Memphis Rogues
Encyclopedia
The Memphis Rogues were a professional soccer team in the former North American Soccer League
. They operated in the 1978
, 1979
, and 1980
seasons and played their home games in Memphis' Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
.
In the mid-1970s, two men, Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.
and Beau Rogers, joined forces to establish a new North American Soccer League
(NASL) franchise. Mangurian owned a horse racing
track in Florida, and Rogers was part-owner and general manager of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. As the two men searched for a city to serve as home for their new team, they looked at several locations in the southern U.S. before settling on Memphis, Tennessee
. Next, they decided to name the team the "Rogues" in part as an allusion to the Rowdies, as well as for a desire to have an elephant
mascot (a "Rogue" elephant).
The team made its first mistake when it hired Malcolm Allison
as its first coach. Allison came from Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray
but his time in Memphis would be very short. Allison had achieved much controversy during his time in England, and when he had failed to sign a sufficient number of players for the inaugural season, he was dismissed without having coached a match and replaced by ex-Chelsea star Eddie McCreadie
. Sadly the club finished the 1978 season in third place in its division and did not make the playoffs. Attendance was also disappointing, averaging only 8,708 a match, 17th in the 24-team league.
The second season, 1979, was disrupted by a players' strike which forced McCreadie out of retirement for a time. The team did worse on the pitch, finishing last, and worse at the box office, with 7,137 a match, with only three teams doing worse.
The poor gates resulted in Mangurian and Rogers selling the team to Avron Fogelman
in 1980. Fogelman owned a Memphis minor league baseball
team and later became a part owner of the Kansas City Royals
. Though attendance went up in 1980 to 9,864 a match, this was still only 17th in the league and the team were again last in their division, though McCreadie's old Chelsea mate Charlie Cooke
had taken over as coach.
The Rogues last game ever came at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
against the Houston Hurricane
. The Rogues won 6-1. Tony Field scored the final goal in Memphis Rogues history. He beat the goalkeeper and walked the ball into the net. When he arrived at the goalline, he got down on his knees and headed the ball into the net - a truly memorable goal.
In 1981, Fogelman cut his loses and sold the Rogues to Nelson Skalbania
, a Canadian businessman who moved the team to Calgary, Alberta. Skalbania renamed the team the Calgary Boomers
for the 1981, but the team lasted only one year in Calgary before folding.
(1978) Alan Birchenall
(1978) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#B Steve Bradshaw (1980) Paul Cannell
Toni Carbognani (1980) Paul Child Charlie Cooke
(1978-80) Tony Field (1978-80) Neil Smillie
(1978-79) Jimmy Husband
(1978-80) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player1/jimmyhusband.htm Jim Steele (1980) David Stride
(1978/1980) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#S
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 operated in the 1978
1978 in sports
1978 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Ingemar Stenmark, Sweden** Women's overall season champion: Hanni Wenzel, Liechtenstein-American football:...
, 1979
1979 in sports
1979 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Peter Lüscher, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Austria-American football:...
, and 1980
1980 in sports
1980 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall season champion: Andreas Wenzel, Liechtenstein** Women's overall season champion: Hanni Wenzel, Liechtenstein...
seasons and played their home games in Memphis' Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is a football stadium, located at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The stadium is the site of the annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl, and is the home field of the University of Memphis Tigers football team...
.
History
“We’re the Ramblin’ Rogues from Memphis, the biggest kick in town!” - Rogues fight song.In the mid-1970s, two men, Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.
Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.
Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. was an American veteran of World War II, businessman, a former owner of the Boston Celtics basketball team, a Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder, and a philanthropist....
and Beau Rogers, joined forces to establish a new 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) franchise. Mangurian owned a horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
track in Florida, and Rogers was part-owner and general manager of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. As the two men searched for a city to serve as home for their new team, they looked at several locations in the southern U.S. before settling on Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. Next, they decided to name the team the "Rogues" in part as an allusion to the Rowdies, as well as for a desire to have an elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
mascot (a "Rogue" elephant).
The team made its first mistake when it hired Malcolm Allison
Malcolm Allison
Malcolm Alexander Allison was an English football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Mal", he was one of English football's most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, fedora and cigar, controversies off the pitch and outspoken nature.Allison's managerial potential become...
as its first coach. Allison came from Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
but his time in Memphis would be very short. Allison had achieved much controversy during his time in England, and when he had failed to sign a sufficient number of players for the inaugural season, he was dismissed without having coached a match and replaced by ex-Chelsea star Eddie McCreadie
Eddie McCreadie
Edward Graham "Eddie" McCreadie is a former Scottish footballer who played at left-back, mainly for Chelsea. He later became a manager....
. Sadly the club finished the 1978 season in third place in its division and did not make the playoffs. Attendance was also disappointing, averaging only 8,708 a match, 17th in the 24-team league.
