Philadelphia Fury (1978–1980)

The Philadelphia Fury was a soccer team based in Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Among the club's investors were rock musicians Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon. The team played at Veterans Stadium.[1]

This article is about the original Philadelphia Fury of the NASL. For the modern day team, see Philadelphia Fury.
Philadelphia Fury
Full namePhiladelphia Fury
Nickname(s)Fury
Founded1978
Dissolved1980
GroundVeterans Stadium
Capacity60,000
LeagueNorth American Soccer League

History

The Fury brought topflight soccer back to Philadelphia for the first time since the Philadelphia Atoms folded in 1976. They never had a winning season, but did make the playoffs two out of three seasons. Attendance dropped each year and after the 1980 season, the club was sold and moved, becoming the Montreal Manic, leaving Philadelphia without professional soccer until the Philadelphia Union joined MLS in 2010.

Notable Philadelphia Fury players included Johnny Giles, Alan Ball and Peter Osgood, all of whom starred in England before joining the club. Ball served as player-coach in 1978 after the dismissal of head coach Richard Dinnis). Other players for the Fury included all-league defender John Dempsey, Pat Fidelia, David Robb, Frank Worthington, Fran O'Brien and Bob Rigby.

Year-by-year
Year Record Regular Season Finish Playoffs Avg. Attend.
1978 12-18 4th, Eastern Division, American Conference First Round 8,280
1979 10-20 3rd, Eastern Division, American Conference American Conference Semifinals 5,626
1980 10-22 4th, Eastern Division, American Conference Did Not Qualify 4,465

Honors

NASL championships

  • none

Division titles

  • none

All-star selections

  • 1978 Alan Ball (second team)

Defender of the year

  • 1979 John Dempsey[2]

US Soccer Hall of Fame members

Head coaches

Legacy

In February 2014 it was announced[3] that the Philadelphia Fury would compete in the inaugural season of the new American Soccer League (ASL) after being purchased by former MLS Assistant Coach and ASL CEO, Matt Driver. The new Fury carry the colors of the original team but play home games at Washington Township High School in New Jersey.

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See also

References
  1. "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search". google.com. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  2. "Chelsea Legend Dempsey Still A Star". This Is Local London. 2001-09-26.
  3. "Philadelphia Fury joins the ASL". Philadelphia Fury. 2014-02-22.


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