Staten Island Vipers
Encyclopedia
The Staten Island Vipers were a soccer club that competed in the USL A-League in 1998 and 1999. The club was based on Staten Island
, New York City
. The team played its games at Tottenville High School
and Wagner College
. The team dissolved following the 1999 season.
businessman and local soccer enthusiast Joe Manfredi. The team initially struggled to find a ground at which to play, debuting first at Monsignor Farrell High School
in Oakwood
before being forced out by community opposition. The club would land at Tottenville High School
in Huguenot
after reaching an agreement to refurbish the school's field and bleachers and adding lights for night games, along with a commitment for the team to work with the school to develop a city soccer program. The club was coached by Adrian Gaitan.
The team colors were blue and white, with shirts sponsored by Toyota and the kit supplied by Umbro
. The team mascot was a costumed character in a green outfit called the "Hyper Viper." The club averaged an attendance of over 1,500 fans per game and finished their first season in 1998 with a 15-11-1-1 (W-L-SOW-SOL) record, placing third in the Northeast Division but losing the Conference Quarterfinal. The team improved their record to 19-9-2-1 in 1999, finishing 2nd in the division and advancing to the Conference Semifinal but eventually losing to the Hershey Wildcats
.
Juan Carlos Osorio
Cristian da Silva
Daniel De Oliveira
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The team played its games at Tottenville High School
Tottenville High School
Tottenville High School is located at 100 Luten Avenue, in Huguenot, Staten Island, New York. It is within walking distance of the Huguenot train station of the Staten Island Railway system. Tottenville H.S. is in administrative district 31. The school’s current principal is John P. Tuminaro...
and Wagner College
Wagner College
Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...
. The team dissolved following the 1999 season.
History
The Vipers debuted in the USISL A-League in 1998, owned by Staten IslandStaten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
businessman and local soccer enthusiast Joe Manfredi. The team initially struggled to find a ground at which to play, debuting first at Monsignor Farrell High School
Monsignor Farrell High School
Monsignor Farrell High School is a Catholic secondary school located in the Oakwood section of Staten Island, New York. Opened in 1961, the school was named in honor of Monsignor Joseph Farrell, a prominent Catholic priest, as well as a religious, political and community leader on Staten Island.The...
in Oakwood
Oakwood, Staten Island
Oakwood is the name of a neighborhood located in east central Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, USA. It lies near the southern shore, and is bordered by Ebbitts Street ; the Atlantic Ocean ; Great Kills Park ; and the Staten Island Railway...
before being forced out by community opposition. The club would land at Tottenville High School
Tottenville High School
Tottenville High School is located at 100 Luten Avenue, in Huguenot, Staten Island, New York. It is within walking distance of the Huguenot train station of the Staten Island Railway system. Tottenville H.S. is in administrative district 31. The school’s current principal is John P. Tuminaro...
in Huguenot
Huguenot, Staten Island
Huguenot is the name of a neighborhood located on the South Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, USA. In recent years it has become increasingly customary to refer to the western part of Huguenot as a separate neighborhood called Woodrow...
after reaching an agreement to refurbish the school's field and bleachers and adding lights for night games, along with a commitment for the team to work with the school to develop a city soccer program. The club was coached by Adrian Gaitan.
The team colors were blue and white, with shirts sponsored by Toyota and the kit supplied by Umbro
Umbro
Umbro is an English sportswear and football equipment supplier based in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, England. The company is now part of Nike. Umbro designs, sources, and markets sport-related apparel, footwear, and equipment...
. The team mascot was a costumed character in a green outfit called the "Hyper Viper." The club averaged an attendance of over 1,500 fans per game and finished their first season in 1998 with a 15-11-1-1 (W-L-SOW-SOL) record, placing third in the Northeast Division but losing the Conference Quarterfinal. The team improved their record to 19-9-2-1 in 1999, finishing 2nd in the division and advancing to the Conference Semifinal but eventually losing to the Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats were a professional soccer team, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, that played in the USL A-League between 1997 and 2001. The team was owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company...
.
Notable former players
John BallJohn Ball (soccer)
John Ball is an American soccer player who currently plays for USASA amateur team CASL Elite.-College:Ball played college soccer for Southern Connecticut State...
Juan Carlos Osorio
Juan Carlos Osorio
Juan Carlos Osorio The Recreationist , is a Colombian football manager and former football player who began his career in 1980 with Deportivo Pereira. He is currently managing Puebla FC in Mexico....
Cristian da Silva
Cristian da Silva
Cristian da Silva is a retired Argentine professional soccer player who played in the United States for the MetroStars.-Playing career:...
Daniel De Oliveira
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2 | USISL A-League | 3rd, Northeast | Conference Quarterfinals | Did not qualify |
| 1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 2nd, Northeast | Conference Semifinals | Quarterfinals |
See also
- New York Centaurs/New York FeverNew York CentaursThe New York Centaurs were an A-League professional soccer club, based in New York City. The team played only one season in 1995. The New York Fever of the USISL Pro League, debuted in 1994, playing two seasons in the league before merging with the Centaurs organization in 1996...
- New York Red Bulls
- New York CosmosNew York CosmosThe New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
- Long Island AcademyLong Island AcademyLong Island Academy is an American soccer team based in Hempstead, New York, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northeast Atlantic Division.The team plays its home...