Washington Stars
Encyclopedia
The Washington Stars were an American soccer team established in 1987 as F.C. Washington. The team entered the American Soccer League
in 1988 under the name Washington Stars and merged with the Maryland Bays
in 1990.
and located in Fairfax, Virginia
, hired John Kerr, Sr.
as head coach on June 24, 1987. It played its first game on July 26, 1987 against the Canadian Pan American soccer team. In March 1988, the team became a charter member of the third American Soccer League
under the name Washington Stars. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League
in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League
. After the 1990 season, the team merged into the Maryland Bays
. The team played in W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA.
Bill Irwin
John Kerr Bruce Murray Charlie Raphael
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...
in 1988 under the name Washington Stars and merged with the Maryland Bays
Maryland Bays
The Maryland Bays were an inaugural franchise of the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1988.They were based in Catonsville, Maryland, and played their games at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL...
in 1990.
History
Founded in the spring of 1987 as F.C. Washington, the team grew out of the Fairfax Spartans which won the 1986 National Amateur Cup. The team, headed by president Gordon BradleyGordon Bradley
Gordon Bradley was an English-American football midfielder born and raised on Wearside who played several seasons with lower division English clubs before moving to play in Canada at the age of 30. During the Canadian off-season, he played and coached in the U.S. based German American Soccer...
and located in Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
, hired John Kerr, Sr.
John Kerr, Sr.
John Kerr, Sr. was a North American Soccer League and Canadian international soccer midfielder.-Professional:...
as head coach on June 24, 1987. It played its first game on July 26, 1987 against the Canadian Pan American soccer team. In March 1988, the team became a charter member of the third 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...
under the name Washington Stars. The team joined 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...
in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
. After the 1990 season, the team merged into the Maryland Bays
Maryland Bays
The Maryland Bays were an inaugural franchise of the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1988.They were based in Catonsville, Maryland, and played their games at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL...
. The team played in W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | N/A | ASL | 3rd, Northern | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1989 | N/A | ASL | 1st, Northern | Semifinals | Did not enter |
| 1990 | N/A | APSL | 5th, ASL North | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
Notable Players
Sonny AskewSonny Askew
John "Sonny" Askew is a retired American soccer forward who spent seven seasons in the North American Soccer League, two in the second American Soccer League, two in the third American Soccer League, and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
Bill Irwin
Bill Irwin (footballer)
William "Bill" Irwin is a Northern Irish former professional footballer, currently working as director of soccer at the University of Portland and head coach of the United States women's under-23 side.-Personal life:...
John Kerr Bruce Murray Charlie Raphael
Charlie Raphael
Charles “Charlie” Raphael is a former U.S. soccer forward who earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1988. He played professionally for nine years.-Youth:...