Detroit Express
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Full name | Detroit Express | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Express | ||
Founded | 1978 | ||
Dissolved | 1981 | ||
Stadium | Pontiac Silverdome | ||
Capacity | 80,000 | ||
Chairman | Sonny VanArnem | ||
Coach | Ken Furphy | ||
League | NASL | ||
|
The Detroit Express were a
History
1978
The Express were Detroit's first professional soccer team since the
1979
Back in England, Francis made history as the first player in the UK to command a
After 1979, though, Trevor Francis would not return to the NASL. Widely recognized as one of the finest forwards to play in the NASL, Francis notched 36 goals with 18 assists in just 33 regular-season matches—which placed him one spot ahead of
1979-80
The Express headed indoors that winter to play in the
1980
Without Francis, the Express slipped to a 14–18 mark, missing the playoffs by a single point (130-129 to the Houston Hurricane) and drawing only 11,198 a game—not all that bad by NASL standards, but not enough to pay the bills, either. Argentinian Pato Margetic was signed to replace Trevor Francis at the forward spot and he led the team with 11 goals and 11 assists. Gary Bannister and Adam Oates added 10 goals each, while Bradford finished with 16 assists. Wearing the number 10 shirt, David Bradford scored 14 goals and had 38 assists in his three years with the Express.
1980-81 and transfer to Washington
The Express' second and last
Later years
The Detroit Express franchise was purchased and retained by local businessman Sonny Van Arnem, who started the new Express team in the 1981 season. The ASL version of the Express won the league title in 1982, but the league folded after the 1983 season. The NASL collapsed after the 1984 season.
George Best 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 of How I Met Your Mother called "Bagpipes", 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 (2009) episode "The Gang Gives Frank an Intervention" of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Year-by-year
Year | League | W | L | T | Pts | Reg. season | Playoffs | Avg. Attend. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | NASL | 20 | 10 | 1st, American Conference, Central Division | Won 1st Round ( Ft. Lauderdale )
|
12,194 | ||
1979 | NASL | 14 | 16 | 3rd, American Conference, Central Division | Lost Conference Quarterfinal ( Tampa Bay )
|
14,058 | ||
1979–80
|
NASL Indoor | 7 | 5 | 3rd, Eastern Division | Lost 1st Round ( Tampa Bay )
|
3,937 | ||
1980 | NASL | 14 | 18 | 3rd, American Conference, Central Division | did not qualify | 11,198 | ||
1980–81
|
NASL Indoor | 7 | 11 | 3rd, Central Division | did not qualify | 4,761 |
Honors
Division titles
- 1978 Central Division, American Conference
All-Star first team selections
- 1978 Trevor Francis
- 1979 Trevor Francis
Indoor All-Stars
- 1980–81 Pato Margetic[6]
Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame[7]
- 2014 Slobo Ilijevski
- 2019 Pato Margetic
References
- ISBN 9781782550198.
- ^ "NASL Detroit Express Rosters". www.nasljerseys.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ Trevor can't score this time, Detroit Free Press July 2, 1981, p. 1F
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ Henderson, Jim (April 21, 1981). "For Keith Bailey, The Long Wait Is Finally Over". The Tampa Tribune. p. 5-C. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ "Hall of Famers". indoorsoccerhall.com. September 1, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.