Philadelphia Atoms
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia Atoms were a soccer team based out of Philadelphia
that played in the North American Soccer League
(NASL). They played from 1973 to 1976, at Veterans Stadium
(1973-75) and Franklin Field
(1976).
The Atoms were founded by Philadelphia construction mogul Thomas McCloskey
in 1973 at the urging of Kansas City Chiefs
and Dallas Tornado
owner Lamar Hunt
. Playing a largely American line-up, they won the NASL title in their first year of existence by defeating Hunt’s Dallas club 2-0. After this championship match, Philadelphia goalkeeper and Delaware Valley
native Bob Rigby
became the first soccer player to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated
.
The Atoms could not sustain the success of their first season as the club missed the playoffs in each of their remaining three NASL campaigns. Attendance began to flag and, after the 1975 season, the team was sold to a group of Mexican clubs, which included Club Deportivo Guadalajara. Fielding a primarily Mexican side (almost 20 years before Chivas USA would try a similar approach in Major League Soccer
), attendances continued to wane and the club folded after the 1976 season.
Although Clive Toye
reports in his recent book that the franchise was sold to an ownership group from Montreal, he apparently confuses the fate of the next Philadelphia NASL team for that of the Atoms; the Atoms were, in fact, going to be relocated to San Antonio by their Mexican owners, who planned to replace the San Antonio Thunder
franchise (which itself had just relocated to Honolulu to play as Team Hawaii
). This plan never came to fruition, and the Philadelphia franchise was placed into receivership by the NASL.
The franchise was removed from receivership two years later when the Philadelphia Fury
began their three year run in Philadelphia in 1978.
Division Titles
Coach of the Year
Rookie of the Year
All-Star First Team Selections
All-Star Second Team Selections
All-Star Honorable Mentions
(1973-75) Jim Fryatt
(1974-75) Derek Trevis
(1973-75) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#T Bobby Hope
(1976) Norman Wingert
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
that 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:...
(NASL). They played from 1973 to 1976, at Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
(1973-75) and Franklin Field
Franklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
(1976).
The Atoms were founded by Philadelphia construction mogul Thomas McCloskey
Thomas McCloskey
Thomas D. McCloskey was a Philadelphia construction magnate. He became the president of McCloskey & Co. Builders when his father, former Democratic National Treasurer Matthew H. McCloskey, was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Ireland....
in 1973 at the urging of Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado
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 , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus...
owner 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...
. Playing a largely American line-up, they won the NASL title in their first year of existence by defeating Hunt’s Dallas club 2-0. After this championship match, Philadelphia goalkeeper and Delaware Valley
Delaware Valley
The Delaware Valley is a term used to refer to the valley where the Delaware River flows, along with the surrounding communities. This includes the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia. Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township...
native Bob Rigby
Bob Rigby
Bob Rigby is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper. Among the most talented soccer goalkeepers born in the United States, Rigby played twelve seasons in the North American Soccer League, three in the Major Indoor Soccer League, one in the Western Soccer Alliance and earned six caps with the United...
became the first soccer player to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
.
The Atoms could not sustain the success of their first season as the club missed the playoffs in each of their remaining three NASL campaigns. Attendance began to flag and, after the 1975 season, the team was sold to a group of Mexican clubs, which included Club Deportivo Guadalajara. Fielding a primarily Mexican side (almost 20 years before Chivas USA would try a similar approach 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...
), attendances continued to wane and the club folded after the 1976 season.
Although Clive Toye
Clive Toye
Clive Toye was inducted to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the United States in 2003.Toye was born in Plymouth, United Kingdom. He was a sports writer for the Express and Echo newspaper in Exeter, and later Chief Sports Writer for the Daily Express....
reports in his recent book that the franchise was sold to an ownership group from Montreal, he apparently confuses the fate of the next Philadelphia NASL team for that of the Atoms; the Atoms were, in fact, going to be relocated to San Antonio by their Mexican owners, who planned to replace the San Antonio Thunder
San Antonio Thunder
The San Antonio Thunder were an American soccer team founded in 1975 as a member of the North American Soccer League. The team existed only two seasons in San Antonio, Texas before moving to Hawaii.-History:...
franchise (which itself had just relocated to Honolulu to play as Team Hawaii
Team Hawaii
Team Hawaii was a soccer team based out of Honolulu that played in the NASL. The team only lasted one year, 1977. Their home field was Aloha Stadium. Previous to Hawai'i, the team played as the San Antonio Thunder. After leaving Hawai'i, the franchise became known as the Tulsa Roughnecks.-1977...
