United States Interregional Soccer League
(Redirected from USISL)
 Promotional poster for the 1994 season | |
| Organising body | USISL |
|---|---|
| First season | 1989 |
| Folded | 1994 |
| Replaced by | |
| Country | United States |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Number of clubs | 69 (1994) |
| Level on pyramid | Division 3 (1994) |
| Most championships |
|
The United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL) was a semi-professional men's outdoor soccer league that played six seasons from 1989 to 1994. It was the first outdoor league to be operated by its eponymous organization, now known as the United Soccer League. Commencing play in 1989, it received Division 3 status from U.S. Soccer for its final season in 1994. It was split into the USISL Professional League and the amateur USISL Premier League in 1995. The Colorado Comets and Greensboro Dynamo were the most successful clubs in the league, winning two championships each.
History
[edit]Ahead of the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States, U.S. Soccer began work with various leagues, including the Southwest Indoor Soccer League (SISL), to professionalize soccer in the country. The SISL embarked on their ambitions to run a three-tiered outdoor soccer league, and launched the Southwest Outdoor Soccer League in the 1988–89 season as part of the first step towards that goal.[1][2] The organization, and its two leagues, would be rebranded as the Southwest Independent Soccer League in the 1989–90 season, the Sunbelt Independent Soccer League in the 1990–91 season, and finally the United States Interregional Soccer League in the 1991–92 season.[3][4]
In its 1993–94 season, the league was granted Division 3 status by U.S. Soccer.[2] Following significant expansion over the preceding years to 69 teams by 1994, the USISL decided to split the league for the 1995 season into a Division 3 league populated with its professional clubs, the USISL Professional League, and a league outside of U.S. Soccer's canonical pyramid populated with its amateur clubs, the USISL Premier League.[1] The USISL, now the United Soccer League, recognizes the Premier League as the successor to the original outdoor league in its statistical records.[5]
Teams
[edit]- Amarillo Challengers (Indoor: 1986–1990, 1991–92)
- Ann Arbor Elite (1995)
- Arizona Cotton (1993–94, Indoor: 1991–93, as Phoenix Hearts in 1991–92)
- Arkansas A's (1990–1992, 1994, Indoor: 1989–1992, as Arkansas Diamonds in 1994)
- Georgia Steamers/Atlanta Lightning (Indoor: 1990–1992)
- Atlanta Magic (1993–94, Indoor: 1991–96, as Atlanta Lasers in 1993)
- Austin Lone Stars (1989–94, Indoor: 1987–91, as Austin Sockadillos in 1992–93)
- Baltimore Bays (1993–94, Indoor: 1992–98)
- Birmingham Grasshoppers (1993–94)
- Boca Raton Sabres (1992–94)
- Boston Storm (1994)
- Brandon Braves (Indoor: 1994–96)
- Cape Cod Crusaders (1994)
- Central California Valley Hydra (1994)
- Charlotte Eagles (1993–94)
- Charleston Battery (1993–94)
- Chattanooga Express (1992–94, Indoor: 1992–96, as Chattanooga Railroaders in 1992–93)
- Chico Rooks (1993–94)
- Cincinnati Cheetahs (1994)
- Cocoa Expos (1994, Indoor: 1993–94)
- Colorado Comets (1989–91, Indoor: 1989–92)
- Columbia Heat (1993–94, as Columbia Spirit in 1993)
- Connecticut Wolves (1993–94)
- Coral Springs Kicks (1993)
- Dallas Rockets (1992–94, Indoor: 1991–92, as North Texas Mid-Cities Flyers in 1991–92)
- Dallas/Fort Worth Toros (1989–94, Indoor: 1986–93, 95/96, various names)
- Dallas Lightning (1993–94, Indoor: 1993–94, 1995–96, as Tyler Lightning in 1993, as Texas Lightning in 1993–94)
- Delaware Wizards (1993–94)
- Des Moines Menace (1994)
- Detroit Wheels (1994–95)
- East Bay Red Riders (1992–93)
- East Los Angeles Cobras (1993–94)
- El Paso Patriots (1991–1994, Indoor: 1989–1991, as El Paso Sixshooters in 1989/90, as El Paso Spurs in 1990/91)
- Florida Stars (1994)
- Fort Lauderdale Kicks (1994)
- Greensboro Dynamo (1993–94, Indoor: 1993–94)
- Gwinnett County Steamers (1991–1992, Indoor: 1990/91)
- Hampton Roads Hurricane (1994)
- Hawaii Tsunami (1994)
- Houston Express (Indoor: 1988/89–89/90)
- Jacksonville Fury (1994–95)
- Jersey Dragons (1994)
- Kansas City All-Stars (Indoor: 1996–97)
- Knoxville Impact (Indoor: 1992–96)
- Las Vegas Quicksilver (1994)
- Lexington Bluegrass Bandits (1994)
- Lincoln Brigade (1997) (Indoor: 1996–97)
- Long Island Rough Riders (1994)
- Louisville Thoroughbreds (1994)
- Lubbock Lazers (1989–91, Indoor: 1986–93, as Lubbock Tornado in 1991–92)
- Memphis Jackals (1991–94, Indoor: 1990–92, as Memphis Survivors in 1991–92, as Memphis United Express in 1992)
- Mesquite Kickers (Indoor: 1994–97)
- Michigan Madness (1996)
- Milwaukee Rampage (1994)
- Minnesota Thunder (1994)
- Montclair Standard Falcons (1993–94)
- Myrtle Beach Boyz (1995)
- Nashville Metros (1991–94, Indoor: 1990–94)
