Chicago Mustangs (1967–68)

Chicago Mustangs
Founded	1967
Dissolved	1968
Stadium	Comiskey Park
Capacity	46,550 (1954-1972)
Owner	Arthur Allyn, Jr.
President	John Allyn
League	United Soccer Association (1967); North American Soccer League (1968)
1968	2nd, Lakes Division
Home colors	Away colors

The Chicago Mustangs were an American professional soccer team based out of Chicago, Illinois, and were a charter member of the United Soccer Association (USA) in 1967. 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 Mustangs played its home matches at Comiskey Park. 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 Arthur Allyn Jr.,^[1] co-owner with his brother of the Chicago White Sox, was awarded the Chicago franchise. Stu Holcomb, athletic director at Northwestern University, was hired to act as the team's general manager.^[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, Argentina and Uruguay to represent the franchise cities. Italian team Cagliari Calcio was brought over to play as the Mustangs.^[3]^[4]

The Mustangs opened the season on May 27, 1967, in Chicago at Comiskey Park with a 1-0 loss to the Dallas Tornado with 5,872 fan in attendance.^[5] ^[6] The Mustangs finished the 1967 season in third place of the Western Division with a record of 3 wins 7 ties and 2 loses and an average attendance of 4,207.^[7]

With the merger of the United Soccer Association and the National Professional Soccer League it was announced that Chicago would be one of the 20-teams in play in the North American Soccer League (NASL).^[8]^[a] The Mustangs finished the 1968 NASL season in second place of the Lakes Division with a record of 13 wins 9 ties and 10 loses and an average attendance of 2,463.^[7] By January 1969, ten of the NASL's 17 franchises had folded and the Mustangs dropped down to the semi-professional National Soccer League^[9] and eventually folded.^[10]

Year-by-year

Year	League	W	L	T	Pts	Regular season	Playoffs	Avg. attendance
1967	USA	3	2	7	13	3rd, Western Division	Did not qualify	4,207
1968	NASL	13	10	9	164	2nd, Lakes Division	Did not qualify	2,463

Notes

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

References

^ "Soccer and Baseball Share Local Limelight". Sarasota Journal. June 13, 1967. p. 14. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
^ "Chicao Soccer Club Gets Stu Holcomb". St. Petersburg Times. August 12, 1966. p. 31. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
^ Seese, D.J. (2015). The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America: The Strange Days of the United Soccer Association. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442238954.
^ Hannigan, Dave (May 31, 2017). "Summer of soccer: when Shamrock Rovers conquered America". The Irish Times. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
^ "Cougars Open With Tie". The Owosso Argus-Press. May 27, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
^ Veeck, Mike (2014). Old Comiskey Park: Essays and Memories of the Historic Home of the Chicago White Sox, 1910-1991. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 131. ISBN 9780786475926.
^ ^a ^b "North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
^ "Differences Settled, Soccer Leagues Merge". The Phoenix. December 14, 1967. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
^ Tossell, David (2012). Playing for Uncle Sam: The Brits' Story of the North American Soccer League. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 9781780574721.
^ Lassila, Alan (February 14, 1977). "Forgeur Joins Strikers". Sarasota Journal. p. C1. Retrieved December 10, 2021.

[9] 17 teams contested the 1968 NASL season with three teams folding before the season began

[1] "Soccer and Baseball Share Local Limelight". Sarasota Journal. June 13, 1967. p. 14. Retrieved December 9, 2021.

[2] "Chicao Soccer Club Gets Stu Holcomb". St. Petersburg Times. August 12, 1966. p. 31. Retrieved December 10, 2021.

[Seese-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] Veeck, Mike (2014). Old Comiskey Park: Essays and Memories of the Historic Home of the Chicago White Sox, 1910-1991. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 131. ISBN 9780786475926.

[NASL-7] "North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved December 10, 2021.

[8] "Differences Settled, Soccer Leagues Merge". The Phoenix. December 14, 1967. Retrieved December 10, 2021.

[10] Tossell, David (2012). Playing for Uncle Sam: The Brits' Story of the North American Soccer League. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 9781780574721.

[11] Lassila, Alan (February 14, 1977). "Forgeur Joins Strikers". Sarasota Journal. p. C1. Retrieved December 10, 2021.

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v t e North American Soccer League (1968–1984)
Broadcasters USSF CSA Portal NASL (2011–2017) First overall draft picks
Seasons	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Soccer Bowls	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Predecessors	USA 1967 Final NPSL 1967 Final
Indoor seasons	1971 1975 1976 1978 1979 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1983 1983–84
Conferences	1968 East West 1976–1977 Atlantic Pacific 1978–1980 American National
Related	Soccer Bowl broadcasters NASL Indoor Championship
Clubs	Atlanta Apollos Atlanta Chiefs Baltimore Bays Baltimore Comets Boston Beacons Boston Minutemen Boston Shamrock Rovers† Calgary Boomers California Surf Chicago Mustangs Chicago Spurs² Chicago Sting Cleveland Stokers Caribous of Colorado Connecticut Bicentennials Dallas Tornado Denver Dynamos Detroit Cougars Detroit Express Edmonton Drillers Fort Lauderdale Strikers Golden Bay Earthquakes Hartford Bicentennials Houston Hurricane Houston Stars Jacksonville Tea Men Kansas City Spurs Las Vegas Quicksilvers Los Angeles Aztecs Los Angeles Wolves Memphis Rogues Miami Gatos Miami Toros Minnesota Kicks Minnesota Strikers Montreal Manic Montreal Olympique New England Tea Men New York Cosmos New York Generals New York Skyliners¹ Oakland Clippers Oakland Stompers Philadelphia Spartans² Philadelphia Atoms Philadelphia Fury Pittsburgh Phantoms² Portland Timbers Rochester Lancers San Antonio Thunder San Diego Jaws San Diego Sockers San Diego Toros San Francisco Golden Gate Gales¹ San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders St. Louis Stars Tampa Bay Rowdies Team America Team Hawaii Toronto Blizzard Toronto City¹ Toronto Metros Toronto Metros-Croatia Tulsa Roughnecks Vancouver Royals Vancouver Whitecaps Washington Darts Washington Diplomats Washington Whips
¹ United Soccer Association team that did not join NASL upon merger with NPSL. ² National Professional Soccer League team that did not join NASL upon merger with USA.