). This plan never came to fruition, and the Philadelphia franchise was placed into receivership by the NASL.
The franchise was removed from receivership two years later when the Philadelphia Fury
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....
began their three year run in Philadelphia in 1978.
Year-by-year
| Year | Record | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 9-8-2 | 1st, Eastern Division | NASL Champions |
| 1974 | 8-11-1 | 3rd, Eastern Division | Did Not Qualify |
| 1975 | 10-12 | 4th, Eastern Division | Did Not Qualify |
| 1976 | 8-16 | 4th, Eastern Division, Atlantic Conference | Did Not Qualify |
Honors
NASL Championships- 1973
Division Titles
- 1973 Eastern Division
Coach of the Year
- 1973 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,...
Rookie of the Year
- 1975 Chris BahrChris BahrChris Bahr is a former professional American football and soccer player. He was a placekicker in the National Football League and played midfielder in the North American Soccer League.-Soccer:...
All-Star First Team Selections
- 1973 Chris DunleavyChris DunleavyChris Dunleavy is an English footballer who played for Everton, Southport, Philadelphia Atoms, Chester, Halifax Town and Wollongong FC....
, Jim FryattJim FryattJim Fryatt is a retired English footballer who played as a striker. During his playing career he was nicknamed 'Pancho'.-Football League:...
, Andy ProvanAndy ProvanAndrew McKelvie Hughes "Andy" Provan , also known as Drew Provan, is a Scottish former footballer who played in the Scottish Football League for St. Mirren, in the Football League for Barnsley, York City, Chester, Wrexham, Southport and Torquay United, and in the North American Soccer League for... - 1974 Chris Dunleavy
- 1975 Bobby Smith
All-Star Second Team Selections
- 1973 Roy EvansRoy EvansRoy Evans CBE was a Liverpool football player who eventually rose through the coaching ranks to become team manager.-Career:...
, Bob RigbyBob RigbyBob Rigby is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper. Among the most talented soccer goalkeepers born in the United States, Rigby played twelve seasons in the North American Soccer League, three in the Major Indoor Soccer League, one in the Western Soccer Alliance and earned six caps with the United...
, Bobby Smith, Derek TrevisDerek TrevisDerek Alan Trevis was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Active in both England and the United States, Trevis made nearly 500 career league appearances.-Career:... - 1974 Bob RigbyBob RigbyBob Rigby is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper. Among the most talented soccer goalkeepers born in the United States, Rigby played twelve seasons in the North American Soccer League, three in the Major Indoor Soccer League, one in the Western Soccer Alliance and earned six caps with the United...
, Derek Trevis - 1975 Bob Hope, Tony WantTony WantAnthony George "Tony" Want is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender...
All-Star Honorable Mentions
- 1973 Barry BartoBarry BartoBarry Barto is a retired American soccer midfielder and college coach. He played in the North American Soccer League and coached for thirty years at Philadelphia Textile and UNLV.-College and NASL:...
, George O'NeillGeorge O'NeillGeorge O’Neill was a Scottish-American soccer forward. He began his career in Scotland, playing with eight clubs over nine seasons before moving to the Philadelphia Atoms of the North American Soccer League. He retired from playing professionally in 1976. In 1973, he earned two caps with the U.S... - 1974 Jim Fryatt, Bobby Smith
Players
Bob RigbyBob Rigby
Bob Rigby is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper. Among the most talented soccer goalkeepers born in the United States, Rigby played twelve seasons in the North American Soccer League, three in the Major Indoor Soccer League, one in the Western Soccer Alliance and earned six caps with the United...
(1973-75) Jim Fryatt
Jim Fryatt
Jim Fryatt is a retired English footballer who played as a striker. During his playing career he was nicknamed 'Pancho'.-Football League:...
(1974-75) Derek Trevis
Derek Trevis
Derek Alan Trevis was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Active in both England and the United States, Trevis made nearly 500 career league appearances.-Career:...
(1973-75) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#T 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) Norman Wingert