New York Generals

New York Generals
Full name	New York Generals
Founded	1967
Dissolved	1968; 56 years ago
Stadium	Yankee Stadium
Capacity	67,000
Owner	RKO General; Peter Elser
Coach	Freddie Goodwin
League	NPSL (1967); NASL (1968)
Home colors	Away colors

The New York Generals were an American professional soccer team based in New York City that competed in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in 1967 and the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1968.

Founded as charter members of the NPSL, the team was owned by RKO General and Wall Street investor Peter Elser and played their home games at Yankee Stadium. Following the NPSL's merger with the United Soccer Association to form the NASL in 1968, the Generals became the sole professional soccer team in New York City. The Generals played on season in the NASL before folding after the 1968 season. The New York Cosmos, founded in 1970, would take the Generals place as New York City's professional soccer team and shared both the Generals' colors and home stadium.

History

From the founding of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), New York City was considered was considered a market of immense importance to the league. According to soccer historian David Wagner, New York City's "hugely influential media was likely to make or break the entire venture."^[1] The New York Generals were originally founded and owned by RKO General (which at the time also owned WOR-TV) and Wall Street investor Peter Elser.^[2] The team's gold and green color scheme was based on that of the Green Bay Packers, which had been one of the more successful gridiron football teams of that time. The contrasting colors were also chosen with consideration towards viewers of black and white television, which was still fairly common in the United States at this time (as one team director said, they were "good colors for television").^[3] The team's name was chosen as a direct reference to their owner, RKO General.^[4] Freddie Goodwin was selected as head coach for the team and quickly assembled a team that included players such as Barrie Wright and César Luis Menotti.^[1]^[5] Pre-season training for the team was held at a high school soccer field in Florida.^[3] As part of an agreement with the New York Yankees, the Generals played their home games at Yankee Stadium. The team's held their first home game on April 22, 1967, a 2–1 victory against the Chicago Spurs. The Generals finished their sole season in the NPSL with a win–loss–tie record of 11–13–8.^[2]

Following the 1967 season, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association (USA) to form the North American Soccer League (NASL). Following the merger, the New York Skyliners of the USA folded, making the New York Generals the sole major soccer team in New York City.^[6] While the two teams were initially planned to merge into one team, Peter Elser (who had become the Generals' sole owner following RKO General's withdrawal in January 1968) opted against this plan and continued to recruit partners and players for the Generals.^[2] Prior to the 1968 season, Gordon Bradley was hired as a player and assistant coach.^[7] Bradley had been brought to the attention of the Generals because of his experience as coach and player on the New York Ukrainians.^[8] Co Prins also joined the team following the folding of the Pittsburgh Phantoms, which he had been a member of the previous year.^[9] While the Generals improved to a 12–8–12 record, they again failed to qualify for postseason play. A highlight of the 1968 season occurred on July 12, when the Generals hosted Santos FC in an exhibition match at Yankee Stadium.^[2] The game, a 5–3 win for the Generals, is notable for featuring Pelé, who would later become a player in the NASL when he joined the New York Cosmos in 1975.^[2]^[10]

Following the 1968 season, the NASL experienced severe hardships as their television contract with CBS expired and multiple teams folded. Famous tennis star Eugene Scott, who had been a director of the Generals, was appointed temporary chairman of the NASL.^[11] However, the following year, Phil Woosnam was appointed NASL commissioner and announced plans for a truncated 1969 season that would feature teams from the United Kingdom playing as stand-ins for their American counterparts. Following this, Scott left and the Generals soon after folded.^[12] The Generals became defunct in February 1969. New York City would remain without an NASL franchise until the 1971 season, when the New York Cosmos began play.^[2] The Cosmos would share a gold and green color scheme with the Generals and played their home games at the Generals' former home venue, Yankee Stadium. Furthermore, former Generals player Gordon Bradley served as the Cosmos' first head coach.^[13]

Year-by-year

Year	League	W	L	T	Pts	Reg. Season	Playoffs
1967	NPSL	11	13	8	143	3rd, Eastern Division	did not qualify
1968	NASL	12	8	12	164	3rd, Atlantic Division	did not qualify

Coach

Freddie Goodwin

References

^ ^a ^b Seese 2015, p. 104.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Crossley, Andrew (May 6, 2013). "1967-1968 New York Generals". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Wangerin 2006, p. 131.
^ Wangerin 2006, p. 126.
^ Plenderleith 2015, p. 33.
^ Plenderleith 2015, p. 24.
^ Blevins 2012, p. 107.
^ Newsham 2007, p. 23.
^ Seese 2015, p. 103.
^ Lewis, Michael (June 2, 2015). "40 years on: how New York Cosmos lured Pelé to a football wasteland". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
^ Wangerin 2006, p. 142.
^ Wangerin 2006, p. 143.
^ Wangerin 2006, p. 152.

Bibliography

Blevins, David (2012). The Sports Hall of Fame Encyclopedia: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-8108-6130-5 – via Google Books.
Newsham, Gavin (December 1, 2007). Once in a Lifetime: The Incredible Story of the New York Cosmos. Grove Press. ISBN 978-1-55584-869-9 – via Google Books.
Plenderleith, Ian (September 22, 2015). Rock 'n' Roll Soccer: The Short Life and Fast Times of the North American Soccer League. Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN 978-1-4668-8400-7 – via Google Books.
Seese, Dennis J. (March 6, 2015). The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America: The Strange Days of the United Soccer Association. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-3895-4 – via Google Books.
Wangerin, Dave (2006). Soccer in a Football World. WSC Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-9540134-7-9 – via Google Books.

[FOOTNOTESeese2015104-1] Seese 2015, p. 104.

[:2-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Crossley, Andrew (May 6, 2013). "1967-1968 New York Generals". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved February 5, 2020.

[FOOTNOTEWangerin2006131-3] Wangerin 2006, p. 131.

[FOOTNOTEWangerin2006126-4] Wangerin 2006, p. 126.

[FOOTNOTEPlenderleith201533-5] Plenderleith 2015, p. 33.

[FOOTNOTEPlenderleith201524-6] Plenderleith 2015, p. 24.

[FOOTNOTEBlevins2012107-7] Blevins 2012, p. 107.

[FOOTNOTENewsham200723-8] Newsham 2007, p. 23.

[FOOTNOTESeese2015103-9] Seese 2015, p. 103.

[10] Lewis, Michael (June 2, 2015). "40 years on: how New York Cosmos lured Pelé to a football wasteland". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 7, 2020.

[FOOTNOTEWangerin2006142-11] Wangerin 2006, p. 142.

[FOOTNOTEWangerin2006143-12] Wangerin 2006, p. 143.

[FOOTNOTEWangerin2006152-13] Wangerin 2006, p. 152.

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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 Spurs‡ 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 Skyliners† Oakland Clippers Oakland Stompers Philadelphia Spartans‡ Philadelphia Atoms Philadelphia Fury Pittsburgh Phantoms ‡ Portland Timbers Rochester Lancers San Antonio Thunder San Diego Jaws San Diego Sockers San Diego Toros San Francisco Golden Gate Gales† San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders St. Louis Stars Tampa Bay Rowdies Team America Team Hawaii Toronto Blizzard Toronto City† Toronto Metros Toronto Metros-Croatia Tulsa Roughnecks Vancouver Royals Vancouver Whitecaps Washington Darts Washington Diplomats Washington Whips
† United Soccer Association team that did not join NASL upon merger with NPSL ‡ National Professional Soccer League team that did not join NASL upon merger with USA