The rebirth of professional soccer in America : the strange days of the United Soccer Association / Dennis J. Seese.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Seese, Dennis J., 1975- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Soccer--United States--History.

Soccer.

United Soccer Association.

North American Soccer League.

History.

United States.

Physical Description:

viii, 299 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Maryland : Rowman & Littlefield, [2015]

Summary:

The history of soccer in the United States is far richer and more complex than many people realize. Leagues competed in the U.S. as far back as the late 1800s, and in 1919 Bethlehem Steel became the first American professional soccer team to play in Europe when they toured Sweden. Multiple leagues existed during the early 1900s, but after the American Soccer Association folded in 1933 the country did not see a rebirth of professional soccer until 1967. It was a painful, hostile revival with dueling groups of American sports entrepreneurs fracturing into two separate professional leagues: the United Soccer Association (USA) and the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). In The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America: The Strange Days of the United Soccer Association, Dennis J. Seese tells the story of this largely forgotten chapter in the sport's history. The USA and NPSL were ragged, misshapen pieces of a puzzle that refused to fit together-two leagues competing directly for fans and revenue, The USA was sanctioned by FIFA but absent from the nation's airwaves, while the NPSL was considered an "outlaw" league by FIFA but held an exclusive television contract with CBS. This would have been unusual enough, but the USA imported entire teams from Great Britain, Italy, and South America, including Stoke City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cagliari Calcio, and Bangu. Throughout the book, Seese recounts the history of soccer riots in Yankee Stadium, teams with dual identities, World Cup winners on the pitch, and characters such as Phil Woosnam, Lamar Hunt, Derek Dougan, and Gordon Banks. Drawing on meticulous research and interviews, The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America reveals the little-known story that unfolded on the field, in the boardroom, and across the country during this single strange season of professional soccer. Featuring an impressive group of global soccer legends, this book delivers a fascinating piece of soccer history for the growing legions of American soccer supporters, as well as for soccer fans around the world. Book jacket.

Contents:

Risky business

1967 Part 1. Whip it good: the United Soccer Association season

1967 Part 2. The NPSL: Bay City Rollers

Press play

California Clippers: barnstorming on the Bay

Dallas file

Scenes and sketches from the American Frontier, 1968-69.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781442238947

1442238941

OCLC:

895301532