Oklahoma City Slickers
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2013) |
The Oklahoma City Slickers was the name given to two different American soccer clubs based in Oklahoma City. The first team competed in the second American Soccer League in 1982 and 1983, and as the Oklahoma City Stampede in the United Soccer League in 1984 and 1985. The second Oklahoma City Slickers competed in the USISL from 1993 to 1996.
Oklahoma City Slickers (1982–85)
In 1982, the first Oklahoma City Slickers joined the de facto second division American Soccer League.[1] The Slickers went to the championship series, losing to the Detroit Express. Head coach Brian Harvey was the ASL Coach of the Year. In 1983, the Slickers finished last in the league. The American Soccer League collapsed following the 1983 season. This led to the creation of the United Soccer League in 1984. The Slickers joined the new league, changing their name to the Oklahoma City Stampede.[2] The club once again came tantalizingly close to a league championship, winning the regular-season title on point differential over the Fort Lauderdale Sun but falling in the semifinals to the Houston Dynamos in a three-game series. This success was short-lived. After the 1984 season, the club relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Tulsa Tornados, with Brian Harvey still serving as head coach. The USL folded in the spring of 1985 after just a handful of games. During its short existence, Oklahoma City's best-known players were goalkeeper Phil Parkes and Jeff Bourne, both veterans of the North American Soccer League and English First Division. Home games were played at historical (but woefully narrow for soccer purposes) Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City.
Year-by-year
Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | National Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1982 | 2 | ASL | 2nd | Finals | Did not enter |
1983 | 2 | ASL | 3rd, Western | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
1984 | 2 | USL | 1st, Western | Semifinals | Did not enter |
Notable players
- Jeff Bourne (1982) 20 Goals
- David Kemp (1984)
- Phil Parkes (1982) 28 Games 0 Goals
- Thompson Usiyan (1984)
- Delroy Allen (1984) 22 Apps 0 Goals
Oklahoma City Slickers (1993–96)
In February 1993, the United States Interregional Soccer League announced the merger of the Oklahoma City Warriors of the USISL and the Oklahoma City Spirit of the Lone Star Soccer Alliance. The new team would compete in the USISL using the name the Oklahoma City Slickers.[3] Brian Harvey coached the Slickers in their first year with Warriors head coach Chico Villar serving as an assistant and team general manager. The team also returned to Taft Stadium.[4] In 1994, Duane Cummings replaced Harvey as head coach. The Slickers withdrew from the league and disbanded after the 1995–96 USISL indoor season.
Year-by-year
Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | National Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | N/A | USISL | 7th, South Central | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
1994–95 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 1st, South Central | Finals | N/A |
1995 | 3 | USISL Premier | 4th, Western | First round | Did not enter |
1995–96 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 3rd, Central | Sizzlin' Five | N/A |
References
- ^ "The Year in American Soccer - 1982". Archived from the original on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
- ^ "The Year in American Soccer - 1984". Archived from the original on 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
- ^ City Slickers Have New Life
- ^ Slickers Host Dallas in Debut
- United Soccer League (1984–85) teams
- Soccer clubs in Oklahoma City
- Defunct soccer clubs in Oklahoma
- American Soccer League (1933–1983) teams
- 1982 establishments in Oklahoma
- 1985 disestablishments in Oklahoma
- Soccer clubs in Oklahoma
- Association football clubs established in 1982
- Association football clubs disestablished in 1985
- Association football clubs established in 1993
- Association football clubs disestablished in 1996
- 1993 establishments in Oklahoma
- 1996 disestablishments in Oklahoma
- Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States