Detroit Express
Encyclopedia
- This article is about the original Detroit Express of the NASL. For the second team to use the name, see Detroit Express (ASL)Detroit Express (ASL)The Detroit Express was an American soccer team based in Detroit, Michigan and a member of the American Soccer League. They joined the league in 1981 after the original NASL Express were moved to Washington D.C. to replace the Diplomats who had folded at the end of 1980...
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
that played in the now defunct 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:...
(NASL) from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome
Pontiac Silverdome
The Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C...
. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill
Jimmy Hill
James William Thomas "Jimmy" Hill OBE is an English association football personality. His career has taken in virtually every role in football, including player, union leader, coach, manager, director, chairman, television executive, presenter, analyst and match official.-Early life:Hill was born...
who was also the managing director and chairman of the English club Coventry City. The team was coached by Ken Furphy.
History
England forward Trevor FrancisTrevor Francis
Trevor John Francis , is a former footballer who won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest and played for England 52 times. He was England's first £1 million player...
was the first big name signed by the team and arrived in early May 1978. He missed the first third of the season, but still led the team with 22 goals and 10 assists in 19 games. The coach's son, forward Keith Furphy was 2nd with 11 goals and 12 assists. David Bradford and Alan Brazil
Alan Brazil
Alan Bernard Brazil is a Scottish former football player and broadcaster. He was a forward before retirement due to injury. He is now a radio presenter on Talksport.-Club career:...
added 9 goals each. The Express won the Central Division of the American Conference with a 20 win and 10 loss record. In the playoffs, Francis scored the series winning goal to defeat the Philadelphia Fury in the first round, but the Express were then knocked out by the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at the Silverdome in a mini-game overtime after going 1-1 in the conference semi-finals.
Back in England, Francis made history as the first player to ever command a 1 million pound transfer when he was purchased by Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City. Forest was not keen to allow their new asset to return to the states,but they relented and Francis returned just past the midway point of the 1979 season. He drew large crowds and contributed 14 goals and 8 assists in 14 games, tying Keith Furphy for the team lead. Ted MacDougall
Ted MacDougall
Edward John "Ted" MacDougall is a retired Scottish footballer who is currently coaching with Atlanta Silverbacks in the USA....
added 9 goals and 11 assists. But the Express struggled to a 14 win - 16 loss record and a 3rd place finish. They were then swept out of the playoffs 2-0 in the first round by the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Trevor Francis would never return to the NASL.
Widely recognized as one the finest forwards to play in the NASL, Francis appeared in 33 NASL games and scored 36 goals with 18 Assists. This puts him one place ahead of Pele on the all time NASL scoring list, despite playing 23 fewer games. Francis also scored 3 times and had 3 assists in 5 playoff games. He was a first team all star selection in 1978 and 1979 alongside Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
, Giorgio Chinaglia
Giorgio Chinaglia
Giorgio Chinaglia is a former football striker from Italy. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. A year later at age 19, Chinaglia returned to Italy to play for Massese, and then Internapoli, before joining S.S. Lazio in 1969...
, Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff OON , known as Johan Cruyff, is a retired Dutch footballer and is currently the manager of the Catalan national team as well as a member of the AFC Ajax board of directors. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with...
, Carlos Alberto
Carlos Alberto
Carlos Alberto is a common Portuguese given name, also found in Spanish .It is the name of several footballers:...
and Rodney Marsh
Rodney Marsh (footballer)
Rodney William Marsh is an English retired footballer. He was named after HMS Rodney by his father, who served on the battleship. He played for Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Manchester City, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the England national team. Lately, he has been a pundit and a commentator on the...
and other international greats. He was the only Detroit player ever to be selected to the NASL first XI.
The 1980 Express finished with a 14 win - 18 loss season and a declining fan base at the huge stadium. They missed the playoffs. Argentinian Pato Margetic was signed to replace Trevor Francis at the forward spot and led the team with 11 goals and 11 assists. Gary Bannister and Adam Oates added 10 goals each. David Bradford finished with 16 assists. Wearing the 10 shirt, Bradford scored 14 goals and had 38 assists in his 3 years with the Express.
Following the 1980-81 indoor season, Jimmy Hill won a court battle to move the team to RFK stadium to become the new Washington Diplomats
Washington Diplomats
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
, who had folded their squad in the off season. The Express turned Diplomats, lasted just one season in D.C. before folding. The NASL collapsed after the 1984 season.
The Detroit Express name and logo was retained by local businessman Sonny Van Arnem, who started the new Express in the American Soccer League
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...
in the 1981 season. The ASL version of the Express won the league title in 1982, but the league folded after the 1983 season.
George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
also appeared for the Express during a tour of Europe in September 1978. Best played two games in Austria with the Express before the team headed to Switzerland.
In popular culture
In the November 2009 episode Bagpipes (How I Met Your Mother)Bagpipes (How I Met Your Mother)
"Bagpipes" is the sixth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 94th overall. It originally aired on November 2, 2009.- Plot :...
