Houston Stars

This article is about the defunct NASL club. For the WPSL club, see Houston Stars (WPSL).
Houston Stars
Full nameHouston Stars
Founded1967
Dissolved1968
StadiumAstrodome
Capacity62,000
OwnerRoy Mark Hofheinz
Head coachMartim Francisco (1967)
Geza Henni (1968)[1]
LeagueUnited Soccer Association (1967)
North American Soccer League (1968)
19682nd of Gulf Division

The Houston Stars were an American professional soccer team based out of Houston, Texas. The Stars were a charter member of the United Soccer Association (USA) in 1967 and when the USA and rival National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) merged in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League (NASL), the team moved to the new league. The Stars played its home matches at the Astrodome. The team folded at the conclusion of the 1968 NASL season.

History

In 1966 several groups of entrepreneurs were exploring the idea of forming a professional soccer league in United States. One of these groups, United Soccer Association (USA) led by Jack Kent Cooke, selected 12 cities for team locations and Roy Hofheinz, former Houston mayor and owner of the Houston Astros, was awarded a franchise.[2] The USA originally planned to start play in the spring of 1968; however the rival National Professional Soccer League, which secured a TV contract from CBS, announced it was ready to launch in 1967. Not wanting to let the rival league gain an advantage, the USA decided to launch early. Not having secured any player contracts, the league imported teams from Europe, Brazil, and Uruguay to represent the franchise cities. Brazilian team Bangu Atlético Clube was brought in to play as the Stars.[3][4]

The Stars opened the season at home against the Los Angeles Wolves in a 1–1 draw in front of crowd of 34,965.[5] In their inaugural season in 1967, the Houston Stars finished fourth place with a record of 4 wins, 4 ties and 4 loss while drawing an average home league attendance of 19,802 in six games, the highest of all soccer clubs in the United States that year.[6]

With the merger of the United Soccer Association and the National Professional Soccer League it was announced that Houston would be one of the 20 teams in play in the North American Soccer League (NASL).[7][8][a] The Stars finished the 1968 NASL season in second place of the Gulf Division Division with a record of 14 wins 12 ties and 6 loses and an average attendance of 3,246.[6] The team folded at the conclusion of the 1968 season.[9]

Year-by-year

Year League W L T Pts Regular Season Playoffs
1967 USA 4 4 4 12 4th, Western Division Did not qualify
1968 NASL 14 12 6 150 2nd, Gulf Division

Notes

  1. ^ 17 teams contested the 1968 NASL season with three teams folding before the season began

References

  1. ^ "A Soccer History of Houston".
  2. ^ "Roy Hofheinz Dies; Planned Astrodome". Youngstown Vindicator. November 22, 1982. p. 38. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Seese, D.J. (2015). The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America: The Strange Days of the United Soccer Association. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442238954.
  4. ^ Hannigan, Dave (May 31, 2017). "Summer of soccer: when Shamrock Rovers conquered America". The Irish Times. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "Cougars Open With Tie". The Owosso Argus-Press. May 27, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  7. ^ "Differences Settled, Soccer Leagues Merge". The Phoenix. December 14, 1967. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  8. ^ Smits, Ted (March 24, 1968). "Gangway for Soccer". Reading Eagle. p. 53. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  9. ^ Hewson, Anthony K (2020). Houston Dynamo. Abdo Publishing. ISBN 9781098210472.