Dallas Tornado
Encyclopedia
Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas
that played in the NASL
. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl
(1967–1968), P.C. Cobb Stadium
(1969), Franklin Field (1970–1971), Texas Stadium
(1972–1975, 1980–1981) and Ownby Stadium
on the SMU
campus (1976–1979). The club played Indoor soccer at Reunion Arena (1980–81).
The franchise was one of the original clubs that played in the United Soccer Association
, one of the two precursors to the NASL, in 1967. In fact, the USA was made up of international clubs playing in U.S. cities as American teams. The team that played as the Dallas Tornado were Dundee United
of the Scottish Football League
. The following season when the USA merged with the NPSL, owners Lamar Hunt
and Bill McNutt
had to build a new team from scratch. They hired Bob Kap, a Serbian born soccer coach who had escaped with his family during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
. Kap had studied with Pushkash at the Soccor Academy in Hungary. Kap was recruited from Toronto, Canada, where he had relocated after the 1956 Revolution.
During the first 6 months as coach, Kap traveled throughout Europe to form the new Dallas Tornado. Hiring young players from England to Turkey, the fledgling Dallas Tornado learned to play as a team on the world tour. Their world tour took them from England to India, from Indonesia to Vietnam during the height of the war. The tour gave the new Dallas Tornado Team an international face at a time when American soccer was relatively unknown. The gallant effort resulted in a 2-26-4 record.
Following the 1968 NASL season, the league was in trouble with ten franchises having folded. The 1969 season was split into two halves. The first half was called the International Cup, a double round robin tournament in which the remaining NASL clubs were represented by teams imported from the United Kingdom
. The Tornado was represented again by Dundee United
. The Tornado came in tied for third in the Cup with a 2-4-2 record. For the second half of the 1969 season, the teams returned to their normal rosters and played a 16 game schedule with no playoffs.
Fortunes improved for the club as they won the NASL championship in 1971, defeating the Atlanta Chiefs 2-0 in the final game of a three game series, Mike renshaw scoring the winning goal. Several division titles followed in the years after that league title. Two players, Kyle Rote, Jr.
(son of former New York Giants
wide receiver Kyle Rote
) and Steve Pecher
, won the league Rookie of the Year award in 1973 and 1976, respectively. As was the case with most NASL clubs, a drop in attendance contributed to the demise of the club in 1981. Of the twelve teams that comprised the USA in 1967, the Tornado franchise played the longest—15 seasons.
Lamar Hunt
did not give up on soccer in America, however, and was one of the founding owners in Major League Soccer
.
Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper, Alex Stepney
played for Dallas.
Division Titles
Rookie of the Year
All-Star First Team Selections
All-Star Second Team Selections
All-Star Honorable Mentions
(1970-71) Jeff Bourne
(1978-79) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#B Cliff Calvert
(1981) Len Cantello
(1981) Dave Chadwick
(1974-75) Alan Hinton
(1977) Brian Kettle
(1978) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/briankettle.htm Kevin Kewley
(1976-79) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/liverpool/liverpool.htm Wolfgang Rausch
(1979-81) Alex Stepney
(1979-80) Klaus Toppmöller
(1980-81) Gert Trinklein
(1979-80) http://www.eintracht-archiv.de/trinklein.html Bill Irwin
(1981) Tim Huff (1981) Bobby Hope
(1976-78) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#H Angel Pichardo Jimmy Ryan (footballer born 1945) (1976-79) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/jimmyryan.htm Jim Benedek
(1970-1973) Kyle Rote Jr. (1972-1978)
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
that played in the NASL
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:...
. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl
Cotton Bowl (stadium)
The Cotton Bowl is a stadium which opened in 1929 and became known as "The House That Doak Built" due to the immense crowds that former SMU running back Doak Walker drew to the stadium during his college career in the late 1940s. Originally known as Fair Park Stadium, it is located in Fair Park,...
(1967–1968), P.C. Cobb Stadium
P.C. Cobb Stadium
P.C. Cobb Stadium was an outdoor athletic stadium near downtown Dallas, Texas. The 22,000 seat stadium was built of reinforced concrete under the Works Progress Administration program in 1939 and was used for high school sporting events of the Dallas Independent School District...
(1969), Franklin Field (1970–1971), Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
(1972–1975, 1980–1981) and Ownby Stadium
Ownby Stadium
Ownby Stadium was a stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. It was the home of the Southern Methodist University Mustang football team.Named for Jordon Ownby, the stadium was built at the south end of the campus...
on the SMU
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
campus (1976–1979). The club played Indoor soccer at Reunion Arena (1980–81).
