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Memphis Storm

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The Memphis Storm was an American soccer team based in Memphis, Tennessee which existed from 1986 to 1994 under several names in both the American Indoor Soccer Association and the USISL.

History

American Indoor Soccer Association

First founded in 1986 as a member of the American Indoor Soccer Association, the team, known as the Memphis Storm, playing in the Mid-South Coliseum, had a successful first season. It made the playoffs only to fall to eventual champions Louisville Thunder in the semifinals. Head coach Terry Nicholl was named the 1987 AISA Coach of the Year and defender Greg Willen was a First Team All Star.[1] The Storm had an outstanding second season, topping the league standings. The league did not hold a post-season tournament so the Storm was declared the champion. Nichols repeated as AISA Coach of the Year. He won the award even though he left the team with several games remaining in the season, handing over the coaching duties to midfielder Tony Carbognani. Manny Sanchez was the Goalkeeper of the Year and Rod Castro was the Rookie of the Year. The Storm also placed Sanchez, defenders Vince Beck, Art Hughes and forward Ted Hantak on the All Star team.[2] The Storm saw a collapse in form during the 1988–1989 season; finishing last in the league standings.[3] During the season, the league took control of the team when the ownership expressed an intention of filing for bankruptcy. In September 1989, the league sold the team to new ownership, a group of Memphis businessmen.[4] The new ownership renamed the team the Memphis Rogues. Don Tobin replaced Carbognani as coach only to be relieved of his duties early in the season. Carbognani was again elevated to the position of player-coach. Despite the name and coaching changes, Memphis had a dismal season, finishing 6–34.[5] The team also experienced considerable financial difficulties. By the summer of 1990, it owed the Mid-South Coliseum $21,000 in unpaid back rent. On June 23, 1990, the AISA expelled the team from the league and repudiated its line of credit. Team ownership under Rob Gunter began making arrangements to pay the team debt and move the team to the Southwest Independent Soccer League.[6] In July 1990, the expansion Detroit Rockers of the AISA purchased all Memphis player contracts.[7] On July 24, 1990, the Rogues paid the first installment of their franchise fee to the SISL, allowing the team to compete in that league during the upcoming season.[8]

SISL/USISL

In July 1990, under the leadership of Rob Gunter and controlled by the Youth Educational Services an organization owned by Gunter, the team sent the Southwest Independent Soccer League $2,500 to enter the league. The team competed in the Shelby Farms Show Place Arena .[8] In August, the league, now known as the Sunbelt Independent Soccer League, placed the Rogues in the Southwest Conference for the 1990-91 Sunbelt Independent Soccer League indoor season.[9] The Rogues finished 8–12 and out of playoff contention. As the SISL played both indoor and outdoor seasons, the Rogues moved to Halle Stadium for their home games. During the 1990 outdoor season, the Rogues went 12–4 and topped the league with 98 points. They then won their first round series against the Atlanta Quicksilver. Having the best record in the league, the Rogues expected to play New Mexico Chiles in Memphis, but league commissioner Francisco Marcos moved the series to Albuquerque, New Mexico based on the higher number of spectators at Chiles games. The Rogues then withdrew from the playoffs in protest.[10] This blow led to Gunter withdrawing as team owner. Dave Maybry, the team's director then began searching for team sponsorship to pay the bills. The team also moved its home games to the Memphis Sports Academy and renamed itself the Memphis Survivors.[11] Despite its financial difficulties, the team finished the 1991–1992 indoor season at 6–2 only to fall to the Atlanta Lightning in the first round of the playoffs.[12] In the spring of 1992, team renamed itself the Memphis United Express for the upcoming outdoor season. The team moved its home games on the Christian Brothers University campus.[13] The team went 8–6, again making the playoffs only to fall to the Atlanta Datagraphic Magic in the first round.[12] The team did not enter the 1992–1993 indoor season, but rejoined the USISL for the 1993 outdoor season under the sponsorship of the Memphis Futbol Club. The team, now known as the Memphis Jackals was coached by and played its home games at a number of facilities in the Memphis area.[14] Memphis played one more season, the 1994 outdoor season, then withdrew from the USISL and ceased operations.

Year-by-year

Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs Open Cup Avg. Attendnace
1986/87 N/A AISA 2nd, Southern Semifinals N/A 3,486
1987/88 N/A AISA 1st 5th in Challenge Cup N/A
1988/89 N/A AISA 7th Did not qualify N/A 2,048
1989/90 N/A AISA 4th, American Did not qualify N/A 1,652
1990/91 N/A SISL Indoor 6th, Southeast Did not qualify N/A
1991 N/A SISL 1st, Southeast Semifinals Did not enter
1991/92 N/A USISL Indoor 2nd, Southeast Playoffs N/A
1992 N/A USISL 4th, Southeast 1st Round Did not enter
1993 N/A USISL 4th, Southeast Divisional Semifinals Did not enter
1994 3 USISL 8th, Midsouth Did not qualify Did not enter

Coach

References

  1. ^ The Year in American Soccer – 1987
  2. ^ The Year in American Soccer – 1988
  3. ^ The Year in American Soccer – 1989
  4. ^ SPORTS Chicago Tribune – Wednesday, September 27, 1989
  5. ^ The Year in American Soccer – 1990
  6. ^ ARENA EYEING OPTIONS The Commercial Appeal – Wednesday, June 27, 1990
  7. ^ Top candidates seek Wave job Milwaukee Sentinel – Saturday, July 7, 1990
  8. ^ a b ROGUES OFFICIALS PAY INSTALLMENT TO ENTER LEAGUE The Commercial Appeal – Wednesday, July 25, 1990
  9. ^ ROGUES TO PLAY AS SEMIPRO TEAM – INDOOR SEASON STARTS NOV. 10 The Commercial Appeal – Thursday, August 23, 1990
  10. ^ ROGUES PULL OUT OF PLAYOFFS The Commercial Appeal – Wednesday, August 7, 1991
  11. ^ ON THEIR LAST LEGS? – SURVIVORS CLING TO SOCCER DREAM The Commercial Appeal – Friday, January 31, 1992
  12. ^ a b The Year in American Soccer – 1992
  13. ^ PRO SOCCER BIDING TIME IN MEMPHIS The Commercial Appeal – Saturday, May 30, 1992
  14. ^ MEMPHIS SOCCER TEAM OPENS TODAY The Commercial Appeal – Friday, May 14, 1993
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