Washington Diplomats
Encyclopedia
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
. Founded as an expansion franchise in 1971, the Diplomats competed in the now-defunct North American Soccer League
, then the top-tier soccer league of the American soccer pyramid
.
Plagued with mediocrity in their first few seasons of existence, the Diplomats did not qualify for the playoffs until 1976, their fifth year in the league. Immediately, the Diplomats were knocked out by the New York Cosmos
in the first round. The following season, the club played their home matches in Northern Virginia
at W.T. Woodson High School, before going back to RFK Stadium. During the next three seasons, the Diplomats achieved more regular season success and reached the postseason every year from 1977 until 1980. Consequently, the club experienced a spike in average attendance, nearing 20,000 fans a game by the 1980 season.
Following the end of the 1980 season, the original Diplomats club folded when then owner, the Madison Square Garden Corp., had accumulated losses of $6 million and team president Steve Danzansky could not gather enough money to keep the team alive. However, that same season the Detroit Express
NASL franchise relocated to the Washington metropolitan area, renaming themselves the "Diplomats" due to perceived familiarity of the monicker to the area. However, a regression of attendance and a lack of field success spelt the death knell of the franchise, and the Diplomats folded following the 1981 season.
that played in the United Soccer Association
. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Washington club was actually Aberdeen F.C.
from Scotland
.
Following the 1967 season, the USA merged with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League
with the teams from the former USA having to create their rosters from scratch. Their home field was RFK Stadium. The team's owner was Earl Foreman
, later owner of the Virginia Squires
of the American Basketball Association and president of the original Major Indoor Soccer League
. Edward T. Reynolds was the booth announcer for the club prior to the merger.
(NASL) granted a franchise to a Washington, D.C. based business group. The team played their home games at RFK Stadium
except for 1976 when they played at W.T. Woodson High School in Northern Virginia. After a lackluster beginning to the franchise, the Diplomats qualified for the playoffs and increased average game attendance in each of their last three years of existence. Additionally, in their final year, the Diplomats were able to sign the future European Player of the Century Johan Cruyff
. After the 1980 season the Diplomats folded when then owner, the Madison Square Garden Corp., had accumulated losses of $6 million and team president Steve Danzansky could not gather enough money to keep the team alive.
The cheerleaders for the original Diplomats were known as the Honeydips. The team also ran ad campaigns calling themselves "the Dips."
moved to Washington to become the new Diplomats. This team only lasted for one season.
(1974-80) Randy Horton
(1975)
Canada Mike Bakić
(1978-79) Bob Iarusci (1979-80) Carmine Marcantonio
(1978-80)
England Mike Barry
(1975) Paul Cannell
(1976, 1978-79, 1981) Peter Carr
(1981) Mike Dillon
(1978-79) Ray Graydon
(1978) Alan Green
(1977, 1979-80) Clive Haywood
(1981) Trevor Hebberd
(1981) Kenny Hill
(1977) Gerry Ingram
(1975-76) Ross Jenkins
(1981) Don McAllister
(1977) Jimmy Redfern
(1977) Peter Silvester
(1977) Bobby Stokes
(1978-80) Trevor Thompson
(1976) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#T
Hungary József Horváth (1979-80)
Netherlands Johan Cruyff
(1980-81) Guus Hiddink
(1978) Wim Jansen
(1980) Thomas Rongen
(1980)
Scotland Jim Brown
(1981) Eddie Colquhoun
(1981) Tommy O'Hara
(1978-80) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player1/tommyo'hara.htm Alex Pringle (1977-78) Jim Steele (1977-79)
Northern Ireland Bill Irwin
(1978-80)
South Africa Andries Maseko (1978-79) Ken Mokgojoa (1978-80)
USA Sonny Askew
(1977-80) Tony Crescitelli
(1979-80) Don Droege
(1979-80) Randy Garber
(1977-78) Ane Mihailovich
(1978-80) Dragan Radovich
(1979-80)
Wales Donato Nardiello
(1981)
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
. Founded as an expansion franchise in 1971, the Diplomats competed 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:...
, then the top-tier soccer league of the American soccer pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
.
