USL First Division
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The USL First Division (usually referred to as USL-1) was a professional men's soccer league in the United States and Canada from 2005 to 2010.
During its existence, it formed the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer league system behind Major League Soccer. It was operated by United Soccer Leagues (USL) and was known as the A-League, from 1997 until 2004.
Several teams left the league in 2009 to form the new North American Soccer League, with the intent of running their own second-tier league. Following a brief legal dispute, the two leagues operated in tandem under United States Soccer Federation (USSF) mediation as the USSF Division 2 Professional League in 2010 before the split became final. The teams that remained in the First Division were merged with the USL Second Division in 2011 to form USL Pro.
History
When the A-League became the USL First Division in 2005, the league comprised 12 teams:
The
On August 27, 2009,
After lawsuits were filed and heated press statements exchanged, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) declared they would sanction neither the NASL nor the USL First Division in 2010, and ordered both "camps" to work together on a plan to temporarily allow their teams to play a 2010 season. The interim solution was announced on January 7, 2010, with the USSF running the new USSF D2 Pro League comprising clubs from both USL-1 and NASL.[2] All 12 teams from the USL First Division and the NASL competed in the USSF D2 Pro League in 2010, which was won by the Puerto Rico Islanders.
On September 8, 2010, the USL announced the formation of USL Pro which would merge the USL First Division and USL Second Division to begin play in 2011. The merger is meant to consolidate USL's position within the American professional soccer landscape and focus on commercial growth and professional development of soccer in 4 main regions throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.[3] The First Division was formally dissolved following the completion of the temporary season to make way for USL Pro.[4]
Expansion and contraction
Prior to 2010, the league had a steady rate of expansion and contraction. Richmond was voluntarily relegated to the
In November 2008, the
On June 19, 2008, an announcement was made that an expansion slot had been awarded to a
Expansion rumors
Possible cities mentioned for future campaigns included
Prior to the 2009 NASL split several other cities had been mentioned as being locations where future USL-1 franchises might launch, including
Structure
Unlike most other nations, there is no system of merit-based
Playoff format
The top seven teams advanced to the playoff tournament, with the Commissioner's Cup winner (regular season champion) receiving a bye into the semi-finals. Each round consisted of two legs, the lower seeded team hosting the first leg, and the higher seed hosting the second. Prior to 2009, the final was played as a single leg at the higher seed's stadium. After the first legs were completed, the lowest remaining seed played the Commissioner's Cup winner, and the higher seeds played each other. The highest remaining seed hosted the penultimate game of the Finals. The playoffs started the week after the completion of the regular season, and typically ended in mid-October.
Teams
- Atlanta Silverbacks(2005–08)
- USSF D2 Pro League)
- California Victory (2007)
- Carolina RailHawks (2007–09) (2010 season played in USSF D2 Pro League for NASL Conference)
- Charleston Battery (2005–09)
- Cleveland City Stars (2009)
- FC Tampa Bay(2010) (2010 season played in USSF D2 Pro League)
- Miami FC (2006–09) (2010 season played in USSF D2 Pro League for NASL Conference)
- Minnesota Thunder (2005–09)
- Montreal Impact (2005–09) (2010 season played in USSF D2 Pro League for NASL Conference)
- Portland Timbers(2005–10) (2010 season played in USSF D2 Pro League)
- Puerto Rico Islanders (2005–10) (2010 season played in USSF D2 Pro League)
- Richmond Kickers (2005)
- Rochester Rhinos(2005–10) (2010 season played in USSF D2 Pro League)
- Seattle Sounders (2005–08)
- Toronto Lynx (2005–06)
- Vancouver Whitecaps (2005–09) (2010 season played in USSF D2 Pro League for NASL Conference)
- Virginia Beach Mariners (2005–06)
†The Austin Aztex have been awarded a USL Pro franchise and will begin play in 2015 in that league.
