New York Skyliners

Defunct American soccer club

Soccer club

New York SkylinersFull name| New York Skyliners

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Nickname(s)| Skyliners
Founded| 1966
(Year of foundation)
Dissolved| 1968
Stadium| Yankee Stadium,
The Bronx, New York City
Capacity| 50,000
Owner| Madison Square Garden
Head coach| Ondino Viera
League| United Soccer Association
1967| United Soccer Association, Eastern Division, 5th

Home colors

Away colors

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The New York Skyliners were a soccer team based in the Bronx borough of New York City. The club were a charter member of the United Soccer Association (USA) in 1967 and played their home games as Yankee Stadium.

## History

[edit]

In 1966 several groups of entrepreneurs were exploring the idea of forming a professional soccer league in United States. One of these groups, United Soccer Association (USA) led by Jack Kent Cooke, selected 12 cities for team locations and the Irving Mitchell Felt purchased a franchise as part of the Madison Square Garden Corporation.[1] The USA originally planned to start play in the spring of 1968; however the rival National Professional Soccer League, which secured a TV contract from CBS, announced it was ready to launch in 1967. Not wanting to let the rival league gain an advantage, the USA decided to launch early. Not having secured any player contracts, the league imported teams from Europe, Brazil, and Uruguay to represent the franchise cities. Uruguayan team C.A. Cerro was brought in to play as the Skyliners.[2][3]

The Skyliners opened the season at home against the Toronto City[a] in a 1 - 1 draw in front of crowd of 21,871.[4] The New York Skyliners finished the season fifth place with a record of 2 wins, 6 ties and 4 losses while drawing an average home league attendance of 8,766.[5]

Following the 1967 season the United Soccer Association and the National Professional Soccer League merged to form the North American Soccer League. It was announced that New York would be one of the 20-teams in play in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The merged league decided not to have two-team cities and both the owners of the NPSL's New York Generals and Skyliners stepped aside and the franchise right were awarded to Peter Elser, who had held a minority interest Generals. Elser's franchise retained the New York Generals' name and front office and the New York Skyliners effectively went out of existence. [6][7]

## Colors and badge

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While the New York Skyliners' home kits were all white, their away jerseys were the same blue and white stripes as C.A. Cerro's home kits.

## Stadium

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Main article: Yankee Stadium (1923)

The New York Skyliners played their home matches at Yankee Stadium.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The Scottish team Hibernian F.C.[1] had been brought over to represent Toronto

### Coach

[edit]

* Ondino Viera[8]

## Year-by-year

[edit]

Season  | Regular season  | Play-offs  | Top scorer

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|
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League  | Div  | G  | W  | T  | L  | F  | A  | Pts  | %  | Pos  | Attend.  | Name  | Gls  | Pts
1967 | USA  | E  | 12  | 2  | 4  | 6  | 15  | 17  | 10  | .417  | 5th | 8,766  | - | Benedicto Ribeiro  | 5  | 12

## Records

[edit]

* League victory: 4-1 v Dallas Tornado, June 27, 1967
* League defeat: 0-2 v Washington Whips, June 7, 1967

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "N.Y. Soccer Team Named "Skyliners"". The Norwalk Hour. April 14, 1967. p. 31.
2. ^ Seese, D.J. (2015). The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America: The Strange Days of the United Soccer Association. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442238954.
3. ^ Hannigan, Dave (May 31, 2017). "Summer of soccer: when Shamrock Rovers conquered America". The Irish Times. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
4. ^ "Cougars Open With Tie". The Owosso Argus-Press. May 27, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
5. ^ "North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
6. ^ "Differences Settled, Soccer Leagues Merge". The Phoenix. December 14, 1967. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
7. ^ Smits, Ted (March 24, 1968). "Gangway for Soccer". Reading Eagle. p. 53. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
8. ^ "USA New York Skyliners Rosters".

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* NY Skyliners roster

* v
* t
* e

United Soccer Association teams

* Boston Shamrock Rovers
* Chicago Mustangs
* Cleveland Stokers
* Dallas Tornado
* Detroit Cougars
* Houston Stars
* Los Angeles Wolves
* New York Skyliners
* San Francisco Golden Gate Gales
* Toronto City
* Vancouver Royal Canadians
* Washington Whips

* v
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* e

North American Soccer League (1968–1984)

* Broadcasters
* USSF
* CSA
* Portal
* NASL (2011–2017)
* First overall draft picks

Seasons|

* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984

Soccer Bowls|

* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984

Predecessors|

* USA 1967
* Final
* NPSL 1967
* Final

Indoor seasons|

* 1971
* 1975
* 1976
* 1978
* 1979
* 1979–80
* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1983
* 1983–84

Conferences|

1968
East
West
1976–1977
Atlantic
Pacific
1978–1980
American
National

Related|

* Soccer Bowl broadcasters
* NASL Indoor Championship

Clubs|

* Atlanta Apollos
* Atlanta Chiefs
* Baltimore Bays
* Baltimore Comets
* Boston Beacons
* Boston Minutemen
* Boston Shamrock Rovers†
* Calgary Boomers
* California Surf
* Chicago Mustangs
* Chicago Spurs2
* Chicago Sting
* Cleveland Stokers
* Caribous of Colorado
* Connecticut Bicentennials
* Dallas Tornado
* Denver Dynamos
* Detroit Cougars
* Detroit Express
* Edmonton Drillers
* Fort Lauderdale Strikers
* Golden Bay Earthquakes
* Hartford Bicentennials
* Houston Hurricane
* Houston Stars
* Jacksonville Tea Men
* Kansas City Spurs
* Las Vegas Quicksilvers
* Los Angeles Aztecs
* Los Angeles Wolves
* Memphis Rogues
* Miami Gatos
* Miami Toros
* Minnesota Kicks
* Minnesota Strikers
* Montreal Manic
* Montreal Olympique
* New England Tea Men
* New York Cosmos
* New York Generals
* New York Skyliners1
* Oakland Clippers
* Oakland Stompers
* Philadelphia Spartans2
* Philadelphia Atoms
* Philadelphia Fury
* Pittsburgh Phantoms2
* Portland Timbers
* Rochester Lancers
* San Antonio Thunder
* San Diego Jaws
* San Diego Sockers
* San Diego Toros
* San Francisco Golden Gate Gales1
* San Jose Earthquakes
* Seattle Sounders
* St. Louis Stars
* Tampa Bay Rowdies
* Team America
* Team Hawaii
* Toronto Blizzard
* Toronto City1
* Toronto Metros
* Toronto Metros-Croatia
* Tulsa Roughnecks
* Vancouver Royals
* Vancouver Whitecaps
* Washington Darts
* Washington Diplomats
* Washington Whips

1 United Soccer Association team that did not join NASL upon merger with NPSL.
2 National Professional Soccer League team that did not join NASL upon merger with USA.

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

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