, Ted wears an old Detroit Express shirt when trying to complain to his neighbors about their bagpiping. Mac also wears a Detroit Express shirt in the Season 5 episode The Gang Gives Frank an Intervention of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American television sitcom that premiered on FX on August 4, 2005. New episodes continue to air on FX, with reruns playing on Comedy Central, general broadcast syndication, and WGN America—the first-ever cable-to-cable syndication deal for a sitcom...
Former players
Coach: Alex Melkonian Sr.The Detroit Express all-time player roster includes:
Argentina
- Pato Margetic (1980)
Austria
- Johann Scharmann (1979)
Brazil
- Roberto De Oliveira (1978–1980)
Canada
- Ivan BelfioreIvan BelfioreIvan Belfiore is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played as a defender.-Career:Born in Vancouver, BC, Belfiore played as a professional in the North American Soccer League, the Major Indoor Soccer League, the Western Soccer Alliance and the Canadian Soccer League for the Detroit...
(1979–80) - David McGillDavid McGillDavid McGill is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played in the North American Soccer League between 1979 and 1981 for the Vancouver Whitecaps, Detroit Express and Washington Diplomats. McGill also earned four caps for the Canadian under-20 side in 1979, and participated at the 1979...
(1980)
Denmark
- Niels GuldbjergNiels GuldbjergNiels Guldbjerg is a Danish retired professional footballer who played in the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League for the Detroit Express, Philadelphia Fever, New Jersey Rockets and Buffalo Stallions....
(1979–1980)
England
- Gary BannisterGary BannisterGary Bannister is a former English professional footballer who played for Coventry City , Sheffield Wednesday, Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion, Oxford United, Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Lincoln City and Darlington...
(1980) - David Bradford (footballer)David Bradford (footballer)David Bradford is a retired professional football midfielder from England.In 1968, Bradford began his career as a fifteen year old apprentice with Blackburn Rovers. In 1971, he moved up to the first team. In 1974, they sent him to Sheffield United for £10,000 where he played for Ken Furphy...
(1978–80) - Mick CoopMick CoopMick Coop is a retired English professional football right back.Born in Grimsby, Lincolsnhire, Coop grew up in Leamington Spa where he was an excellent school boy cricketer and footballer. He joined Coventry City F.C. as an apprentice in 1962. In January 1966, he turned professional with...
(1979) - Ian DaviesIan DaviesIan Davies is an English former professional footballer who played as a left back. Active in both England and the United States, Davies made nearly 200 career appearances.-Career:...
(1978) - Steve EarleSteve Earle (footballer)Steve Earle is a former English association football player who played professionally in both England and the United States.-Player:...
(1978) - Trevor FrancisTrevor FrancisTrevor John Francis , is a former footballer who won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest and played for England 52 times. He was England's first £1 million player...
(1978–79) - Keith FurphyKeith FurphyKeith Furphy is a retired English-American professional association football forward who spent most of his career in the United States. He played four seasons in the North American Soccer League, seven in the Major Indoor Soccer League and one each in the American Soccer League and National...
(1978–80) - Steve HardwickSteve HardwickSteven "Steve" Hardwick was a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for 6 professional teams during the 1970s, 1980s & 1990s.-External links:*...
(1978) - Mark HateleyMark HateleyMark Wayne Hateley is a retired English football player who played as a centre-forward. He was capped 32 times for the English national team , and played in top-level football leagues in England, Italy, France and Scotland...
(1980) - Mick LeachMick LeachMichael 'Mick' Leach was a footballer with Queens Park Rangers in the 1960s and 1970s.Leach signed professional forms in 1964 and made his debut in 1965 in a 5-0 win against Colchester United...
(1978) - Graham OatesGraham Oates (footballer born 1949)Graham Oates is a retired English footballer who played for Bradford City, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. He also played for the Detroit Express and the California Surf in the NASL....
(1978–80) - Roger OsborneRoger OsborneRoger Charles Osborne is a former professional footballer who is best known for scoring the winning goal in the 1978 FA Cup Final.-Biography:...
(1979) - Steve SeargeantSteve SeargeantSteve 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...
(1978–80) - Roy SinclairRoy SinclairRoy Sinclair is a retired English professional football midfielder. He spent eleven seasons in the lower English divisions before moving to the United States where he played in the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.-Player:Sinclair began his...
(1978) - Brian Tinnion (Footballer)Brian Tinnion (footballer)Brian Tinnion is a retired English Association football forward who played eleven seasons in the lower English divisions, four in the North American Soccer League, three in the American Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
(1978–80)
Northern Ireland
- Jim HaganJim HaganJim Hagan is a Northern Irish former professional footballer and football club manager. He was born in Monkstown.Hagan began his career in Northern Ireland with Larne and was voted Ulster young player of the year in the 1975-76 season. While playing for Larne he also worked as a booking clerk for...
(1980)
Ireland
- Tony DunneTony DunneAnthony Peter Dunne , Irish football player who regularly appeared at left-back. He had 33 caps for the Republic of Ireland, playing for the national team in 1962–1975. He was Irish Footballer of the Year in 1969....