The franchise was one of the original clubs that played in the United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
, one of the two precursors to the NASL, in 1967. In fact, the USA was made up of international clubs playing in U.S. cities as American teams. The team that played as the Dallas Tornado were Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
of the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
. The following season when the USA merged with the NPSL, owners Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
and Bill McNutt
Bill McNutt
Lee William McNutt II born in Corsicana, Texas; , used direct marketing and mail order to transform his family's Collin Street Bakery into a worldwide supplier of fruitcakes. Although he did not invent the fruitcake, Bill McNutt’s claim to culinary fame is having made the cake ubiquitous...
had to build a new team from scratch. They hired Bob Kap, a Serbian born soccer coach who had escaped with his family during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
. Kap had studied with Pushkash at the Soccor Academy in Hungary. Kap was recruited from Toronto, Canada, where he had relocated after the 1956 Revolution.
During the first 6 months as coach, Kap traveled throughout Europe to form the new Dallas Tornado. Hiring young players from England to Turkey, the fledgling Dallas Tornado learned to play as a team on the world tour. Their world tour took them from England to India, from Indonesia to Vietnam during the height of the war. The tour gave the new Dallas Tornado Team an international face at a time when American soccer was relatively unknown. The gallant effort resulted in a 2-26-4 record.
Following the 1968 NASL season, the league was in trouble with ten franchises having folded. The 1969 season was split into two halves. The first half was called the International Cup, a double round robin tournament in which the remaining NASL clubs were represented by teams imported from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Tornado was represented again by Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
. The Tornado came in tied for third in the Cup with a 2-4-2 record. For the second half of the 1969 season, the teams returned to their normal rosters and played a 16 game schedule with no playoffs.
Fortunes improved for the club as they won the NASL championship in 1971, defeating the Atlanta Chiefs 2-0 in the final game of a three game series, Mike renshaw scoring the winning goal. Several division titles followed in the years after that league title. Two players, Kyle Rote, Jr.
Kyle Rote, Jr.
Kyle Rote, Jr. is a retired American soccer forward who played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned five caps with the United States men's national soccer team between 1973 and 1975. He led the NASL in scoring in 1973. He later coached the Memphis Americans of the Major...
(son of former New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
wide receiver Kyle Rote
Kyle Rote
William Kyle Rote, Sr. was an American football player and sports announcer.-Early life:Rote attended Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was an all-state basketball and football player....
) and Steve Pecher
Steve Pecher
Steve Pecher is a retired U.S. soccer defender who is currently the Director of the St. Louis/Busch Soccer Club.-Youth and college:...
, won the league Rookie of the Year award in 1973 and 1976, respectively. As was the case with most NASL clubs, a drop in attendance contributed to the demise of the club in 1981. Of the twelve teams that comprised the USA in 1967, the Tornado franchise played the longest—15 seasons.
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
did not give up on soccer in America, however, and was one of the founding owners in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper, Alex Stepney
Alex Stepney
Alexander Cyril "Alex" Stepney is a former English football player who was Manchester United's goalkeeper when they became the first English club to win the European Cup.-London beginnings:...
played for Dallas.
Year-by-year
| Year | Record | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 3-3-6 | 6th, Western Division, USA | Did Not Qualify |
| 1968 | 2-4-26 | 4th, Gulf Division | Did Not Qualify |
| 1969 | 2-4-2 | 3rd | no postseason |
| 1970 | 8-4-12 | 3rd, Southern Division | Did Not Qualify |
| 1971 | 10-8-6 | 2nd, Southern Division | NASL Champions |
| 1972 | 6-3-5 | 2nd, Southern Division | Semifinals |
| 1973 | 11-4-4 | 1st, Southern Division | Runners-up |
| 1974 | 9-3-8 | 1st, Central Division | Semifinals |
| 1975 | 9-13 | 4th, Central Division | Did Not Qualify |
| 1976 | 13-11 | 2nd, Southern Division, Pacific Conference | Division Championships |
| 1977 | 18-8 | 1st, Southern Division, Pacific Conference | Conference Championships |
| 1978 | 14-16 | 3rd, Central Division, National Conference | Did Not Qualify |
| 1979 | 17-13 | 2nd, Central Division, National Conference | National Conference Quarterfinals |
| 1980 | 18-14 | 1st, Central Division, National Conference | National Conference Semifinals |
| 1981 | 5-27 | 4th, Central Division | Did Not Qualify |
Indoor Season
| Year | Record | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980–81 | 5 – 27 | 3rd, Southern Division | Did Not Qualify |
Honors
NASL Championships- 1971
Division Titles
- 1973 Southern Division
- 1974 Central Division
- 1977 Southern Division, Pacific Conference
- 1980 Central Division, National Conference
Rookie of the Year
- 1973 Kyle Rote, Jr.Kyle Rote, Jr.Kyle Rote, Jr. is a retired American soccer forward who played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned five caps with the United States men's national soccer team between 1973 and 1975. He led the NASL in scoring in 1973. He later coached the Memphis Americans of the Major...
