The California Surf were a soccer club based in Anaheim, California

Anaheim, California

Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...

 who played in the North American Soccer League

North American Soccer League

North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...

 from 1978 to 1981. Their home field was Anaheim Stadium

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Angel Stadium of Anaheim is a modern-style ballpark located in Anaheim, California. It is the home ballpark to Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League, and was previously home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams...

.

They originally were the St. Louis Stars

St. Louis Stars (soccer)

The St. Louis Stars were a soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri that played in the original NASL from 1967 to 1977.-History:The St. Louis Stars, founded in 1967 as a team in the NPSL were the first ever professional soccer team in St. Louis. The team was headed by Bob Hermann who later went on...

. The Surf had a strong British influence under the direction of coach John Sewell

John Sewell (footballer)

John David Sewell was a professional footballer who had a long career in the English Football League, before continuing as player and coach in the North American Soccer League during the 1970s...

 including future Arsenal

Arsenal F.C.

Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...

 manager, George Graham

George Graham (footballer)

George Graham is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his success at Arsenal, as a player in the 1970s and then as manager from 1986 until 1995.-Early life:...

.

Managers

John Sewell

John Sewell (footballer)

John David Sewell was a professional footballer who had a long career in the English Football League, before continuing as player and coach in the North American Soccer League during the 1970s...

 (1978–1981) Peter Wall

Peter Wall (footballer)

Peter Wall is an English retired professional footballer who played in England and the United States as a full back. He later enjoyed a coaching career in the United States.-Playing career:...

 1981 Laurie Calloway

Laurie Calloway

Laurence John "Laurie" Calloway is a retired English-U.S. soccer defender who spent thirteen years in the English leagues and six years in the North American Soccer League....

 1981

Famous players

Carlos Alberto Torres

Carlos Alberto Torres

Carlos Alberto Torres is a former Brazilian footballer, one of the most highly regarded defenders of all time. He captained Brazil to victory in the 1970 World Cup and is a member of the World Team of the 20th Century, as well as the U.S...

 (1981) Laurie Abrahams

Laurie Abrahams

Lawrence Adam Michael "Laurie" Abrahams is a retired English professional footballer who played as a striker in England, the United States, and Australia...

 (1980–81) Les Barrett

Les Barrett

Les Barrett is an English former professional footballer, making the third-all-time record appearances for Fulham of 487 starts and 4 substitutions....

 (1979–81) Chris Dangerfield

Chris Dangerfield

Christopher George "Chris" Dangerfield is a retired English footballer. He began his career in England before playing ten seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least one in the Western Soccer Alliance....

 (1978) Ray Evans

Ray Evans (footballer)

Ray Evans is a retired English footballer who played in the position of full back in England and the United States.-Career:...

 (1978) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#E Jimmy Hinch

Jimmy Hinch

James “Jim” or “Jimmy” Hinch was an English Association football forward who spent most of his career in the lower English divisions...

 (1978) Mark Lindsay

Mark Lindsay (footballer)

Mark Lindsay is a retired English footballer who spent nine seasons in the North American Soccer League, three in the Major Indoor Soccer League and one in the American Indoor Soccer Association....

 (1978–81) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#L Andy McBride

Andy McBride

Andy McBride is a Kenyan-born English retired professional footballer who played in England and the United States as a central defender.-Career:...

 (1978–80) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#M Steve Seargeant

Steve Seargeant

Steve Seargeant is an English retired professional footballer who played in England and the United States as a left back.-Career:Born in Liverpool, Seargeant began his career with the youth teams of Everton...

 (1981) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/everton/everton.htm Rich D'Sa (1980–81) Paul Cahill (1979–81) Charlie Cooke

Charlie Cooke (footballer)

Charles 'Charlie' Cooke is a former Scottish footballer. He was a talented and skilful winger who played for Aberdeen, Dundee, Chelsea and Crystal Palace before ending his career in the United States....

 (1981) George Graham

George Graham (footballer)

George Graham is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his success at Arsenal, as a player in the 1970s and then as manager from 1986 until 1995.-Early life:...

 Kai Steffen

Kai Steffen

Kai Steffen is a former German professional football player.Steffen played in youth team of Hamburger SV. In 1979 he went to California Surf and played for two years in the NASL. 1981 he returned to Germany and in 1984 he got a contract for the professional team of Hamburger SV. But after three...

 (1979–81)

Year-by-year

Year	League	W	L	Pts	Regular Season	Playoffs	Avg, Attendance
1978	NASL	13	17	115	2nd, American Conference, Western Division	Lost 1st Round (San Diego)	11,171
1979	NASL	15	15	140	1st(t), American Conference, Western Division	Lost 1st Round (San Diego)	10,330
1979/80	NASL Indoor	4	8	—	4th, Western Division	Did not qualify
1980	NASL	15	17	144	2nd, American Conference, Western Division	Lost 1st Round (Fort Lauderdale Strikers)	7,593
1980/81	NASL Indoor	10	8	—	1st, Southern Division	Lost 1st Round (Vancouver Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL) The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home... )
1981	NASL	11	21	117	3rd, Western Division	Did not qualify	8,299