(1979) 12 apps 0 goals
Scotland
- Alan BrazilAlan BrazilAlan Bernard Brazil is a Scottish former football player and broadcaster. He was a forward before retirement due to injury. He is now a radio presenter on Talksport.-Club career:...
(1978) - Jim BrownJim Brown (footballer)Jim Brown is a Scottish former professional association football player, who played as a goalkeeper.Since 1986 he has been the Commercial Manager at Chesterfield F.C..-External links:***...
(1979–80) - Eddie ColquhounEddie ColquhounEdmund Peter Skirving Colquhoun was a footballer who played for Sheffield United and Scotland. He played in the position of Centre back....
(1978–80) - Jim HoltonJim HoltonJames Alan "Jim" Holton was a Scottish football player.Born in Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire, Holton began his playing career with West Bromwich Albion in 1968, but left three years later without having played a first-team game. He spent a season at Shrewsbury Town before making the big move to...
(1980) - Ted MacDougallTed MacDougallEdward John "Ted" MacDougall is a retired Scottish footballer who is currently coaching with Atlanta Silverbacks in the USA....
(1979) - Angus MoffattAngus MoffattAngus "Gus" Moffat is Scottish-Canadian former professional footballer who played as a right winger. Active in England, Scotland, the United States and Canada between 1963 and 1983, Moffat made nearly 200 career appearances as a professional.-Playing career:Born in Portsmouth, England, Moffat...
(1978–80)
Trinidad and Tobago
- Steve DavidSteve DavidSteve David is a former North American Soccer League star and Trinidad and Tobago international.-Club career:David began his professional career with Police in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1974, he signed with the Miami Toros in the North American Soccer League. That season, the Toros had reached the...
(1978)
Wales
- Donato NardielloDonato NardielloDonato Nardiello is a former Welsh international footballer.He began his career as a trainee with Coventry City, and signed a professional contract in 1977. The 1978-79 saw Donato playing in Coventry's most exciting top flight team...
(1980)
USA
- Benny DargleBenny DargleBernard "Benny" Dargle is a retired English-born American soccer player who played as a defender, making over 400 career appearances in a professional career which lasted from 1978 to 1992.-Career:...
(1979–80) - Eddie Dietz (1980)
- Dave Hoffmayer (1978)
- Paul HunterPaul Hunter (soccer)Paul Hunter was a Canadian-born soccer defender who spent five seasons in the North American Soccer League.-High school and college:While born in Canada, Hunter and his brother Tim grew up in Westport, Connecticut where he attended Staples High School. Staples won the 1971 Connecticut state...
(1978–80) - Ken MurphyKen MurphyKenneth "Kenny" Murphy is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and is currently the head coach of the Connecticut College men's soccer team.-Youth:...
(1980) - Bob RohrbachBob RohrbachBob Rohrbach is a retired U.S. professional soccer forward who spent three seasons in the North American Soccer League, one in the Major Indoor Soccer League and one in the American Soccer League....
(1979) - Dave SheltonDave SheltonDave Shelton is a retired American soccer player who played four seasons in the North American Soccer League.Shelton attended the Indiana University where he played on the men's soccer team from 1975 to 1977. He was the 1976 NCAA Most Outstanding Defensive Player as the Hoosiers finished runner-up...
(1978) - Craig TomlinsonCraig TomlinsonCraig Tomlinson is a Jamaican footaller currently for North Sound SeaWolves in the USL Premier Development League.-College and amateur:...
(1980) - Danny VaughnDanny VaughnDanny Vaughn is an American singer. Vaughn has performed with Waysted, Tyketto and Vaughn and now performs and releases under his own name...
(1978–1979)
Yugoslavia
- Slobodan Ilijevski (1978–79)
- Lesh ShkreliLesh ShkreliLesh Shkreli was a Yugoslavian-American soccer forward who played in Yugoslavia, Greece and the United States. He led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring in 1984-1985, earning MVP honors.-Player:...
(1980)
Year-by-year
| Year | League | W | L | T | Pts | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | NASL | 20 | 10 | 1st, American Conference, Central Division, Average Attendance 12,194. | Won 1st Round (Philadelphia Philadelphia Fury The Philadelphia Fury was a soccer team based in Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Among the club's investors were rock musicians Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon. The team played at Veterans Stadium.... ) Lost Conference Semifinal (Ft. Lauderdale) |
||
| 1979 | NASL | 14 | 16 | 3rd, American Conference, Central Division, Average Attendance 14,058. | Lost Conference Quarterfinal (Tampa Bay) | ||
| 1979/80 | NASL Indoor | 7 | 5 | 3rd, Eastern Division | Lost 1st Round (Tampa Bay) | ||
| 1980 | NASL | 14 | 18 | 3rd, American Conference, Central Division, Average Attendance 11,198. | did not qualify | ||
| 1980/81 | NASL Indoor | 7 | 11 | 3rd, Central Division | Did not qualify |