Jimmy Higgins
Contributor
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2001
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- Basic Beliefs
- Calvinistic Atheist
Well, I learned something new. The US has had a run of Football leagues over the years. Football (proper) has suffered from being a regional fan favorite. I'm from the Northeast and soccer was just something people played. It was like ice hockey. It just was. I didn't realize other places it wasn't like that.
In the mid 60s, a meaningless European game was broadcasted in the US to huge ratings and all of a sudden, businessmen started seeing dollar signs. Groups rushed to create leagues. Two competing groups emerged. The more likely to succeed group was rushed to put a product out in kind with the other competition. They didn't have time, so instead of building franchises, they effectively borrowed them. Cleveland would inherit, of all teams, Stoke City, and would become the Cleveland Stokers. The USA would merge with the competition and become the NASL. Stoke City squad would not be loaned the following season. The NASL would collapse, but barely survive and would continue on in the mid-80s.
60 or so years later, Stoke City found a very late goal against Sunderland (in playoff position) this past weekend, to take all three points. They recently sacked their last coach, after sacking Schumacher, who had Plymouth Argyle in good position in the Championship. Shawcross, former long time Stoke City defender/octopus, is the caretaker manager who oversaw the three point haul.
In the mid 60s, a meaningless European game was broadcasted in the US to huge ratings and all of a sudden, businessmen started seeing dollar signs. Groups rushed to create leagues. Two competing groups emerged. The more likely to succeed group was rushed to put a product out in kind with the other competition. They didn't have time, so instead of building franchises, they effectively borrowed them. Cleveland would inherit, of all teams, Stoke City, and would become the Cleveland Stokers. The USA would merge with the competition and become the NASL. Stoke City squad would not be loaned the following season. The NASL would collapse, but barely survive and would continue on in the mid-80s.
60 or so years later, Stoke City found a very late goal against Sunderland (in playoff position) this past weekend, to take all three points. They recently sacked their last coach, after sacking Schumacher, who had Plymouth Argyle in good position in the Championship. Shawcross, former long time Stoke City defender/octopus, is the caretaker manager who oversaw the three point haul.