Plagued with mediocrity in their first few seasons of existence, the Diplomats did not qualify for the playoffs until 1976, their fifth year in the league. Immediately, the Diplomats were knocked out by the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The 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...
in the first round. The following season, the club played their home matches in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
at W.T. Woodson High School, before going back to RFK Stadium. During the next three seasons, the Diplomats achieved more regular season success and reached the postseason every year from 1977 until 1980. Consequently, the club experienced a spike in average attendance, nearing 20,000 fans a game by the 1980 season.
Following the end of the 1980 season, the original Diplomats club folded when then owner, the Madison Square Garden Corp., had accumulated losses of $6 million and team president Steve Danzansky could not gather enough money to keep the team alive. However, that same season the Detroit Express
Detroit Express
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing...
NASL franchise relocated to the Washington metropolitan area, renaming themselves the "Diplomats" due to perceived familiarity of the monicker to the area. However, a regression of attendance and a lack of field success spelt the death knell of the franchise, and the Diplomats folded following the 1981 season.
Before the Dips
The Washington Whips were a soccer team based in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
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...
. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Washington club was actually Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Following the 1967 season, the USA merged with the National Professional Soccer League to form 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:...
with the teams from the former USA having to create their rosters from scratch. Their home field was RFK Stadium. The team's owner was Earl Foreman
Earl Foreman
Earl Foreman was an American lawyer and sports executive.Foreman practiced law in the District of Columbia. He was a minority owner of the Baltimore Bullets franchise in the National Basketball Association and also at one time owned an interest in the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football...
, later owner of the Virginia Squires
Virginia Squires
The Virginia Squires were a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association from 1970 until just before the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.-In Oakland :...
of the American Basketball Association and president of the original Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. Edward T. Reynolds was the booth announcer for the club prior to the merger.
Original NASL franchise
The original Washington Diplomats first came into being when, in 1974, the North American Soccer LeagueNorth 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) granted a franchise to a Washington, D.C. based business group. The team played their home games at RFK Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
except for 1976 when they played at W.T. Woodson High School in Northern Virginia. After a lackluster beginning to the franchise, the Diplomats qualified for the playoffs and increased average game attendance in each of their last three years of existence. Additionally, in their final year, the Diplomats were able to sign the future European Player of the Century 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...
. After the 1980 season the Diplomats folded when then owner, the Madison Square Garden Corp., had accumulated losses of $6 million and team president Steve Danzansky could not gather enough money to keep the team alive.
The cheerleaders for the original Diplomats were known as the Honeydips. The team also ran ad campaigns calling themselves "the Dips."
Seasons
| Season | League record | Playoffs | Additional Honors |
U.S. Open Cup Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League... |
Top scorer(s) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div | League | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | Position | Name(s) | Goals | ||||
| 1974 | 1 | NASL | 22 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 29 | 36 | 70 | Eastern Division 4th place |
|||||
| 1975 | 1 | NASL | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 43 | 47 | 112 | Eastern Division 3rd place |
|||||
| 1976 | 1 | NASL | 24 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 46 | 38 | 126 | Atlantic Conference Eastern Division 3rd place |
R1 | ||||
| 1977 | 1 | NASL | 26 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 39 | 42 | 98 | Atlantic Conference Eastern Division 4th place |
|||||
| 1978 | 1 | NASL | 30 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 50 | 36 | 167 | National Conference Eastern Division Runners-up |
R1 | ||||
| 1979 | 1 | NASL | 30 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 68 | 50 | 172 | National Conference Eastern Division Runners-up |
Conf. QF | ||||
| 1980 | 1 | NASL | 32 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 72 | 61 | 159 | National Conference Eastern Division Runners-up |
R1 | ||||
| 1981 | 1 | NASL | 32 | 15 | 17 | 0 | 59 | 58 | 135 | Eastern Division 3rd place |
|||||
| 1983 | 1 | NASL | 30 | 10 | 20 | 0 | 33 | 54 | 79 | Western Division 4th place |
|||||
| 1988 | 2 | ASL 1988 American Soccer League -History:The third American Soccer League owed its creation to several events in the early 1980s. In 1983, the second American Soccer League collapsed from over-expansion, runaway spending and a restricted fan base. A year later, the North American Soccer League collapsed for essentially the same... |
20 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 27 | 30 | 30 | Southern Division Runners-up |
Champions | ||||
| 1989 | 2 | ASL 1989 American Soccer League -Northern Division:-Southern Division:-Semifinal 1:-Semifinal 2:-Final:-Points leaders:-Honors:* All A-League*Goalkeeper: Neil Cowley, Winston DuBose... |
20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 27 | 32 | 27 | Southern Division Runners-up |
SF | ||||
NASL new Diplomats
After the original Diplomats folded following the 1980 season, the Detroit ExpressDetroit Express
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing...
moved to Washington to become the new Diplomats. This team only lasted for one season.
