Boston Bolts
Encyclopedia
The Boston Bolts were a short lived U.S. soccer team which came into existence in 1988 as a member of the third American Soccer League
(ASL). They played in Boston, Massachusetts at Nickerson Field
. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League
in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League
.
on the All-Star team.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1988/1988asl.htm
to form the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). The APSL was not a true league in that teams played other teams only in their conference. The East Conference was essentially the ASL and the West was the WSL. The first times teams from the two old leagues met in a competitive match was the championship game. The Bolts regressed to their first year performances, finishing fourth in the North Division with a 9-11 record. The club folded at the end of the season.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1990/resultsasl90.htm
Dan Donigan
Jeff Duback
Mike Sweeney
Waidi Akanni
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
(ASL). They played in Boston, Massachusetts at Nickerson Field
Nickerson Field
Nickerson Field is a stadium on the site of Braves Field, in Boston, Massachusetts, the former home of the National League Boston Braves baseball team which is now located in Atlanta...
. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
.
1988
Both the Bolts and the American Soccer League entered their first year of existence in 1988. Most observers expected the Bolts to compete for their divisional title, but they finished fourth with a 9-11 record and well out of playoff contention. Despite this disappointment, the team did place Ross IrwinRoss Irwin (soccer)
Ross Irwin is a former professional soccer player from Glasgow, Scotland. His former teams include Fareham Town F.C. , FC Stade Nyonnais , Bahama Royals and the Boston Bolts and Albany Capitals of the American Soccer League...
on the All-Star team.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1988/1988asl.htm
1989
The Bolts rebounded from their failed first year campaign to take second place in the Northern Division with a 13-7 record. They defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the semifinals before falling to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the title series. Even with their greater team success, the Bolts still only put one player, Dehinde Akinlotan, on the All Star list.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1989/1989asl.htm1990
At the end of the 1989 season, the ASL merged with the west coast Western Soccer LeagueWestern Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
to form the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
(APSL). The APSL was not a true league in that teams played other teams only in their conference. The East Conference was essentially the ASL and the West was the WSL. The first times teams from the two old leagues met in a competitive match was the championship game. The Bolts regressed to their first year performances, finishing fourth in the North Division with a 9-11 record. The club folded at the end of the season.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1990/resultsasl90.htm
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | N/A | ASL | 4th, Northern | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1989 | N/A | ASL | 2nd, Northern | Final | Did not enter |
| 1990 | N/A | APSL | 4th, ASL North | ”Did not qualify” | Did not enter |
Notable players
Brian BlissBrian Bliss
Brian Boyer Bliss is a retired American soccer defender and former coach of the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. He played professionally in Europe and the United States including the original Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and...
Dan Donigan
Dan Donigan
Dan Donigan is a retired United States soccer forward who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League...
Jeff Duback
Jeff Duback
Jeff Duback is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper who played in the Western Soccer Alliance, American Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League. He also earned four caps with the United States men's national soccer team.-Youth:...
Mike Sweeney
Mike Sweeney (soccer)
Michael "Mike" Sweeney is a former Canadian soccer player.-NASL:In 1980, the Edmonton Drillers of the North American Soccer League signed Sweeney. He spent three seasons with the Drillers before moving to the Vancouver Whitecaps for the 1983 season...
Waidi Akanni
Waidi Akanni
Waidi Akanni, also known as Waheed Akanni, is a former Nigerian football defender and former head of the Lagos State Football Association.-Career:...