Minnesota Strikers

The Minnesota Strikers were an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season (1984) in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons (1984 to 1988) in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Minnesota Strikers
Full nameMinnesota Strikers
Nickname(s)Strikers
Founded1984
(Previously Fort Lauderdale Strikers)
Dissolved1988
(rebranded to Fort Lauderdale Strikers)
GroundHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Met Center
Capacity62,000
15,000
CoachDavid Chadwick 1984 NASL
Alan Merrick1984–88 MISL
LeagueNorth American Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League

The Minnesota Strikers' history begins on November 30, 1983, when the Fort Lauderdale Strikers announced they were relocating to Minnesota (three seasons after the Minnesota Kicks folded) for the 1984 NASL season.[1] The team played that year in the North American Soccer League at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, but the league collapsed at the end of the season. The team survived, however, moving indoors and joining the Major Indoor Soccer League.[2] The team played four seasons in the MISL, folding after the 1987–88 season. The team played at Met Center during the MISL years.

Year-by-year
Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs Open Cup Avg. Attend.
1984 1 NASL 3rd, Western Did not qualify Did not enter 14,262
1984–85 N/A MISL 4th, Eastern Semifinals N/A 4,809
1985–86 N/A MISL 2nd, Eastern Runners-up N/A 6,503
1986–87 N/A MISL 4th, Eastern Division Semifinals N/A 6,977
1987–88 N/A MISL 1st, Eastern Division Finals N/A 5,930

International Friendlies
Date Visitor Score Host Venue Location Attendance
May 23, 1984 AFC Ajax 4–2 Minnesota Strikers Metrodome Minneapolis, Minnesota 6,079[3]
June 13, 1984 Glasgow Rangers 2–5 Minnesota Strikers Metrodome Minneapolis, Minnesota 6,866[4]

Honors

1984 (NASL)

Ricardo Alonso , John Bain , Bob Bolitho , Ben Collins , Bill Crook , Peter Daniel , Gary Etherington , Ken Fogarty , Jan Goossens , Ray Hudson , Godfrey Ingram , Mike Jeffries , Brian Kidd , Tino Lettieri , Terry Leiendecker , Dwight Lodeweges , John McGrane , Robert Meschbach , Bruce Miller , Paul Price , Thomas Rongen , Craig Scarpelli , Carl Strong , Barry Wallace , Alan Willey

1984–85 (MISL)

Ricardo Alonso , John Bain , Ben Collins , Bill Crook , Chris Dangerfield , Drago Dumbović , Gary Etherington , Ken Fogarty , Jan Goossens , Ray Hudson , Mike Jeffries , Matt Kennedy , Tino Lettieri , Steve Litt , Dwight Lodeweges , John McGrane , Bruce Miller , Thomas Rongen , Craig Scarpelli , Gregg Thompson , Thompson Usiyan , Barry Wallace , Alan Willey

1985–86 (MISL)

Tony Bono , David Byrne , Dan Canter , Stan Cummins , Chris Dangerfield , Drago Dumbović , Gary Etherington , Ken Fogarty , Jan Goossens , Ray Hudson , Bill Irwin , Mike Jeffries , Matt Kennedy , Tasso Koutsoukos , Tino Lettieri , Dwight Lodeweges , Bruce Miller , Kazbek Tambi , Gregg Thompson , Thompson Usiyan , Alan Willey

1986–87 (MISL)

Tony Bono , David Byrne , Dan Canter , Stan Cummins , Chris Dangerfield , Enzo Di Pede , Helmut Dudek , Gary Etherington , Ken Fogarty , Ray Hudson , Greg Ion , Mike Jeffries , Matt Kennedy , Steve Kinsey , Tasso Koutsoukos , Tino Lettieri , Dwight Lodeweges , Hector Marinaro , John O'Hara , Gregg Thompson , Thompson Usiyan , Alan Willey ; Elizabeth Robbie, President; Chris Wright, General Manager, Tim Robbie, Executive Vice President; Alan Merrick, Head Coach; Bruce Miller, Assistant Coach.

1987-88 (MISL)

Jerry Adzic , Tony Bono , Alex Bunbury , David Byrne , Stan Cummins , Chris Dangerfield , Gary Etherington , George Gelnovatch , Tom Gleason , Tim Harris , Ray Hudson , Steve Kinsey , Tino Lettieri , Dwight Lodeweges , Hector Marinaro , John O'Hara , Neill Roberts , Troy Snyder , Mike Sweeney , Gregg Thompson , Alan Willey ; Elizabeth Robbie, President; Chris Wright, General Manager, Tim Robbie, Executive Vice President; Alan Merrick, Head Coach; Bruce Miller, Assistant Coach.

NASL coach

Coach (MISL)

Strikers NASL Draft

1984

Round Player School
1 Greg Kennedy Indiana
2 Ronil Dufrene Florida International
3 David McDaniel Duke

Strikers MISL Drafts

1985

Round Player School
1 Paul DiBernardo Indiana University
2 Peter Sawkins Yale University
3 Tony Bono Drexel University
4 Bruce Bellinger Southern Illinois-Edwardsville

1986

Round Player School
2 Peter Smith University of Tampa
3 Paul Schojan Rochester Institute of Technology
4 Andy Pantason University of Connecticut
4 Tony Scheuerman Stillwater High School

1987

Round Player School
1 Brent Goulet Warner Pacific University
3 George Gelnovatch University of Virginia
4 Troy Snyder Penn State University

Media

Radio
  • 1984 (NASL) KRSI-950 AM
  • 1984–85 (MISL) WWTC-1280 AM
  • 1987–88 (MISL) KSNE-1280 AM

Television
  • 1984 (NASL) KITN 29

See also

References
  1. Newman, Mark (December 1, 1983). "Striker era softly ends". Miami Herald. p. 1D. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  2. "Striker to play indoors in MISL". St. Could Times. August 31, 1984. p. 1D. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  3. McKenna, Charley (May 24, 1984). "Strikers get scrubbing by Ajax visitors". Minneapolis Star and Tribune. p. 2D. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  4. Killeen, Mike (June 14, 1984). "Triumphant Strikers defend NASL". St. Cloud Times. p. 2D. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  5. "Hall of Famers". indoorsoccerhall.com. September 1, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
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