Houston Dynamos

Soccer club

Houston Dynamos

Full name

Houston Dynamos Soccer Team

Nickname(s)

The Dynamos

Founded

1983

Dissolved

1991

Stadium

Houston, Texas, United States.

League

United Soccer League.

Home colors

Away colors

Third colors

Houston Dynamos was a U.S. soccer team that existed in various forms from 1983 to 1991. In 1991, the team's owners changed the name to Houston International, but the team lasted only through the 1992 season before folding. The Dynamos were founded by Pete Kane and John M Gaughan. The Dynamos were founded with the intention of a continued building of the sport of soccer in Houston Texas. The Dynamos were the first team to give contracts to its players based on an entire year not on a season. The Houston Dynamos players year round went to parks, schools and events promoting the sport of soccer. In 1985 the Dynamos brought Pele to Houston creating great interest in the sport and spreading goodwill.

1984: United Soccer League

In 1983, the United Soccer League (USL) was formed after the second American Soccer League (ASL) folded that year. The ASL had served as the de facto U.S. second division for decades, but collapsed due to over expansion and financial insolvency. The USL intended to avoid this fate by creating a lean, financially responsible league. In 1984, the league began play with nine teams in three regional divisions. The Houston Dynamos joined the Oklahoma City Stampede and Dallas Americans in the Western Division. The Dynamos gained a significant boost when it signed José Neto. Houston finished third in the league, but second in its division. In the wild card game, the Dynamos defeated the Dallas Americans. In the semifinals, they defeated the Oklahoma City Stampede two games to none. Their run ended in the championship, when they lost 3–0 to the Fort Lauderdale Sun in the third, and deciding, game of the series.

1984 Roster

Manny Andruszewski
Mike Barbarick 24 Apps 0 Goals
Giulio Bernardi
Beto Dos Santos^[1]
Bob Bozada
Glenn Davis
Jim Elder
Soloman Hilton
Tony Johnson 22 Apps 11 Goals
Mark Lugris
William McDonald
Jose Neto 21 Apps 22 Goals (1984 league MVP)
Manny Neves
Ed Puskarich
Nathan Sacks
Walter Schlothauer
Joseph Serralta
Lesh Shkreli
Roland Sikinger
Gary Vogel

1985-1986: Independent

In 1985, the Dynamos chose not to return to the USL for the league's second season when it became apparent the league would not survive. Despite the league's attempt at financial austerity, it indeed folded eight games into the 1985 season. Having forsaken the USL, the Dynamos played an exhibition schedule as an independent team.^[2]

1987-1991: Lone Star Soccer Alliance

In 1987, the Dynamos entered a newly established league, the Lone Star Soccer Alliance.^[3]^[4]^[5] At the end of the 1990 season, the team ownership changed the team's name to Houston International for the franchise's final season.^[6]

Coaches

Gary Hindley (1984-1985) (1984 Coach of the Year)

Year-by-year

Year	League	Reg. Season	Playoffs	U.S. Open Cup
1984	USL	2nd, Western	Finals	Did not enter
1985	Independent	N/A		Did not qualify
1986	Independent	N/A		Did not qualify
1987	LSSA	2nd	Finals	Did not enter
1988	LSSA	2nd	Finals	Did not enter
1989	LSSA	3rd	Semifinals	Did not enter
1990	LSSA	4th, Southern	Did not qualify	Did not enter
1991	LSSA	3rd, Southern	Did not qualify	Did not enter

Honors

MVP

1984 José Neto

Coach of the Year

1984 Gary Hindley

Executive of the Year

1984 Peter Kane

Legacy

The MLS team the Houston Dynamo is named after the Dynamos.

References

^ 1984 roster listing
^ "www.sover.net". Archived from the original on 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
^ Lone Star Soccer Alliance
^ "Sports Briefs". Houston Chronicle. Houston, TX. June 13, 1987.
^ "sover.net 1987". Archived from the original on 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
^ Conway, Joe (January 30, 2006). "Can 1836 be a hit where other soccer teams have missed?". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 20, 2014.