California Surf
Logo
Full nameCalifornia Surf
Nickname(s)The Surf
Founded1978
Dissolved1981
StadiumAnaheim Stadium 69,008
Indoor:
Anaheim Convention Center 5,400 (1979–80)
Long Beach Arena 10,600 (1980–81)
LeagueNorth American Soccer League

The California Surf was an American soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1978 to 1981. The team was based in Anaheim, California and played their home games at Anaheim Convention Center and the Long Beach Arena during the indoor seasons and Anaheim Stadium for outdoor matches. Originally founded as the St. Louis Stars, the team relocated to Anaheim after the 1977 NASL season. The team disbanded after the 1981 NASL season.

History

The team that would become the Surf was originally founded as the St. Louis Stars in 1967 as a charter member of the National Professional Soccer League. When the NPSL and United Soccer Association merged to form the North American Soccer League (NASL), the Stars moved to the new league and competed in an additional 10 seasons.[1] After the conclusion of the 1977 season, team president Ted Martin announced that unless other adequate stadium facilities could be secured, as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University-where the team has played its home games for the previous three seasons-was too small to accommodate the larger crowds attending it games and the team's inability to use Busch Memorial Stadium due to too many scheduling with Major League Baseball's Cardinals, the team would have to relocate to another city.[2] In late September 1977, General Manager Case Frankiewiez announced the team would leave the city with Anaheim, California and Columbus, Ohio name as likely destinations.[3] A week later on October 7, 1977, the NASL officially approved the team's move pending a lease with Anaheim Stadium.[4] Two months later, it was announced that the name Surf has been chosen from 350 public suggestions.[5]

The Surf opened the 1978 North American Soccer League season at home with a 1–0 victory against the Portland Timbers on April 1, 1978.[6] The team finished the season in second place in the Western Division of the American Conference with 13 wins and 17 loses and losing to the San Diego Sockers in the first round of the playoffs.[7] After a 4–4 start to the 1979 season, John Sewell, who had managed the team in St. Louis, was fired as head coach and replaced by Peter Wall.[8] The Surf finished the season with a record of 15 wins and 15 losses, tied for first place of the American Conference, Western Division on points with San Diego, but losing the division title on goal differential.[9] For the second year in a row, the team exited the playoffs after losing to San Diego in the first round.[7] The team reported an official average attendance of 10,330 for the season; however, it was midway through the following season, it was reported that the Surf had been inflating their attendance totals.[10] In September 1979 it was announced that the Surf would be one of ten teams to participate in the 1979–80 NASL Indoor season. During the league's first ever full indoor season, the Surf compiled a record of four wins and eight loses and failed to qualify for the playoffs.[11] In the following outdoor season, the Surf compiled a record of 15 wins and 17 loses while finishing in second place in the Western Division of the American Conference. The team was defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.[7] After the season, it was announced that the team had ranked 20th in league attendance and was rumored to have lost nearly $7.5 million.[10] The Surf competed in the 1980–81 NASL Indoor season finishing first in the Southern Division, but again bowing out in the first round of the playoffs, this time to the Vancouver Whitecaps.[7] After opening the 1981 NASL season, with a 4 – 3 record, Peter Wall resigned as head coach[12] and was replaced by Laurie Calloway.[13] The team finished the season with a record of 11 wins and 21 losses and did not qualify for the playoffs.[7] On September 15, 1981, it was announced the team was ceasing operations.[14] The next day, the league announced the Surf were one of five teams that failed to post the required $150,000 bond to participate in the 1981–82 NASL Indoor season, confirming the team has folded.[15]

Ownership and staff

Head coaches

Year-by-year

Year League W L Pts Regular Season Playoffs Avg. Attend.
1978 NASL 13 17 115 2nd, American Conference, Western Division Lost 1st Round (San Diego) 11,171
1979 NASL 15 15 140 T1st, American Conference, Western Division Lost 1st Round (San Diego) 10,330
1979–80 NASL Indoor 4 8 — 4th, Western Division did not qualify 3,181
1980 NASL 15 17 144 2nd, American Conference, Western Division Lost 1st Round (Ft. Lauderdale) 7,593
1980–81 NASL Indoor 10 8 — 1st, Southern Division Lost 1st Round (Vancouver) 4,249
1981 NASL 11 21 117 3rd, Western Division did not qualify 8,299

Honors

NASL Division titles

NASL All-Star First Team

U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame

Canada Soccer Hall of Fame

Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame

References

  1. ↑ "Differences Settled, Soccer Leagues Merge". The Phoenix. December 14, 1967. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Stars Threaten to Leave St. Louis". The Evening Independent. August 17, 1977. p. 2C. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Stars to leave St. Louis". The Southeast Missourian. September 29, 1977. p. 18. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ "NASL Team may move to Anaheim". Lewiston Morning Tribune. October 7, 1977. p. 2B. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Surf's Up in the NASL". Lakeland Ledger. November 30, 1977. p. 1C. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Timbers lose NASL opener to California". Eugene Register-Guard. April 1, 1978. p. 4C. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  8. ↑ "John Sewell". Eugene Register-Guard. May 17, 1979. p. 8D. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  9. ↑ "NASL sets playoff matchups". Edmonton Journal. August 13, 1979. p. D3. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Cole, Cam (September 16, 1980). "The NASL: Rags to ...? The beat goes on". Edmonton Journal. p. D1. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Indoor Returning, Officially This Time". Evening Independent. September 28, 1979. p. 4-C. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Sports in Brief". The Phoenix. May 6, 1981. p. E6. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Soccer". Lakeland Ledger. March 15, 1983. p. 4D. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Countdown On for NASL Franchises". The Evening Independent. September 16, 1981. p. 3C. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Five NASL teams out". The Leader-Post. September 17, 1981. p. B4. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Hall of Famers". indoorsoccerhall.com. September 1, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
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