- 1976 Steve PecherSteve PecherSteve Pecher is a retired U.S. soccer defender who is currently the Director of the St. Louis/Busch Soccer Club.-Youth and college:...
All-Star First Team Selections
- 1969 Kirk Apostolidis, John BestJohn Best (soccer)John Best is a former U.S.-English soccer defender. He spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League where he was a five time first team All Star. He later coached the NASL Seattle Sounders and served as the general manager of the Sounders and the Vancouver Whitecaps. He also earned one...
, Ilija MiticIlija MiticIlija Mitic is a former Serbian American professional soccer player. He was a star of the North American Soccer League, its 7th all-time leading scorer with 239 points in 166 games, including 101 goals.... - 1970 John Best
- 1971 John Best, Dick HallDick Hall (soccer)Richard “Dick” Hall is a retired English-American Association football defender. He played seven seasons with the Dallas Tornado in the North American Soccer League. He also earned four caps with the U.S. national team between 1973 and 1975. He currently coaches high school boys soccer in...
, Mirko StojanovicMirko StojanovicMirko Stojanović is a former Croatian footballer.-External links:* *... - 1972 John Best, Ken Cooper
- 1973 John Best, Ken Cooper, Ilija Mitic
- 1974 Dick Hall, Albert Jackson, Ilija Mitic
All-Star Second Team Selections
- 1967 (USA) Doug Smith
- 1970 Kirk Apostolidis, Mike RenshawMike RenshawMichael "Mike" Renshaw is a U.S.-English former football left winger. He began as a youth player with Blackpool F.C. before moving to the United States to join the Dallas Tornado of the North American Soccer League in 1968. He also spent time with Margate F.C. and Rhyl F.C. He earned two caps...
, Roy Turner - 1972 Dick Hall
- 1973 Dick Hall, Rick Reynolds
- 1975 Ken Cooper
- 1976 Jeff BourneJeff BourneJeff Bourne was an English football striker who spent most of his early career in the lower English divisions before moving to the United States where he played six seasons in the North American Soccer League, two in the second division American Soccer League...
, Bob Hope, George LeyGeorge LeyOliver Albert George Ley is an English former association football player who played professionally in both England and the United States.... - 1977 George LeyGeorge LeyOliver Albert George Ley is an English former association football player who played professionally in both England and the United States....
, Steve PecherSteve PecherSteve Pecher is a retired U.S. soccer defender who is currently the Director of the St. Louis/Busch Soccer Club.-Youth and college:...
All-Star Honorable Mentions
- 1971 Momcilio Gavric, OrecoOrecoValdemar Rodrigues Martíns, best known as Oreco, was an association footballer who was on the winning team of the 1958 FIFA World Cup.-Clubs:...
- 1972 Mike RenshawMike RenshawMichael "Mike" Renshaw is a U.S.-English former football left winger. He began as a youth player with Blackpool F.C. before moving to the United States to join the Dallas Tornado of the North American Soccer League in 1968. He also spent time with Margate F.C. and Rhyl F.C. He earned two caps...
- 1973 John Collins, Nick Jennings, Kyle Rote, Jr.Kyle Rote, Jr.Kyle Rote, Jr. is a retired American soccer forward who played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned five caps with the United States men's national soccer team between 1973 and 1975. He led the NASL in scoring in 1973. He later coached the Memphis Americans of the Major...
, Roy Turner
Players
OrecoOreco
Valdemar Rodrigues Martíns, best known as Oreco, was an association footballer who was on the winning team of the 1958 FIFA World Cup.-Clubs:...
(1970-71) Jeff Bourne
Jeff Bourne
Jeff Bourne was an English football striker who spent most of his early career in the lower English divisions before moving to the United States where he played six seasons in the North American Soccer League, two in the second division American Soccer League...
(1978-79) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#B Cliff Calvert
Cliff Calvert
Clifford Alistair "Cliff" Calvert is an English former footballer.-Career:Calvert joined York City as an amateur in the early 1970s and full-time professional terms in July 1972. He was capped by the England Youth team in 1972. He made his debut against Plymouth Argyle in March 1973 in the 1972–73...
(1981) Len Cantello
Len Cantello
Len Cantello is a former football midfielder.He started his career with West Bromwich Albion, playing 11 years for them, despite being transfer-listed in 1974. In 1979 he moved to Bolton Wanderers, spending three years with them, before moving two divisions down to Hereford United...