The second season, 1979, was disrupted by a players' strike which forced McCreadie out of retirement for a time. The team did worse on the pitch, finishing last, and worse at the box office, with 7,137 a match, with only three teams doing worse.
The poor gates resulted in Mangurian and Rogers selling the team to Avron Fogelman
Avron Fogelman
Avron B. Fogelman is an American businessman and real estate developer. He was a former part owner of the Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals as well as several Memphis-based sports teams.-Early life:...
in 1980. Fogelman owned a Memphis minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team and later became a part owner of the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. Though attendance went up in 1980 to 9,864 a match, this was still only 17th in the league and the team were again last in their division, though McCreadie's old Chelsea mate 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....
had taken over as coach.
The Rogues last game ever came at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is a football stadium, located at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The stadium is the site of the annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl, and is the home field of the University of Memphis Tigers football team...
against the Houston Hurricane
Houston Hurricane
The Houston Hurricane was a soccer team based out of Houston that played in the NASL. They played from 1978 to 1980. Their home field was the Astrodome. Their colors were orange, white and red....
. The Rogues won 6-1. Tony Field scored the final goal in Memphis Rogues history. He beat the goalkeeper and walked the ball into the net. When he arrived at the goalline, he got down on his knees and headed the ball into the net - a truly memorable goal.
In 1981, Fogelman cut his loses and sold the Rogues to Nelson Skalbania
Nelson Skalbania
Nelson M. Skalbania is a Canadian businessman from Vancouver, British Columbia best known for signing a 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky to the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association....
, a Canadian businessman who moved the team to Calgary, Alberta. Skalbania renamed the team the Calgary Boomers
Calgary Boomers
The Calgary Boomers were a professional soccer team, that competed in the North American Soccer League during the 1981 season, after which they folded. They were owned by Nelson Skalbania, a Canadian businessman who moved the Memphis Rogues to Calgary, Alberta after the 1980 season.-1981 Roster:*No...
for the 1981, but the team lasted only one year in Calgary before folding.
Coaches
- Malcolm AllisonMalcolm AllisonMalcolm Alexander Allison was an English football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Mal", he was one of English football's most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, fedora and cigar, controversies off the pitch and outspoken nature.Allison's managerial potential become...
1978 - Eddie McCreadieEddie McCreadieEdward Graham "Eddie" McCreadie is a former Scottish footballer who played at left-back, mainly for Chelsea. He later became a manager....
1978-1979 - Charlie CookeCharlie 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....
1980
Famous players
Phil BealPhil Beal
Phil Beal born January 8, 1945 at Godstone, Surrey is a former English football player.-Tottenham Hotspur career:Beal played for Surrey boys and England Youth before signing as an amateur for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in 1960 and became a professional at the club in 1962.He made his debut as a...
(1978) Alan Birchenall
Alan Birchenall
Alan Birchenall MBE is a retired English footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s.A talented and much travelled player. Alan was a skilful attacking midfielder who started his professional career with Sheffield United in 1963...
(1978) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#B Steve Bradshaw (1980) Paul Cannell
Paul Cannell
Paul Cannell is an English former footballer who played as a forward for Newcastle United between 1972 and 1978. He made 62 appearances and scored 18 goals, before moving to the United States...
Toni Carbognani (1980) Paul Child 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....
(1978-80) Tony Field (1978-80) Neil Smillie
Neil Smillie
Neil Smillie is an English former professional football player and manager. He played for a number of clubs, with the high point of his career being an appearance in the 1983 FA Cup Final for Brighton & Hove Albion....
(1978-79) Jimmy Husband
Jimmy Husband
Jimmy Husband is an English retired professional footballer who played in England and the United States as a striker.-Career:...
(1978-80) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player1/jimmyhusband.htm Jim Steele (1980) David Stride
David Stride
David Stride is a retired English professional footballer who played in both England and the United States.-Career:Stride began his career with Chelsea in 1978. That year, he went on loan with the Memphis Rogues of the North American Soccer League. In 1980, Chelsea sold Stride's contract to the...
(1978/1980) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#S
Year-by-year
| Year | League | W | L | T | Pts | Regular Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | NASL | 10 | 20 | — | 101 | 3rd, American Conference, Central Division | Did not qualify |
| 1979 | NASL | 6 | 24 | — | 73 | 4th, American Conference, Central Division | Did not qualify |
| 1979/80 | NASL Indoor | 9 | 3 | — | — | 1st, Western Division | Won Semifinal (Minnesota Minnesota Kicks Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos... ) Lost Championship (Tampa Bay) |
| 1980 | NASL | 14 | 18 | — | 126 | 4th, American Conference, Central Division | Did not qualify |