottawa team eyes planned soccer league". Ottawa Journal . p. 17.
  15. ↑ "Detroit Soccer League". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. May 6, 1980. p. 36. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  16. ↑ Pepper, Jon (April 26, 1981). "Son of Express gets ready; old mates pay visit". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 79. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  17. ↑ Pepper, Jon (August 6, 1981). "They play the sport of their Yugoslav homeland". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 46. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  18. ↑ "Tabla de Posiciones National Soccer League". El Popular. August 18, 1982. p. 12.
  19. ↑ Pepper, Jon (July 2, 1982). "Talking to himself". Detroit Free Press . p. 41.
  20. ↑ "Soccer - Indoor". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. March 12, 1985. p. 42. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  21. ↑ "Detroit Besa Soccer Club". The Canadian National Soccer League. 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  22. ↑ "Detroit Besa | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.