Dallas Sidekicks (1984–2004)

The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2003-04 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor Soccer League. Over the years, the team played in four other leagues (CISL,[1] WISL, PSA, and the second incarnation of the MISL. The team's most famous player was Tatu, who was known for throwing his shirt into the stands after every goal. The team hosted the 1989 MISL All-Star Game. The team was one of the most successful franchises in indoor soccer history, making the playoffs in 16 of their 19 seasons of play. In the playoffs, the team made it to the championship game/series eight times, winning four titles.

For the current indoor team, see Dallas Sidekicks (2012–present).
Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks 1993–2004
Full nameDallas Sidekicks
FoundedJanuary 9, 1984
DissolvedSeptember 13, 2004
GroundReunion Arena
Capacity16,626
LeagueMISL I, CISL, WISL, MISL II

An expansion team named after this team began play in the Professional Arena Soccer League on November 3, 2012. Home games for the new Dallas Sidekicks are played at the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas.

Honors
Championship banners on display at the Allen Event Center on November 30, 2012.

Championships (4)

  • 1986–87 MISL
  • 1993 CISL
  • 1998 PSA
  • 2001 WISL

Division Titles (5)

  • 1989–90 MISL Western Division
  • 1993 CISL Regular Season
  • 1994 CISL Eastern Division
  • 1998 PSA Regular Season
  • 2003–04 MISL II Western Division

Key moments

The first goal (and first powerplay goal) in team history was scored by forward Herve Guilliod on November 2, 1984, in a game against the Las Vegas Americans.[2] Goals #100, #2,000, and #3,000 were all scored by all-time team scoring leader Tatu.[2]

Around noon on Feb. 13, 1989 The Dallas Sidekicks filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, one hour before the Mavericks were scheduled to file suit seeking to force the Sidekicks to repay a $519,000 debt. Team president David Shuttee said the debt was from 1986, when a group of Dallas businessmen purchased the Sidekicks from Mavericks owner Donald Carter.[3]

Rivalry

During the MISL I days, the Sidekicks main rivals were the San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars, and Minnesota Strikers. During the 1990s, a rivalry developed between the Sidekicks and Monterrey La Raza.

Head coaches

In March 2013, Gordon Jago was named to the 2013 class of the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame.[4][5]

Year Coach Record Notable wins
1984–1989 & 1991–1997Gordon Jago231-2032 Championship victories (1986–87 in the MISL and 1993 in the CISL)
1989–1991Billy Phillips53-491 Western Division Title (1989–90 in the MISL )
1998–2004Tatu84-682 Championship victories (1998 and 2001 in the WISL)

Retired uniform numbers

Former players

Arenas

Year-by-year
League Champions Runners-Up Division/League Champions* Playoff Berth
Year League Reg. Season GF GA Pct Finish Playoffs Owner(s) Attendance Average Slogan
1984–85MISL12–36194286.2507th WestDid not qualifyDonald Carter4,969Fast, Fun and Furious!
1985–86MISL25–23220231.5213rd EastLost Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Minnesota Strikers, 1–3Donald Carter6,654It'll knock yer socks off!
1986–87**MISL28–24209197.5383rd EastWon Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Baltimore Blast, 3–2
Won Eastern Division Finals vs. Cleveland Force, 4–1
Won MISL Finals vs. Tacoma Stars, 4–3		Stan Finney, Jan Rogers, Joe Shea8,637The wild side of soccer!
1987–88MISL28–28200204.5003rd EastLost Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Cleveland Force, 1–3Stan Finney, Jan Rogers, Joe Shea9,878Never Say Die
1988–89MISL24–24185206.5003rd MISLLost Semifinals vs. San Diego Sockers, 3–4Stan Finney, Jan Rogers, Joe Shea8,567Get your kicks
1989–90MISL31–21217190.5961st WestLost Western Division Finals vs. San Diego Sockers, 2–4David Paschal9,004N/A
1990–91MSL20–32257294.3854th WestDid not qualifyPhill Cobb6,920N/A
1991–92MSL22–18231229.5502nd MISLWon Semifinals vs. Cleveland Crunch, 4–2
Lost MISL Finals vs. San Diego Sockers, 2–4		Donald Carter7,003N/A
1993CISL23–5230150.8211st CISLWon Semifinal Game vs. Monterrey La Raza, 11–6
Won CISL Finals vs. San Diego Sockers, 2–1		Donald Carter5,800N/A
1994CISL24–4255160.8571st EastWon Quarterfinals vs. Pittsburgh Stingers, 2–0
Won Semifinals vs. Washington Warthogs, 2–0
Lost CISL Finals vs. Las Vegas Dustdevils, 1–2		Donald Carter7,310N/A
1995CISL18–10215165.6432nd EastWon Quarterfinals vs. Mexico Toros, 2–0
Lost Semifinals vs. Monterrey La Raza, 0–2		Donald Carter9,380N/A
1996CISL16–12186167.5713rd EastWon Quarterfinals vs. Anaheim Splash, 2–0
Lost Semifinals vs. Monterrey La Raza, 0–2		Sonny Willams, Donald Carter9,202Hot Soccer Cool Seat
1997CISL[1]13–15165160.4644th EastLost Quarterfinals vs. Monterrey La Raza, 1–2Sonny Willams, Donald Carter9,212Major League Fun
1998PSA8–2N/AN/A.8001st WISLWon PSA Championship Game vs. Sacramento Knights, 6–2Sonny Willams, Donald Carter9,167NSN Never Say Never™
1999WISL15–712788.7732nd WISLWon Semifinal Game vs. Monterrey La Raza, 4–3
Lost WISL Championship Game vs. Sacramento Knights, 6–7		Sonny Willams, Donald Carter8,860N/A
2000WISL17–7153107.7082nd WISLWon Semifinal Game vs. Utah Freezz, 7–4
Lost WISL Championship Game vs. Monterrey La Raza, 5–6		Sonny Willams, Donald Carter7,482N/A
2001WISL14–10109108.5832nd WISLWon Semifinals vs Sacramento Knights, 2–0
Won WISL Finals vs. San Diego Sockers, 2–1		Sonny Willams, Donald Carter8,640Not Your Ordinary Soccer
2002–03MISL9–27342427.2504th WestDid not qualifySonny Willams7,851Fast and Furious
2003–04MISL21–15213167.5831st WestWon Quarterfinal Game vs. Cleveland Force, 7–4
Lost Semifinal Game vs. Baltimore Blast, 1–6		Sonny Willams5,756N/A
  • *There were 7 seasons where the league the Sidekicks were competing in did not feature divisions, so there was a regular season league champion before the playoffs began.
  • **This 1986–87 Sidekicks team was inducted into the Pizza Hut Park Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame. Known forever in Dallas as the "Never Say Die" season, the Dallas Sidekicks defeated a heavily favored Tacoma Stars squad to win the 1987 MISL Championship. Down three games to two in a best-of-seven series, the Sidekicks won the final two games 5–4 and 4–3 respectively, both in overtime and both in front of sold-out arenas in Tacoma and Dallas.
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References
  1. "Loss of teams forces CISL to shut down". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company. December 24, 1997. p. 10. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  2. Marshall, Raymond (December 10, 2014). "Sidekicks Numerology: Goal Number 1". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  3. "The Dallas Sidekicks filed Monday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy..." upi.com. UPI. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  4. Carrick, Buzz (March 5, 2013). "Former Dallas Sidekicks Coach Gordon Jago Named 2013 Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  5. "Former Sidekicks Coach Gordon Jago Named 2013 Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee". Our Sports Central. March 5, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
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