Las Vegas Quicksilvers

This article is about the original NASL team. For The USISL team to use the name, see Las Vegas Quicksilver.
Las Vegas Quicksilvers
Logo
Full nameLas Vegas Quicksilvers
Nickname(s)Silvers
Founded1976
Dissolved1978; 47 years ago (1978) (moved)
StadiumLas Vegas Stadium
Capacity36,800
LeagueNASL
19775th in conference

The Las Vegas Quicksilvers were an American soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) during the 1977 season. The team was based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and played their home games at Las Vegas Stadium. After the 1977 season, the team relocated to San Diego and became the San Diego Sockers.

Eusébio, considered by many to be one of the greatest players of all time,[1] played seventeen matches and scored two goals for the Quicksilvers.

History

Origins

Eusébio (right) during his time with the Quicksilvers, here with Pelé (left) and teammate Brian Joy (center)

The team that would become the Quicksilvers was founded in January 1974 as the Baltimore Comets when the North American Soccer League added six expansion teams following the 1973 season.[2][3] After two seasons in Baltimore, the team was sold and moved to San Diego becoming the San Diego Jaws.[4] [5] After finishing last in the Southern Division for the 1976 North American Soccer League season, the team announced it would move to Las Vegas.[6]

1977 NASL season and demise

The Quicksilvers opened the season on April 9, 1977, at home with a 1–0 win against the New York Cosmos with 11,896 fans in attendance at Las Vegas Stadium. The game was the tenth meeting in history between Eusébio and Pelé, considered by many to be the two finest players of the era.[7] After starting the season with nine wins and three loses, the team lost seven of their next eight games; head coach Derek Trevis was fired and replaced by Jim Fryatt.[8] The team finished the season in last place of the Pacific Conference Southern Division with eleven wins and fifteen losses and averaging 7,092 fans a game.[9]

In late October 1977, it was reported the Milwaukee Brewers considered purchasing the team.[10] However, less than a week later the Clark County District Attorney filed civil suit against the team for deceptive trade and false advertising. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority also threatened the team with legal action over $32,000 in unpaid rent for the Las Vegas Stadium.[11] In December, the team was sold and moved to San Diego becoming the San Diego Sockers.[12]

Year-by-year

Year League W L Pts Reg. Season Playoffs
1977 NASL 11 15 103 5th, Pacific Conference, Southern Division did not qualify

Coaches

Honors

NASL All-Stars

Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame members

References

  1. ^ "Eusebio: Portugal football legend dies aged 71". BBC Sport. January 5, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  2. ^ Nigro, Ken (December 5, 1973). "Baltimore returns to soccer league". Baltimore Sun. p. C1. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "Seattle gets soccer team". Ellensburg Daily Record. January 4, 1974. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  4. ^ "Comets Move to San Diego". Eugene Register-Guard. October 12, 1975. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Lowenberger, William (October 10, 1975). "Comets to move to Calif". Baltimore Sun. p. C7. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Jaws Move". Lodi News-Sentinel. UPI. October 20, 1976. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  7. ^ Guardian writers (May 29, 2014). "The World Cup's top 100 footballers of all time". the Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "Quicksilvers Give Coach Boot". The Evening Independent. AP. July 15, 1977. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  9. ^ Litterer, David. "North American Soccer League". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "Brewers May Buy Pro Soccer Team". The Pittsburgh Press. UPI. October 22, 1977. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Quicksilvers in trouble". Lewiston Morning Tribune. AP. October 27, 1977. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "Sports Shorts". The Times-News. AP. December 22, 1977. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "Somebody Likes The Way He Plays". Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. August 12, 1977. p. C-1. Retrieved January 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ "Hall of Famers". indoorsoccerhall.com. September 1, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.