1985 Western Alliance Challenge Series
Encyclopedia
History of the 1985 Western Alliance Challenge Series. This series of games which included F.C. Seattle, the Victoria Riptide, F.C. Portland
and the San Jose Earthquakes led to the creation of the Western Soccer Alliance which later merged with the American Soccer League
to form the American Professional Soccer League
, the forerunner of the USL First Division
.
teams. The success of the tournament led league officials to offer an NASL franchise to the F.C. Seattle ownership. The team declined the offer and instead decided to build on the success of the tournament by creating an ad hoc league with several other independent soccer teams in the Pacific Northwest. Three teams joined F.C. Seattle, the Victoria Riptide, F.C. Portland
and the San Jose Earthquakes which had played in the NASL before its demise in the spring of 1985. These four teams played each other and the non-league Edmonton Brickmen
and Canada national soccer team. The games against the Brickmen and Canadanian national team were included in the final league standings. The series proved financially successful and led to the formal establishment of the Western Soccer Alliance.
F.C. Portland
Portland Timbers, previously known as F.C. Portland, came into existence in 1985 as an independent U.S. soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1989, the team adopted the name Portland Timbers. Portland was composed of both professional and amateur players. The amateur players largely came...
and the San Jose Earthquakes led to the creation of the Western Soccer Alliance which later merged with the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
to form the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
, the forerunner of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
.
History
In 1984, the independent F.C. Seattle hosted the F.C. Seattle Challenge which included several 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:...
teams. The success of the tournament led league officials to offer an NASL franchise to the F.C. Seattle ownership. The team declined the offer and instead decided to build on the success of the tournament by creating an ad hoc league with several other independent soccer teams in the Pacific Northwest. Three teams joined F.C. Seattle, the Victoria Riptide, F.C. Portland
F.C. Portland
Portland Timbers, previously known as F.C. Portland, came into existence in 1985 as an independent U.S. soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1989, the team adopted the name Portland Timbers. Portland was composed of both professional and amateur players. The amateur players largely came...
and the San Jose Earthquakes which had played in the NASL before its demise in the spring of 1985. These four teams played each other and the non-league Edmonton Brickmen
Edmonton Brickmen
The Edmonton Brickmen were an Edmonton, Alberta-based soccer club that competed in two now-defunct leagues: the Western Soccer Alliance and the Canadian Soccer League.-History:...
and Canada national soccer team. The games against the Brickmen and Canadanian national team were included in the final league standings. The series proved financially successful and led to the formal establishment of the Western Soccer Alliance.
League standings
| Place | Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 13 |
| 2 | Victoria Riptide | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 10 |
| 3 | F.C. Seattle | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
| 4 | F.C. Portland F.C. Portland Portland Timbers, previously known as F.C. Portland, came into existence in 1985 as an independent U.S. soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1989, the team adopted the name Portland Timbers. Portland was composed of both professional and amateur players. The amateur players largely came... |
7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 5 |