Cleveland Stokers
Encyclopedia
The Cleveland Stokers were a soccer team based out of Cleveland, Ohio
that played in the United Soccer Association
during 1967 and the North American Soccer League
in 1968. Their home field was Cleveland Stadium
.
The United league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The 1967 Cleveland roster was actually Stoke City F.C.
from England
. 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.
The franchise was originally acquired by Cleveland Indians
baseball club principal owner Vernon Stouffer
and club president Gabe Paul
in August 1966. They sold the Stokers to a group led by Cleveland attorney Howard Metzenbaum
and business partner, Alva "Ted" Bonda, the first week of January 1968.
In assembling a team of their own, the new owners acquired the bulk of the starting line-up from the 1967 NPSL Philadelphia Spartans
franchise, which would not participate in the NASL in 1968. The new Stokers won their division and fully intended on continuing operation. However, a difference in business philosophy with the five surviving NASL franchises saw the Stokers stay dormant in 1969. They did host an exhibition featuring a number of Stokers and NASL "all-stars" versus a West German opponent, which drew well, and fostered some hope, but Metzenbaum and Bonda remained unhappy with the NASL budgetary restraints, and announced the end of the Stokers in November 1969.
The 1968 Stokers won their division after a tight race with the talented Chicago Mustangs. In the conference championships, they were defeated in sudden-death overtime by the eventual champion Atlanta Chiefs. But the highlight of the club's existence occurred on July 10, 1968, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, when they hosted and defeated the soccer world's top-ranked professional team, Santos
of Brazil, featuring Pelé
. Keeper Paul Shardlow
preserved the 2-1 upset by saving a penalty kick. Unfortunately, Shardlow, leased from Stoke City
, collapsed and died that October while scrimmaging in England.
Those who represented the Stokers so well in the field during 1968 included Ruben "The Hatchet" Navarro, a world-class defender who made numerous national-team appearances with Argentina, his native land - where his name and play remain legendary - and Enrique Mateos
, a veteran goal scorer from Spain - part of the powerful Real Madrid dynasty of the late 1950s. Stoker performers familiar to modern-day North American fans include John Best (later Seattle coach and Vancouver GM), and Roy Turner (later Dallas Tornado iron-man and then long-time indoor coach of the Wichita Wings). Peter Short and Hank Liotart also enjoyed long US soccer careers following their season in Cleveland.
Stokers' head coach Norman Low returned to England and did scouting. He later briefly scouted for the ASL Cleveland Cobras
. Metzenbaum embarked on a high-profile political career, while Bonda became a prominent Cleveland figure in education, business, and sports.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
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...
during 1967 and 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:...
in 1968. Their home field was Cleveland Stadium
Cleveland Stadium
Cleveland Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in Cleveland, Ohio. In its final years, the stadium seated 74,438, for baseball and 81,000, for football. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football...
.
The United league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The 1967 Cleveland roster was actually Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. 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.
The franchise was originally acquired by Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
baseball club principal owner Vernon Stouffer
Vernon Stouffer
Vernon B. Stouffer, owned a national chain of restaurants, motor inns, and food-service operations and the Cleveland Indians from 1966-72. He played a key part in developing frozen foods and microwavable foods. His company Stouffer's was valued at $21.5 million when it was merged with Litton...
and club president Gabe Paul
Gabe Paul
Gabriel Howard Paul was an American executive in Major League Baseball who served as general manager of three teams and, perhaps most famously, as president of the New York Yankees under George Steinbrenner during the 1970s....
in August 1966. They sold the Stokers to a group led by Cleveland attorney Howard Metzenbaum
Howard Metzenbaum
Howard Morton Metzenbaum was an American politician who served for almost 20 years as a Democratic member of the U.S. Senate from Ohio . He also served in the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate from 1943 to 1951.-Early life:Metzenbaum was born in Cleveland, to a poor Jewish family, the son...
and business partner, Alva "Ted" Bonda, the first week of January 1968.
In assembling a team of their own, the new owners acquired the bulk of the starting line-up from the 1967 NPSL Philadelphia Spartans
Philadelphia Spartans
The Philadelphia Spartans were a soccer team based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League . They played their only season of existence at Temple Stadium in North Philadelphia. The team was owned by Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art...
franchise, which would not participate in the NASL in 1968. The new Stokers won their division and fully intended on continuing operation. However, a difference in business philosophy with the five surviving NASL franchises saw the Stokers stay dormant in 1969. They did host an exhibition featuring a number of Stokers and NASL "all-stars" versus a West German opponent, which drew well, and fostered some hope, but Metzenbaum and Bonda remained unhappy with the NASL budgetary restraints, and announced the end of the Stokers in November 1969.
The 1968 Stokers won their division after a tight race with the talented Chicago Mustangs. In the conference championships, they were defeated in sudden-death overtime by the eventual champion Atlanta Chiefs. But the highlight of the club's existence occurred on July 10, 1968, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, when they hosted and defeated the soccer world's top-ranked professional team, Santos
Santos Futebol Clube
Santos Futebol Clube is a Brazilian professional football club based in Santos, São Paulo They play in the Campeonato Paulista and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the highest professional leagues in São Paulo state and Brazil, respectively....
of Brazil, featuring Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
. Keeper Paul Shardlow
Paul Shardlow
Paul Shardlow was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He also played cricket.-Football career:...
preserved the 2-1 upset by saving a penalty kick. Unfortunately, Shardlow, leased from Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, collapsed and died that October while scrimmaging in England.
Those who represented the Stokers so well in the field during 1968 included Ruben "The Hatchet" Navarro, a world-class defender who made numerous national-team appearances with Argentina, his native land - where his name and play remain legendary - and Enrique Mateos
Enrique Mateos
Enrique Mateos Mancebo was a Spanish footballer who played for Real Madrid and was part of their European Cup victories in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960...
, a veteran goal scorer from Spain - part of the powerful Real Madrid dynasty of the late 1950s. Stoker performers familiar to modern-day North American fans include John Best (later Seattle coach and Vancouver GM), and Roy Turner (later Dallas Tornado iron-man and then long-time indoor coach of the Wichita Wings). Peter Short and Hank Liotart also enjoyed long US soccer careers following their season in Cleveland.
Stokers' head coach Norman Low returned to England and did scouting. He later briefly scouted for the ASL Cleveland Cobras
Cleveland Cobras
The Cleveland Stars were an American soccer club based in Cleveland, Ohio and a member of the American Soccer League in 1972-73. Before the 1974 season, the name was changed to the Cleveland Cobras. The Stars' colors were blue and white...
. Metzenbaum embarked on a high-profile political career, while Bonda became a prominent Cleveland figure in education, business, and sports.
Year-by-year
| Year | League | W | L | T | Pts | Regular Season | Playoffs | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | USA | 5 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 2nd, Eastern Division | Did Not Qualify | 6,567 |
| 1968 | NASL | 14 | 7 | 11 | 175 | 1st, Lakes Division | Lost Playoff (Atlanta Atlanta Chiefs The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'... ) |
4,305 |