Seattle Storm
Full nameFootball Club Seattle Storm
Nickname(s)The Storm
Founded1984
Dissolved1995; 29 years ago (1995)
StadiumMemorial Stadium
Capacity12,000
ChairmanBud Greer
LeagueWestern Soccer League

Football Club Seattle Storm, also known as the F.C. Seattle Storm, was an American soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. F.C. Seattle was a "super club" created to provide Seattle players an opportunity to play at a higher level than the local recreational and semi-pro leagues. In addition to playing exhibition matches against top international teams, F.C. Seattle was a member of the short lived Western Soccer Alliance, was a founding member of the American Professional Soccer League and later spent three seasons in the Pacific Coast Soccer League.

History

1984: F.C. Seattle Challenge

In 1984, F.C. Seattle hosted the F.C. Seattle Challenge '84. This series pitted F.C. Seattle against three NASL teams, the Vancouver Whitecaps (2–2 tie), Minnesota Strikers (0–3 loss), New York Cosmos (1–2 loss), as well as the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team. For this challenge cup, the team filled its roster from local colleges, high schools and semi-pro teams. However, five F.C. Seattle players had previous professional experience: Jack Brand, Jerry Cameron, Eddie Krueger, Joe James and Robbie Zipp. The team was coached by former Sounders player Tom Jenkins and played its games in Seattle's Memorial Stadium.[1][2] The series averaged just over six thousand fans per game. At the end of it, NASL officials approached F.C. Seattle about entering the NASL for the 1985 season. F.C. Seattle declined, noting that most NASL teams hemorrhaged money.[3] The club's backers, including owner Bud Greer, preferred to keep it on a semi-professional basis and develop players while building a fanbase for a future professional team.[4]

1985: Western Alliance Challenge Series

In 1985, F.C. Seattle joined with three other independent "super clubs", F.C. Portland, San Jose Earthquakes and Victoria Riptides, to create the Western Alliance Challenge Series. This series came in response to the cancellation of games F.C. Seattle had scheduled against English teams West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa. In June, FIFA had banned English clubs from travelling for international games after Liverpool fans sparked massive deaths in fan violence in Belgium.

F.C. Portland hosted F.C. Seattle for the first game of the series, a game F.C. Seattle won on the strength of a Bruce Raney hat trick. Other significant F.C. Seattle players included Jeff Durgan, the Schmetzer brothers - Andy, Brian and Walter, and Peter Hattrup. However, Bruce Rioch, who had replaced Jack Brand as head coach in February, released Durgan from the team after he was ejected for making several flagrant fouls in the game against the Canada national team in July.

1986–1989: Western Soccer Alliance/League

In 1986, three of the four teams from 1985, decided to form the Western Soccer Alliance. Only Victoria declined to join the new alliance, but they were replaced by the Edmonton Brick Men.

In 1987, the WSA instituted a two-game post-season playoff series. F.C. Seattle, which finished second in alliance standings, lost 3–0 to the San Jose Earthquakes in the wild card game.

Up to now F.C. Seattle had also been known as the F.C. Seattle Storm. In 1988, the team officially dropped the F.C. and became the Seattle Storm. However, they were still referred to as the F.C. Seattle Storm throughout the season and the new name was not widely used until the 1989 season. The 1988 season was one of the most successful for the Storm when it cruised to the top of the regular season standings, then crushed the Earthquakes 5–0 in the championship game.

In 1989, the Storm failed to build on its previous year's success and finished out of playoff contention. As a side note, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League.

1990: American Professional Soccer League

In 1990, the Storm, along with the rest of the WSL merged with the American Soccer League to form the American Professional Soccer League. They would play in the North Division of the WSL Conference, which comprised all teams from the former WSL.[5] Despite Chance Fry leading the league with 17 goals and 5 assists, the Storm finished last in the North Division of the West Conference. Following the season, Greer announced his intention to have the Storm sit out the 1991 season. However, in February 1992, he decided to fold the team.[6]

1993–1995: Pacific Coast Soccer League

In December 1992, Stuart Lee bought the rights to the team and entered it in the amateur Pacific Coast Soccer League.[7] The team competed through the 1995 season then withdrew from senior competitions.[8] It continues to operate as a local soccer club with boys and girls teams in all age competitions.[9]

Yearly record

Year Team Name League Reg. Season Playoffs Open Cup
1985 F.C. Seattle WSA 3rd No playoffs Did not enter
1986 F.C. Seattle WSA 3rd No playoffs Did not enter
1987 F.C. Seattle Storm WSA 2nd Wild Card Did not enter
1988 Seattle Storm WSA 1st Champion Did not enter
1989 Seattle Storm WSL 3rd, North Did not qualify Did not enter
1990 Seattle Storm APSL 5th, WSL North Did not qualify Did not enter
1993 F.C. Seattle Storm PCSL Did not enter
1994 F.C. Seattle Storm PCSL Did not enter
1995 F.C. Seattle Storm PCSL 8th Did not qualify Did not enter

Ownership and staff

Coaches

Record includes both league and exhibition matches.