Year-by-year
| Year | League | W | L | T | Pts | Regular Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | NASL | 15 | 17 | — | 135 | 3rd, Eastern Division | Did not qualify |
Famous players
Bermuda Gary DarrellGary Darrell
Gary Darrell is a retired Bermudian association football player who played in the North American Soccer League.Darrell began his professional career in Bermuda where he played for the Wellington Rovers and Devonshire Colts. In 1972, he signed with the Montreal Olympique of the North American...
(1974-80) Randy Horton
Randy Horton
The Honourable Kenneth Howard Randolph "Randy" Horton, JP, MP is a former soccer and cricket player from Bermuda who is currently a minister in the Bermuda government. He was named North American Soccer League Most Valuable Player in 1972.-Biography:...
(1975)
Canada Mike Bakić
Mike Bakic
Milovan 'Mike' Bakic is a retired Canadian international soccer player who earned 4 caps for the Canadian national side in 1977, scoring 2 goals. He played professional club soccer for Serbian White Eagles, Rochester Lancers, Washington Diplomats and Houston Hurricane.-External links:* *...
(1978-79) Bob Iarusci (1979-80) Carmine Marcantonio
Carmine Marcantonio
Carmine Marcantonio is a retired Canadian soccer player who earned two caps for the national team between 1976 and 1980. He played club football for Toronto Metros-Croatia, Toronto Italia, Washington Diplomats, Montreal Manic and New York Cosmos.-External links:* *...
(1978-80)
England Mike Barry
Mike Barry (footballer)
Michael James "Mike" Barry was a former professional footballer midfielder.Barry played for Huddersfield Town, Carlisle United & Bristol Rovers in England before moving to the United States to play for the Columbus Magic of the American Soccer League...
(1975) 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...
(1976, 1978-79, 1981) Peter Carr
Peter Carr (footballer)
Peter Carr is a retired English professional football defender. He spent four seasons in the North American Soccer League, at least one in the Major Indoor Soccer League and two in the American Soccer League....
(1981) Mike Dillon
Mike Dillon (footballer)
Mike Dillon is a former professional footballer who played for Tottenham Hotspur, Millwall, Swindon, Montreal Olympique, New York Cosmos, Washington Diplomats and represented England at schoolboy and youth level....
(1978-79) Ray Graydon
Ray Graydon
Ray Graydon is an English football manager and retired football player. He was recently employed as First Team Coach of Championship team, Leicester City while Rob Kelly was manager during the 2005-06 season.-Playing career:...
(1978) Alan Green
Alan Green (soccer)
Alan Green is a retired English-American Association football forward. He began his career with Coventry City before moving to the United States in 1979. He played a total of seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned one cap with the U.S. national team.-Professional:Green, a...
(1977, 1979-80) Clive Haywood
Clive Haywood
Clive Haywood is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Coventry City, for Seiko and Bulova SA in Hong Kong, in the North American Soccer League for the Washington Diplomats, and in non-League football for Thanet United.-Football career:In 1975, Haywood signed a...
(1981) Trevor Hebberd
Trevor Hebberd
Trevor Neal Hebberd is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder.-Southampton:He signed for Southampton on leaving school in 1974 and made his first team debut two years later in a 2–2 draw against Hull City at Boothferry Park in the Second Division. He managed 12 league appearances...
(1981) Kenny Hill
Kenny Hill (association footballer)
Kenneth George "Ken" Hill is an English former Association football defender who played professionally in England and the North American Soccer League....
(1977) Gerry Ingram
Gerry Ingram
Gerald "Gerry" Ingram is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. Active in both England and the United States between 1966 and 1980, Ingram made nearly 500 professional league career appearances, scoring nearly 200 goals.-Career:Born in Beverley, Ingram began his career...
