Tulsa Roughnecks

This article is about the original Tulsa Roughnecks of the NASL. For the second team to use the name, see Tulsa Roughnecks (USISL).

Tulsa Roughnecks

Full name	Tulsa Roughnecks
Nickname(s)	Roughnecks, 'Necks
Founded	1978
Stadium	Skelly Stadium (Capacity: 40,000)
Chairman	defunct
Manager	defunct
League	North American Soccer League
Home colors Away colors

NASL

The Tulsa Roughnecks (1978–1984) were a North American Soccer League (NASL) team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place Stadium by a score of 2-0 before a paid attendance of 60,051. The teams all-time win-loss record was 104-106. The Roughnecks' home games consistently drew better-than-league-average attendance, with the annual record occurring during the 1980 season when the team averaged 19,787 spectators over 16 games, for a total attendance that year of 316,593 (placing the Roughnecks at No. 5 between the Seattle Sounders and the Washington Diplomats). The largest home game attendance for Tulsa occurred on April 26, 1980, when 30,822 fans watched the Roughnecks' 2-1 victory over the New York Cosmos at Skelly Stadium. The highest attendance for any Roughneck game occurred on August 26, 1979, when Tulsa met the Cosmos in New York for a NASL playoff game before a crowd of 76,031.

Famous Roughneck players include Iraj Danaeifard, Charlie Mitchell, Billy Caskey, Victor Moreland, Barry Wallace, Alan Woodward, Zeljko Bilecki, Carmelo D'Anzi, Winston DuBose, Njego Pesa, Laurie Abrams, Chance Fry, Terry Moore and Ninoslav Zec.

Ownership & Staff

• Carl Moore - Co-Owner (1978–83)
• Mike Kimbrell - Co-Owner (1978–83)
• Rick Lowenherz - Co-Owner (1978–83)
• Fred Williams - Co-Owner (1978–83)
• Allen McLaughlin - Communications Director
• Noel Lemon - General Manager
• Tulsa Cable - Owner (1984)

Players

• Petar Nikezić (1978)
• Billy Caskey (1978–84)[1]
• Victor Moreland (1978; 1980–84)^[2]
• Barry Wallace (1980–84) [3]
• Alan Woodward (1979–81) [4]
• Alex Skotarek
• Winston DuBose
• Dominic Pagano
• Gene DuChateau
• Joe Morrone, Jr.
• Laurie Abrahams (1979, 1982–83)
• Colin Boulton (1978–79) [5]
• David Bradford (1982/1984)
• Viv Busby (1981–82)
• Chance Fry
• Chris Dangerfield (1978)
• Billy Gazonas (1978–1980)
• Terry Darracott (1979) [6]
• Duncan Davidson (1981) [7]
• Roger Davies (1979)
• Dean DiTocco (1978–80)
• Johannes Edvaldsson (1980–81)
• Alan Dugdale (1980–81)
• Steve Earle (footballer) (1978/1980)
• Lil Fuccillo (1983)
• Ron Futcher (1983–84)
• David Irving (footballer) (1980) [8]
• Jimmy Kelly (1980–81)
• Delroy Allen
• Iraj Danaeifard
• Chris McGrath (footballer) (1981–82)
• Duncan McKenzie (1981)
• David Nish (1979)
• Tommy Ord (1980)
• Don O'Riordan (1979–80)
• David McCreery (1981–82)
• Clive Griffiths (Welsh footballer) (1980)
• Wayne Hughes (1979)
• Davie Robb (1980) [9]
• Colin Waldron (1978) [10]
• Jack Brand
• Franz Gerber
• Bill Sautter
• Thompson Usiyan
• Zequinha

Many former players have found employment as paid trainers of youth soccer teams for clubs such as the Tulsa United, Tulsa Soccer Club (TSC), Tornado Soccer Club, and Hurricane Football Club (HFC).

Coaches

• Bill Foulkes (1978)
• Alex Skotarek (1978)
• Alan Hinton (1979)
• Charlie Mitchell (1980–1981)
• Terry Hennessey (1981–1983, won 1983 Soccer Bowl)
• Wim Suurbier (1984)

[11]

Year-by-year

Year	League	W	L	T	Pts	Reg. Season	Playoffs	Avg. Attendance
1978	NASL	15	15	—	132	2nd, National Conference, Central Division	Lost 1st Round (Minnesota)	11,256
1979	NASL	14	16	—	139	3rd, National Conference, Central Division	Won Conference Quarterfinal (Minnesota) Lost Conference Semifinal (New York)	16,426
1979/80	NASL Indoor	7	5	—	—	3rd, Western	Lost 1st Round (Minnesota)
1980	NASL	15	17	—	139	3rd, National Conference, Central Division	Lost 1st Round (New York)	19,787
1980/81	NASL Indoor	9	9	—	—	2nd, Southern Division	Did not qualify
1981	NASL	17	15	—	154	3rd, Central Division	Lost 1st Round (Minnesota)	17,188
1981/82	NASL Indoor	10	8	—	—	3rd, American Conference, Central Division	Won 1st Round (Chicago) Lost Semifinal (Tampa Bay)
1982	NASL	16	16	—	112	2nd, Southern Division	Lost 1st Round (New York)	14,554
1982/83	NASL Indoor	Season cancelled
1983	NASL	17	13	—	145	1st, Southern Division	Won 1st Round (Ft. Lauderdale) Won Semifinals (Montreal) Won Soccer Bowl '83 (Toronto)	12,415
1983/84	NASL Indoor	11	21	—	—	6th	Did not qualify
1984	NASL	10	14	—	98	4th, Western Division	Did not qualify	7,797

References

• Jimmie Tramel, "Roughnecks a colorful, talented group", Tulsa World, June 26, 2006.
• Randy Krehbiel, "Soccer team's success wasn't easy", Tulsa World, September 15, 2002.
• J Hutcherson, "Tulsa's Charity Case" at USSoccerPlayers.com.
• Clive Gammon, "Blowing Out The Blizzard: Tulsa won Soccer Bowl '83 with a little assist from the NASL boss", Sports Illustrated, October 10, 1983.
• "Sports People; Too Rough In Tulsa", New York Times, November 17, 1983.