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Connecticut Bicentennials

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Connecticut Bicentennials (1977)
Full nameConnecticut Bicentennials
Nickname(s)Bicentennials
The Bi's
Founded1975
Dissolved1977
StadiumYale Bowl
Dillon Stadium
Capacity70,000
LeagueNASL
Hartford Bicentennials (1975-76)

The Connecticut Bicentennials were an American soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1975 to 1977. Originally founded as the Hartford Bicentennials, the team relocated to New Haven, Connecticut after the 1976 NASL season. At the end of 1977 season, the team was sold and relocated to California becoming the Oakland Stompers.

History

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Founded in 1975, and owned by local businessman Bob Darling, the team's name was a reference to the upcoming bicentennial anniversary of the United States founding in 1976. The team began play during the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament, finishing second in Region 2 and missing the final four on goal difference.[1] Prior to the 1975 outdoor season, the Bicentennials signed fourteen players from the 1974 American Soccer League (ASL) champions Rhode Island Oceaneers, including goalkeeper Arnie Mausser, Charlie McCully, and Mohammad Attiah, as well as hiring the Oceaneers' head coach Manny Schellscheidt and General Manager Michael Bosson.[2][3] The Bicentennials finished their inaugural season in last place of the Northern Division with a record of six wins and sixteen loses and an average attendance of 3,720 playing their home games at the Dillon Stadium which they shared with the Connecticut Yankees of the ASL.[4][2] After the season, Bosson was replaced by the GM of the Connecticut Yankees Rudi Schiffer and, along with the signing of three European players, the contract of goalkeeper Arnie Mausser, who had allowed a record 50 goals during the season, was sold to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.[2][5][6] Schellscheidt was replaced by Bobby Thompson after a 2-3 start to the 1976 outdoor season.[7] The team ended the 1976 season with a record of twelve wins and twelve losses and averaging 3,420 fans per game.[4] The team relocated to New Haven, Connecticut and rebranded as the Connecticut Bicentennials before the 1977 season.[8] Playing their home games at the Yale Bowl, the team finished the 1977 season in last place of the Atlantic Conference Northern Division with a record of seven wins and nineteen losses.[4] The Bicentennials drew their biggest crowd ever, with 17,302 fans in attendance, for their 1977 home opener against the New York Cosmos featuring Brazilian star Pelé, but averaged only 3,848 fans for the season.[9] Citing low gate revenues and the cost to adequately light the Yale Bowl for night games, Darling sold the team to Milan Mandarić who relocated the team to Oakland, California for the 1978 season, where they became known as the Oakland Stompers.[10]

Year-by-year

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Year League W L T Pts Regular season Playoffs Avg. attendance
1975 NASL indoor 1 1 — 2 2nd, Tournament Region 2 Did not qualify 2,682
1975 NASL 6 16 — 61 5th, Northern Division 3,720
1976 12 12 — 107 4th, Atlantic Conference, Northern Division 3,420
1977 7 19 — 72 5th, Atlantic Conference, Northern Division 3,902

References

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  1. ^ Holroyd, Steve. "History of Indoor Soccer in the USA". Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Robinson, Ken (March 16, 1976). "Hartford Bicentennials soccer club undergoes front-office clean-up". The Morning Record. p. 9. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  3. ^ Orr, Michael (2012). The 1975 Portland Timbers: The Birth of Soccer City, USA. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. ISBN 9781614233138.
  4. ^ a b c "North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "Rowdies Add A 'Yank'". The Evening Independent. November 25, 1975. p. 1C. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  6. ^ Blankenship, Ken (January 29, 1977). "Hammond's signing clouds Mausser's future". St. Petersburg Times. p. 6C. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "People in Sports". Eugene Register-Guard. May 11, 1976. p. 2B. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  8. ^ Mitchell, Charles (January 5, 1977). "Bicentennials Comes to Yale". The Hour. p. 29. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  9. ^ Robinson, Ken (May 9, 1977). "Bicentennials fall to Pele & Cosmos". The Morning Record and Journal. p. 12. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  10. ^ "Bicentennials leaving state for California". The Morning Record and Journal. September 16, 1977. p. 10. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
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