(1981) Dave Chadwick
David Chadwick (footballer)
David Edwin Chadwick is an English retired professional footballer/soccer player, who played as a wing-forward, before a career coaching in the United States. He was born in Ootacamund, India.-Playing career:...
(1974-75) Alan Hinton
Alan Hinton
Alan Thomas Hinton is an English former footballer who most notably played for Derby County and Nottingham Forest in the 1960s...
(1977) Brian Kettle
Brian Kettle
Brian Kettle is an English former footballer who played as a left-back.Kettle began his career with Liverpool, signing professional forms in 1973. He was to remain at Anfield for seven years, but could never rise above reserve level...
(1978) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/briankettle.htm Kevin Kewley
Kevin Kewley
Kevin Kewley is a retired professional footballer who played in both England and the United States.-Playing career:...
(1976-79) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/liverpool/liverpool.htm Wolfgang Rausch
Wolfgang Rausch
Wolfgang Rausch is a retired German footballer who made a total of 257 appearances in the Fußball-Bundesliga during his playing career....
(1979-81) Alex Stepney
Alex Stepney
Alexander Cyril "Alex" Stepney is a former English football player who was Manchester United's goalkeeper when they became the first English club to win the European Cup.-London beginnings:...
(1979-80) Klaus Toppmöller
Klaus Toppmöller
Klaus Toppmöller is a former football player and the coach of Georgia national football team from 2006 to April 1, 2008.He earned 3 caps and scored 1 goal during his international career for Germany.-Coaching career:...
(1980-81) Gert Trinklein
Gert Trinklein
Gert Trinklein is a former German football player.Between 1969 and 1978 Trinklein appeared in 230 matches for Eintracht Frankfurt. In 1979 he moved to the USA, becoming the third German soccer pro besides Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller. Since 1985 he is an independent tradesman and merchandise...
(1979-80) http://www.eintracht-archiv.de/trinklein.html Bill Irwin
Bill Irwin (footballer)
William "Bill" Irwin is a Northern Irish former professional footballer, currently working as director of soccer at the University of Portland and head coach of the United States women's under-23 side.-Personal life:...
(1981) Tim Huff (1981) Bobby Hope
Bobby Hope
Robert "Bobby" Hope is a Scottish former footballer who made more than 400 appearances as a midfielder in the Football League. He played more than 300 league games for West Bromwich Albion where he spent most of his club career. He won two caps for Scotland.Hope played for West Brom between 1959...
(1976-78) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#H Angel Pichardo Jimmy Ryan (footballer born 1945) (1976-79) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/jimmyryan.htm Jim Benedek
Jim Benedek
Janos “Jim” Benedek was a Hungarian-American soccer forward who later coached at both the collegiate and national team levels. Benedek was an All American collegiate soccer player before spending six seasons in the North American Soccer League. He earned four caps with the U.S. national team in...
(1970-1973) Kyle Rote Jr. (1972-1978)
Head coaches
- Jerry KerrJerry KerrJasper Jerald 'Jerry' Kerr was a Scottish football player and manager, best known as manager of Dundee United from 1959 to 1971...
1967 - Bob Kap 1968 http://www.nasljerseys.com/Misc/Tornado%2067-68%20World%20Tour2.htm
- Keith SpurgeonKeith SpurgeonKeith Spurgeon was an English football manager who was manager of Ajax from 1961 to 1962.-Club career:Spurgeon spent most of his career at regional outfits such as Margate, Folkestone and Herne Bay.-Managerial career:...
1968 - Ron NewmanRon Newman (footballer)Ronald Vernon Newman is a former association football player and coach. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame....
1969 - 1975 - Al MillerAl Miller (soccer)Al Miller is a former U.S. collegiate and professional soccer coach. After leaving coaching, he then became a general manager for two indoor soccer clubs in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.-Youth:Miller was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania and grew up in Ono,...
1976 - 1980 - Mike RenshawMike RenshawMichael "Mike" Renshaw is a U.S.-English former football left winger. He began as a youth player with Blackpool F.C. before moving to the United States to join the Dallas Tornado of the North American Soccer League in 1968. He also spent time with Margate F.C. and Rhyl F.C. He earned two caps...
1981 - Peter Short 1981
Yearly Average Attendance
- 1967 - 9,227
- 1968 - 2,927
- 1969 - 2,923
- 1970 - 2,228
- 1971 - 3,326
- 1972 - 4,093
- 1973 - 7,474
- 1974 - 8,469
- 1975 - 4,630
- 1976 - 14,095
- 1977 - 16,511* record average for any Dallas soccer club
- 1978 - 8,981
- 1979 - 9,321
- 1980 - 6,752
- 1981 - 4,670