North Jersey Imperials

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The North Jersey Imperials were a

United Soccer Leagues between 1994 and 2001. The Imperials were the first pro team of US national team goalkeeper Tim Howard
. Sean Kenny was the head coach.

During their inaugural season in 1994, the Imperials played their home games at Bruins Stadium, which is located within James J. Braddock-Hudson County Park, in

MetroStars, and Tom Lips, who went on to play for the New England Revolution. Another original Imperials player, Pat O'Kelly
, was drafted by the MetroStars in 1996, but chose not to sign with the team.

The 1995 season saw the Imperials play their home games at Veteran's Memorial Stadium, in

New York Fever
in the Northeast Division Final.

The 1996 season saw the Imperials play their home games at

San Jose Clash
.

The 1997 Season saw the Imperials continue their tenure at FDU's University Stadium. The Imperials fell in the D3 semi finals (by shoot out) to the Central Jersey Riptide. This season was notable as 18-year-old Tim Howard, from

North Brunswick, was the starting goalkeeper for the Imperials. Howard went on to the join the MetroStars for the 1998 season. He was then transferred to Manchester United in 2003 and has been the starting goalkeeper at Everton from 2006 (loan in 2006, transferred in 2007). Howard has been the first-choice goalkeeper for the US national team since 2007 and was the starting goalkeeper at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Other notable Imperials players that year were MetroStars back-up goalkeeper Zach Thornton (4 games) and MetroStars midfielder Cristian da Silva
(2 games). During this season, 4 Imperials players, including Tim Howard, Jerry Lucey and Kenny Santos, were called up by the MetroStars for a July 30 exhibition against the Long Island Rough Riders.

The 1998 season saw the Imperials on hiatus.

The 1999 season saw the Imperials play their home games at Sprague Field, on the Campus of

U.S. U-20 national team
.

The 2000 and 2001 seasons saw the Imperials, still playing at Montclair State University, drop a level to the

Premier Development League (the 4th division of US Soccer). One notable player from this period is Alecko Eskandarian, who played for the PDL Imperials during the 2000 season. Eskandarian, a Montvale native, would go on to play in Major League Soccer for several MLS teams, and was named MLS Cup
MVP for his 2-goal performance at the 2004 event. The North Jersey Imperials became defunct after the 2001 season.

Year-by-year

Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs Open Cup
1994 3 USISL 4th, Northeast Divisional Finals Did not enter
1995 3 USISL Pro League 2nd, Capital 1st Round Did not qualify
1996 3 USISL Pro League 2nd, Northeast Sizzling Six Did not qualify
1997 3 USISL D-3 Pro League 1st, Northeast Division Semifinals Did not qualify
1998 On Hiatus
1999 3 USL D-3 Pro League 8th, Northern Did not qualify Did not qualify
2000 "4" USL PDL 5th, Northeast Did not qualify Did not qualify
2001 "4" USL PDL 5th, Northeast Did not qualify Did not qualify