In 1966 several groups of entrepreneurs were exploring the idea of forming a professional soccer league in United States. One of these groups, United Soccer Association (USA) led by Jack Kent Cooke, selected 12 cities for team locations and Arthur Allyn Jr.,[1] co-owner with his brother of the Chicago White Sox, was awarded the Chicago franchise. Stu Holcomb, athletic director at Northwestern University, was hired to act as the teams general manager.[2] The USA originally planned to start play in the spring of 1968; however the rival National Professional Soccer League, which secured a TV contract from CBS, announced it was ready to launch in 1967. Not wanting to let the rival league gain an advantage, the USA decided to launch early. Not having secured any player contracts, the league imported teams from Europe, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay to represent the franchise cities. Italian team Cagliari Calcio was brought over to play as the Mustangs.[3][4]
The Mustangs opened the season on May 27, 1967, in Chicago at Comiskey Park with a 1-0 lost to the Dallas Tornado with 5,872 fan in attendance.[5][6] The Mustangs finished the 1967 season in third place of the Western Division with a record of 3 wins 7 ties and 2 loses and an average attendance of 4,207.[7]
With the merger of the United Soccer Association and the National Professional Soccer League it was announced that Chicago would be one of the 20-teams in play in the North American Soccer League (NASL).[8][a] The Mustangs finished the 1968 NASL season in second place of the Lakes Division with a record of 13 wins 9 ties and 10 loses and an average attendance of 2,463.[7] By January 1969, ten of the NASL's 17 franchises had folded and the Mustangs dropped down to the semi-professional National Soccer League[9] and eventually folded.[10]
^17 teams contested the 1968 NASL season with three teams folding before the season began
References
^"Soccer and Baseball Share Local Limelight". Sarasota Journal. June 13, 1967. p. 14. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
^"Chicao Soccer Club Gets Stu Holcomb". St. Petersburg Times. August 12, 1966. p. 31. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
^Seese, D.J. (2015). The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America: The Strange Days of the United Soccer Association. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN9781442238954.
^Hannigan, Dave (May 31, 2017). "Summer of soccer: when Shamrock Rovers conquered America". The Irish Times. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
^"Cougars Open With Tie". The Owosso Argus-Press. May 27, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
^Veeck, Mike (2014). Old Comiskey Park: Essays and Memories of the Historic Home of the Chicago White Sox, 1910-1991. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 131. ISBN9780786475926.
^ ab"North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
^"Differences Settled, Soccer Leagues Merge". The Phoenix. December 14, 1967. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
^Tossell, David (2012). Playing for Uncle Sam: The Brits' Story of the North American Soccer League. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN9781780574721.
^Lassila, Alan (February 14, 1977). "Forgeur Joins Strikers". Sarasota Journal. p. C1. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
May 30, 2023
chicago, mustangs, 1967, this, article, about, chicago, mustangs, team, that, played, nasl, indoor, soccer, team, chicago, mustangs, 2012, present, chicago, mustangs, were, american, professional, soccer, team, based, chicago, illinois, were, charter, member, . This article is about the Chicago Mustangs team that played in the NASL For the indoor soccer team see Chicago Mustangs 2012 present The Chicago Mustangs were an American professional soccer team based out of Chicago Illinois and were a charter member of the United Soccer Association USA in 1967 When the USA and rival National Professional Soccer League NPSL merged in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League NASL the team moved to the new league The Mustangs played its home matches at Comiskey Park The team folded at the conclusion of the 1968 NASL season Chicago MustangsFounded1967Dissolved1968StadiumComiskey ParkCapacity46 550 1954 1972 OwnerArthur Allyn Jr PresidentJohn AllynLeagueUnited Soccer Association 1967 North American Soccer League 1968 19682nd Lakes DivisionHome colorsAway colors Contents 1 History 2 Year by year 3 Notes 4 ReferencesHistory EditIn 1966 several groups of entrepreneurs were exploring the idea of forming a professional soccer league in United States One of these groups United Soccer Association USA led by Jack Kent Cooke selected 12 cities for team locations and Arthur Allyn Jr 1 co owner with his brother of the Chicago White Sox was awarded the Chicago franchise Stu Holcomb athletic director at Northwestern University was hired to act as the teams general manager 2 The USA originally planned to start play in the spring of 1968 however the rival National Professional Soccer League which secured a TV contract from CBS announced it was ready to launch in 1967 Not wanting to let the rival league gain an advantage the USA decided to launch early Not having secured any player contracts the league imported teams from Europe Brazil Argentina and Uruguay to represent the franchise cities Italian team Cagliari Calcio was brought over to play as the Mustangs 3 4 The Mustangs opened the season on May 27 1967 in Chicago at Comiskey Park with a 1 0 lost to the Dallas Tornado with 5 872 fan in attendance 5 6 The Mustangs finished the 1967 season in third place of the Western Division with a record of 3 wins 7 ties and 2 loses and an average attendance of 4 207 7 With the merger of the United Soccer Association and the National Professional Soccer League it was announced that Chicago would be one of the 20 teams in play in the North American Soccer League NASL 8 a The Mustangs finished the 1968 NASL season in second place of the Lakes Division with a record of 13 wins 9 ties and 10 loses and an average attendance of 2 463 7 By January 1969 ten of the NASL s 17 franchises had folded and the Mustangs dropped down to the semi professional National Soccer League 9 and eventually folded 10 Year by year EditYear League W L T Pts Regular season Playoffs Avg attendance1967 USA 3 2 7 13 3rd Western Division Did not qualify 4 2071968 NASL 13 10 9 164 2nd Lakes Division 2 463Notes Edit 17 teams contested the 1968 NASL season with three teams folding before the season beganReferences Edit Soccer and Baseball Share Local Limelight Sarasota Journal June 13 1967 p 14 Retrieved December 9 2021 Chicao Soccer Club Gets Stu Holcomb St Petersburg Times August 12 1966 p 31 Retrieved December 10 2021 Seese D J 2015 The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America The Strange Days of the United Soccer Association Rowman amp Littlefield ISBN 9781442238954 Hannigan Dave May 31 2017 Summer of soccer when Shamrock Rovers conquered America The Irish Times Retrieved December 9 2021 Cougars Open With Tie The Owosso Argus Press May 27 1967 p 13 Retrieved December 9 2021 Veeck Mike 2014 Old Comiskey Park Essays and Memories of the Historic Home of the Chicago White Sox 1910 1991 McFarland Incorporated Publishers p 131 ISBN 9780786475926 a b North American Soccer League RSSSF Retrieved December 10 2021 Differences Settled Soccer Leagues Merge The Phoenix December 14 1967 Retrieved December 10 2021 Tossell David 2012 Playing for Uncle Sam The Brits Story of the North American Soccer League Mainstream Publishing ISBN 9781780574721 Lassila Alan February 14 1977 Forgeur Joins Strikers Sarasota Journal p C1 Retrieved December 10 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chicago Mustangs 1967 68 amp oldid 1153121126, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
