New York Skyliners
Full nameNew York Skyliners
Nickname(s)Skyliners
Founded1966
(Year of foundation)
Dissolved1968
StadiumYankee Stadium,
The Bronx, New York City
Capacity50,000
OwnerMadison Square Garden
Head coachOndino Viera
LeagueUnited Soccer Association
1967United Soccer Association, Eastern Division, 5th

The New York Skyliners were a soccer team based in the Bronx borough of New York City. The club were a charter member of the United Soccer Association (USA) in 1967 and played their home games as Yankee Stadium.

History

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 the Irving Mitchell Felt purchased a franchise as part of the Madison Square Garden Corporation.[1] 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, and Uruguay to represent the franchise cities. Uruguayan team C.A. Cerro was brought in to play as the Skyliners.[2][3]

The Skyliners opened the season at home against the Toronto City[lower-alpha 1] in a 1 - 1 draw in front of crowd of 21,871.[4] The New York Skyliners finished the season fifth place with a record of 2 wins, 6 ties and 4 losses while drawing an average home league attendance of 8,766.[5]

Following the 1967 season the United Soccer Association and the National Professional Soccer League merged to form the North American Soccer League. It was announced that New York would be one of the 20-teams in play in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The merged league decided not to have two-team cities and both the owners of the NPSL's New York Generals and Skyliners stepped aside and the franchise right were awarded to Peter Elser, who had held a minority interest Generals. Elser's franchise retained the New York Generals' name and front office and the New York Skyliners effectively went out of existence. [6][7]

Colors and badge

While the New York Skyliners' home kits were all white, their away jerseys were the same blue and white stripes as C.A. Cerro's home kits.

Stadium

The New York Skyliners played their home matches at Yankee Stadium.

Notes

  1. ↑ The Scottish team Hibernian F.C.[1] had been brought over to represent Toronto

Coach

Year-by-year

Season Regular season Play-offs Top scorer
League Div G W T L F A Pts % Pos Attend. Name Gls Pts
1967 USA E 12 2 4 6 15 17 10 .417 5th 8,766 – Benedicto Ribeiro 5 12

Records

References

  1. 1 2 "N.Y. Soccer Team Named "Skyliners"". The Norwalk Hour. April 14, 1967. p. 31.
  2. ↑ Seese, D.J. (2015). The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America: The Strange Days of the United Soccer Association. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442238954.
  3. ↑ Hannigan, Dave (May 31, 2017). "Summer of soccer: when Shamrock Rovers conquered America". The Irish Times. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Cougars Open With Tie". The Owosso Argus-Press. May 27, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  5. ↑ "North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Differences Settled, Soccer Leagues Merge". The Phoenix. December 14, 1967. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  7. ↑ Smits, Ted (March 24, 1968). "Gangway for Soccer". Reading Eagle. p. 53. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  8. ↑ "USA New York Skyliners Rosters".
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