Name Nat From To Record
P W D L F A
Tommy Jenkins England 1984 February 1985 7 1 1 5 6 12
Bruce Rioch Scotland February 1985 September 1985 13 6 1 6 23 25
Jimmy Gabriel Scotland September 1985 1988 35 14 4 17 49 53
Tommy Jenkins England 1988 1989 39 25 2 12 76 49
Stuart Lee England 1990 1990 26 13 0 13 53 45
Stuart Lee England 1993 1995

Notable players

This list includes those former players who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left.

Exhibition games

As an independent soccer team, F.C. Seattle original purpose was to play exhibition games. Even after the establishment of the Western Soccer Alliance, exhibition games remained one of the most significant elements of the team's seasons.

1984

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
June 10, 1984 Vancouver Whitecaps Memorial Stadium 2–2 5,984[10] Raney (0:45), Backous (84:24)[11]
June 21, 1984 Minnesota Strikers Memorial Stadium 0–3 4,863[12] —
July 6, 1984 New York Cosmos Memorial Stadium 1–2 7,631[13] Krueger (1:50)[13]
July 13, 1984 1984 U.S. Olympic Team Memorial Stadium 1–3 8,199[14] Hiatt (5:42)[14]
August 4, 1984 at Vancouver Whitecaps BC Place 1–2 1,426[15] Willoughby (7:46), Raney (80:26)[16]
September 8, 1984 Vancouver Fire Memorial Stadium 0–1 —

1985 results

June 2: Dundee F.C. 0–1
June 9: Santos 2–1
June 16: Guadalajara 2–3
June 23: US National Team 2–3

1986

April 24: Canada national team 2–3
May 27: Manchester City 0–1
June 6: Dundee F.C. 1–2
July 19: SC Cleveland 2–1

1987

May 31: Hearts 1–1
June 5: Norwich City 2–0
June 20: Neza, Mexico City
July 10: Herfølge 2–1
July 15: Vancouver Whitecaps 0–1
Stormin the Isles Tour of Britain:

July 27: Middlesbrough 1–2
July 29: AFC Bournemouth 0–1
July 31: Queens Park Rangers F.C. 2–2
August 4: Dundee 0–3
August 6: Portsmouth 1–3

1988

May 7: Calgary Strikers 3–1
June 11: Middlesbrough 2–1
June 26: Atlante
August 3: Oldham Athletic 0–2
August 6: Lincoln City F.C. 2–2
August 10: Middlesbrough 0–3
August 13: Sunderland F.C. 0–3
August 16: Hull City A.F.C 2–2

1989

May 7: Vancouver 86ers 2–1
August 3: Victoria Vistas 3–0

1990

May 5: Victoria Vistas 3–0
May 20: AFC Bournemouth 1–0
May 29: Dnepr 1–2
August 1: at Victoria Vistas 1–0[17]
August 5: at Vancouver 86ers 5–3[18]
August 8: Vancouver 86ers 3–2

All time roster (1984–1990)

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

References

  1. ^ Farber, Stan (June 8, 1984). "F.C. Seattle begins area pro soccer test". The News Tribune. p. C5. Retrieved June 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Football Club Seattle
  3. ^ The Year in American Soccer - 1984
  4. ^ MacDonald, Frank (September 10, 2014). "Soccer in Seattle at 40: FC Seattle leads the way, goes organic". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  5. ^ "Seattle Storm aligns with outdoor soccer league". Kitsap Sun. February 23, 1990. p. B3. Retrieved June 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Smith, Craig (February 21, 1992). "Curtain closes on Seattle Storm". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  7. ^ Smith, Craig (January 14, 1993). "Revived Storm To Join Amateur Soccer League". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  8. ^ Knight, Bill (February 7, 1995). "Soccer storms Seattle area". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. D1.
  9. ^ FC Seattle
  10. ^ McKensa, Charley (June 20, 1984). "All-American team may challenge NASL". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. p. 2D. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Farber, Stan (June 11, 1984). "Strong start for new soccer club". The News Tribune. p. C3. Retrieved June 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Carlton, Debera (June 22, 1984). "Strikers give F.C. Seattle 3-0 loss". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. B2.
  13. ^ a b Smith, Craig (July 7, 1984). "Cosmos rally, edge FC Seattle". The Seattle Times. p. D1.
  14. ^ a b Reid, Scott M. (July 14, 1984). "Olympian effort, but F.C. Seattle falls". The Seattle Times. p. C1.
  15. ^ "Whitecaps lose". Nanaimo Daily News. The Canadian Press. August 7, 1984. p. 10. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "FC Seattle upsets Caps". The Seattle Times. August 5, 1984. p. B5.
  17. ^ "Victoria Extends Storm Losing Streak to Seven | the Seattle Times".
  18. ^ "Vancouver 86Ers Deal Storm Eighth Consecutive Defeat, 5-3 | the Seattle Times".
  19. ^ "WSYSA Male Alumni Players Accomplishments". Archived from the original on 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2015-03-13.

External links

Western Soccer Alliance
American Professional Soccer League
Categories