Active clubs Former Club USSF D2 Season (2010) Club moved to MLS Club moved to NASL Club moved to USL Club moved to USL 2nd Div or PDL Club on hiatus
- See also A-League
League champions / top goal scorer
Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Top Goalscorer(s) | Team | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005
|
Seattle Sounders | 1–1 (PK) | Richmond Kickers | Jason Jordan | Vancouver Whitecaps | 17 |
2006
|
Vancouver Whitecaps | 3–0 | Rochester Raging Rhinos
|
Romário and Cam Weaver | Miami FC and Seattle Sounders
|
18 |
2007
|
Seattle Sounders | 4–0 | Atlanta Silverbacks
|
Sébastien Le Toux and Charles Gbeke | Seattle Sounders and Montreal Impact | 10 |
2008
|
Vancouver Whitecaps | 2–1 | Puerto Rico Islanders | Alex Afonso | Miami FC
|
15 |
2009
|
Montreal Impact | 6–3[a] | Vancouver Whitecaps | Charles Gbeke | Vancouver Whitecaps | 12 |
- ^ Leg 1:Vancouver 2–3 Montreal
Leg 2: Montreal 3–1 Vancouver
Regular season champions (Commissioner's Cup winners)
Season | Winner | Record (W–L–T) | Points | Playoff | Runners-Up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005
|
Montreal Impact | 18–3–7 | 61 | Lost in semifinal series | Rochester Raging Rhinos
|
2006 | Montreal Impact | 14–5–9 | 51 | Lost in semifinal series | Rochester Raging Rhinos
|
2007 | Seattle Sounders | 16–6–6 | 54 | Won Championship | Portland Timbers
|
2008 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 15–6–9 | 54 | Lost in final
|
Vancouver Whitecaps |
2009 | Portland Timbers |
16–4–10 | 58 | Lost in semifinal series
|
Carolina RailHawks FC
|
Most successful clubs
Club | Championships | Runners-up | Regular season Championships |
---|---|---|---|
Seattle Sounders | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Vancouver Whitecaps | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Montreal Impact | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Puerto Rico Islanders | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Portland Timbers
|
0 | 0 | 1 |
Atlanta Silverbacks
|
0 | 1 | 0 |
Richmond Kickers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Rochester Rhinos
|
0 | 1 | 0 |
League average attendance
Year | Regular season | Playoffs |
---|---|---|
2005 | 4,527 | 12,498 |
2006 | 4,667 | 5,998 |
2007 | 4,420 | 7,741 |
2008 | 5,164 | 7,786 |
2009 | 4,720 | 4,702 |
All-time USL leaders
|
|
- Note: includes stats from the old A-League
See also
- Sports attendances
Notes
- (*) Puerto Rico can qualify for the CFU Club Championshipvia a domestic cup competition.
References
- ^ "Teams Split From USL-1; To Form New League In 2010". Goal.com. November 10, 2009. Archived from the original on November 13, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
- ^ "Division 2 Professional League To Operate in 2010". ussoccer.com. January 7, 2010. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
- ^ "USL Restructures Professional Division". www.uslsoccer.com. September 8, 2010. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
- ^ "USL Restructures Professional Division". www.uslsoccer.com. September 8, 2010. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Atlanta Silverbacks". Archived from the original on December 29, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
- ^ "Business as usual in the United Soccer League". Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
- ^ "Cleveland City Stars Release Players from Contracts - IMS Soccer News". December 2, 2009. Archived from the original on December 6, 2009. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
- ^ Encina, Eduardo A. (June 19, 2008). "Tampa Bay Rowdies to get new life in USL". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
- ^ "Home - St. Louis Lions". www.stllions.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ "MLS: Atlanta Out! Orlando to USL. St Louis weak? Philly behind schedule..." Orlando Sentinel. January 16, 2009. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on September 4, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
- ^ "NASL". Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
External links
- Official site (archived)
- Unofficial fan site