Miami Toros (1973–76)
Full nameMiami Gatos / Miami Toros
Founded(Previously Washington Darts)
1972 Miami Gatos
1973 Miami Toros
Dissolved1976
(rebranded Fort Lauderdale Strikers)
StadiumMiami-Dade North Stadium (1972),
Miami Orange Bowl (1973–1975), Tamiami Field (1974, 1976)
Miami, Florida
ChairmanJohn Bilotta (1972–1973)
Joe Robbie (1973–1976)
LeagueNASL
Logo of the Miami Gatos, used in 1972

The Miami Toros were a professional soccer team in the North American Soccer League from 1972 to 1976. The club was founded in 1967 as the Washington Darts, and moved to Miami, where they played the 1972 season in the NASL's Southern Division as the Miami Gatos. In 1973, the club rebranded as the Miami Toros. Their home field was at times the Miami Orange Bowl, Tamiami Field and Miami Dade College's North Campus Stadium.[1][2]

After the 1976 season, the team moved to Fort Lauderdale and became known as the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and later moved to Minnesota and became known as the Minnesota Strikers.[3]

Prominent players included 1973 league MVP Warren Archibald who was from Point Fortin, the smallest borough in Trinidad and Tobago, and 1975 league MVP Juan Carlos Moramarco who was from Rosario, Argentina.

Beginning in 1975, the Toros had a rivalry with the Tampa Bay Rowdies that grew even fiercer after the Toros moved to Ft. Lauderdale and became the Strikers.[4][5][6][unreliable source?]

Year-by-year

Year League W L T Pts Reg. season Playoffs Attendance
1972 NASL 3 8 3 44 4th, Southern Division did not qualify 2,112
1973 NASL 8 5 6 88 3rd, Eastern Division did not qualify 5,479
1974 NASL 9 5 6 107 1st, Eastern Division Won Semifinal (Dallas)
Lost Championship (Los Angeles Aztecs) 		7,340
1975 NASL indoor 2 0 — 4 2nd, Region 3 did not qualify N/A
1975 NASL 14 8 — 123 2nd, Eastern Division Won Quarterfinal (Boston)
Lost Semifinal (Tampa Bay) 		4,921
1976 NASL indoor 1 1 — 2 3rd, Eastern Regional did not qualify N/A
1976 NASL 6 18 — 63 4th, Atlantic Conference, Eastern Division did not qualify 3,070

Honors

Head coaches

Owners/GMs

References

  1. ^ a b Ed, Uncle (October 13, 2010). "Football in Miami and Beyond: Ft Lauderdale Strikers History: PART II: PRO SOCCER COMES TO MIAMI". Football in Miami and Beyond. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  2. ^ Blankenship, Ken (July 2, 1976). "Rowdies try Toros". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3C. Retrieved October 15, 2016 – via Google News Archive.
  3. ^ "Fort Lauderdale Strikers Home Page". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  4. ^ Gurney, Jack (June 11, 1975). "Round Two: Rowdies Vs. Toros In 'Blood' Match". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. C1. Retrieved October 15, 2016 – via Google News Archive.
  5. ^ a b Blankenship, Ken (July 26, 1976). "Toros facing changes". St. Petersburg Times. p. 4C. Retrieved October 15, 2016 – via Google News Archive.
  6. ^ "Rowdies Press Photos – 1975 Rowdies vs. Toros Brawl". Tampa Bay Rowdies Appreciation Blog. May 28, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  7. ^ "NASL (North American Soccer League)". May 1, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "John Young :: thefinalball.com". www.thefinalball.com. Retrieved October 15, 2016.

External links

Fort Lauderdale Strikers
North American Soccer League (1968–1984)
Categories