- New Mexico Chiles (1989–1991, 1994, Indoor: 1986/87–90/91, as Albuquerque Outlaws in 1986/87, as Albuquerque Gunners in 1987/88–1990, as New Mexico Roadrunners in 1990/91)
- New Orleans Storm (1993–99; as New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers in 1993–97)
- New York Fever (1994)
- North Bay Breakers (1992–94)
- North Jersey Imperials (1994)
- Ohio Xoggz (1994–96, as Columbus Xoggz in 1994–95)
- Oklahoma City Slickers (1993–96, as Oklahoma City Heat in 1996)
- Oklahoma City Warriors (1989–93, Indoor: 1986–93)
- Oklahoma City Warriors (Indoor: 1996–98, as Oklahoma City Alliance in 1996–97)
- Omaha Flames (1996–97, Indoor: 1996–98)
- Orlando Lions (1992–94, Indoor: 1993–96)
- Permian Basin Mirage (1990, Indoor: 1989–92)
- Philadelphia Freedom (1994, Indoor: 1995–97, as Pennsylvania Freedom in 1994–96)
- Phoenix Hearts (Indoor: 1989/90–90/91; Outdoor: 1990–91)
- Raleigh Flyers (1993–95)
- Reading Rage (Indoor: 1995–96)
- Reno Rattlers (1994)
- Richardson Rockets (Indoor: 1989/90–90/91; Outdoor: 1990–91)
- Richmond Kickers (1993–94, Indoor: 1993–94)
- Rockford Raptors (1994)
- St. Louis Knights (1994)
- San Antonio Pumas (1989–1994, Indoor: 1988–93, as San Antonio Generals in 1991–93, as San Antonio Heat in 1988/89–1989))
- San Diego Top Guns (1994)
- San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles (1993–94)
- San Francisco United All Blacks (1992–94, as San Francisco All Blacks in 1992)
- San Francisco Bay Diablos (1993–94)
- San Jose Hawks (1993)
- Santa Cruz Surf (1993–94)
- Shasta Scorchers (1994)
- Silicon Valley Firebirds (1992–94, as Palo Alto Firebirds in 1992)
- Sioux City Breeze (1994)
- South Florida Flamingos (1994)
- Texas Arsenal (Indoor: 1992–94, as Texas Stampede in 1992–93)
- Toledo Twisters (Indoor: 1993–94)
- Tucson Amigos (1990–94, Indoor: 1989–93)
- Tulsa Renegades (1989–91, Indoor: 1989–92)
- Tulsa Roughnecks (1993–99, Indoor: 1993–98, as Green County Roughnecks in 1999)
- Virginia Kickers/Richmond Kickers (1997–98)
- Waco Kickers (1990, Indoor: 1989/90, merged into North Texas United after 1990 season)
- Washington Mustangs (1994)
- Wichita Blue (1995–96, 1999, as Wichita Blue Angels in 1994)
- Wichita Tornado (Indoor: 1988/89)
Seasons
[edit]| Yr. | T | MP | Champion | Runners-up | Top goalscorer | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 8 | 12 | Colorado Comets | Addison Arrows |  Don Gallegos (13) |
[6] |
| 1990 | 14 | 14 | Colorado Comets | Richardson Rockets | Marcelo Draguicevich Derek Sholeen (12) Chris Veselka (12) |
[7] |
| 1991 | 17 | 16 | Richardson Rockets | New Mexico Chiles |  Vladi Stanojevic (15) |
[8] |
| 1992 | 21 | 14 | Palo Alto Firebirds | Tucson Amigos | Efren Rodarte (14) |
[9] |
| 1993 | 38 | 16 | Greensboro Dynamo | Orlando Lions |  Sheldon Lee (19) |
[10] |
| 1994 | 69 | 18 | Greensboro Dynamo | Minnesota Thunder | Richard Sharpe (33) |
[11] |
See also
[edit]
- American Soccer League (1988–1989)
- American Professional Soccer League (1990–1996)
- Lone Star Soccer Alliance (1987–1992)
- Western Soccer Alliance (1985–1989)
References
[edit]- ^ a b "A Comprehensive History of the USL". SOC Takes. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ a b "U.S. Soccer Timeline". U.S. Soccer. 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Litterer, David A. (1 May 2025). "United Soccer Leagues Statistical History, Part 1 (1986-1994)". Society for American Soccer History. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Litterer, David A. (1 May 2025). "A History of USA Indoor Soccer". Society for American Soccer History. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "2013 USL Media Guide" (PDF). United Soccer League. 2013. pp. 149–150, 167–168. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Litterer, David A. "The Year in American Soccer - 1989". Society for American Soccer History. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Litterer, David A. "The Year in American Soccer - 1990". Society for American Soccer History. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Litterer, David A. "The Year in American Soccer - 1991". Society for American Soccer History. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Litterer, David A. "The Year in American Soccer - 1992". Society for American Soccer History. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Litterer, David A. "The Year in American Soccer - 1993". Society for American Soccer History. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Litterer, David A. "The Year in American Soccer - 1994". Society for American Soccer History. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
External links
[edit]- American Soccer History Archives at the Society for American Soccer History
- American Soccer History Archives at Soccer History USA
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