(1975-76) Ross Jenkins
Ross Jenkins (footballer born 1951)
Ross Anthony Jenkins is an English former footballer. He was a striker and started his career at Crystal Palace, before spending eleven years with Watford...
(1981) Don McAllister
Don McAllister (footballer)
Don McAllister is an English former professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Vitoria Setubal, and Rochdale.-Football career:...
(1977) Jimmy Redfern
Jimmy Redfern
Jimmy Redfern is a retired English professional football midfielder.In May 1977, Redfern moved to the Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League at the completion of the 1976-1977 English season....
(1977) Peter Silvester
Peter Silvester (footballer)
Peter Dennis Silvester is a retired English Association football forwardSilvester, a striker, began his professional career with Reading FC, with whom he played from 1965–70, scoring 26 goals. He then joined Norwich City, with whom he won the second division championship in 1972 and scored 37...
(1977) Bobby Stokes
Bobby Stokes
Bobby Stokes was an English footballer, well known for scoring the winning goal in the 83rd minute of the FA Cup Final for Southampton F.C. against Manchester United in 1976.-Early career:...
(1978-80) Trevor Thompson
Trevor Thompson (footballer)
Trevor Thompson is an English former professional footballer who played as a full back. Active in England and the United States, Thompson made over career 150 league appearances.-Career:...
(1976) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#T
Hungary József Horváth (1979-80)
Netherlands 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...
(1980-81) Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink is a Dutch football manager and former player. He was the most recently manager of the Turkish national football team. He is considered to be one of the best managers of his generation and was the best-paid coach in international football in 2009...
(1978) Wim Jansen
Wim Jansen
Wilhelmus Marinus Anthonius Jansen is a Dutch former association football player and manager.- Playing career :He spent most of his playing career with his hometown team, Feyenoord, between 1965 and 1980...
(1980) Thomas Rongen
Thomas Rongen
Thomas Rongen is a Dutch soccer coach, formerly the head coach of D.C. United, the Sporting Director of Major League Soccer club Chivas USA, and the coach of the American Samoa national association football team...
(1980)
Scotland Jim Brown
Jim 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:***...
(1981) Eddie Colquhoun
Eddie Colquhoun
Edmund Peter Skirving Colquhoun was a footballer who played for Sheffield United and Scotland. He played in the position of Centre back....
(1981) Tommy O'Hara
Tommy O'Hara
Tommy O'Hara is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Active in Scotland and the United States, O'Hara made over 350 career league appearances. He also earned a cap with the U.S. national team in 1982....
(1978-80) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player1/tommyo'hara.htm Alex Pringle (1977-78) Jim Steele (1977-79)
Northern Ireland 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:...
(1978-80)
South Africa Andries Maseko (1978-79) Ken Mokgojoa (1978-80)
USA Sonny Askew
Sonny Askew
John "Sonny" Askew is a retired American soccer forward who spent seven seasons in the North American Soccer League, two in the second American Soccer League, two in the third American Soccer League, and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
(1977-80) Tony Crescitelli
Tony Crescitelli
Tony Crescitelli is a retired Italian-American soccer forward who spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1983.-Youth:...
(1979-80) Don Droege
Don Droege
Don Droege is a former U.S. soccer defender who played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and three seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned eight caps with the U.S. national team between 1977 and 1979.-Youth and college:...
(1979-80) Randy Garber
Randy Garber
Randy Garber is a former U.S. soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the North American Soccer League and two seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned one cap with the U.S. national team and currently coaches youth soccer in Abington, Pennsylvania.-High school and college:Garber...
(1977-78) Ane Mihailovich
Ane Mihailovich
Ane Mihailovich is a retired Yugoslavian-American soccer player. He spent at least four season in the American Soccer League, four in the North American Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned five caps with the U.S...
(1978-80) Dragan Radovich
Dragan Radovich
Dragan Radovich is a retired Yugoslavian-American soccer Goalkeeper who spent five seasons in the North American Soccer League...
(1979-80)
Wales Donato Nardiello
Donato Nardiello
Donato 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...
(1981)
Average attendance per game
- 1974: 4,975
- 1975: 8,847
- 1976: 5,963
- 1977: 13,037
- 1978: 10,783
- 1979: 11,973
- 1980: 19,205
- 1981: 16,106
External links
- nasljerseys.com, unofficial NASL website includes Diplomats info