Carolina Lightnin'
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The Carolina Lightnin' was an American soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina that was a member of the American Soccer League. The Lightnin' played home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Attendance at home games averaged 6,000 spectators. More than 20,000 attended the September 1981 match against the New York United in which the Lightnin' won the American Soccer League championship by a score of 2-1.
After the ASL folded, the club joined the newly formed United Soccer League as the Charlotte Gold. However, the team folded at the end of the 1984 season. Pro soccer returned to the city in the form of the Charlotte Eagles in 1993.
Honors
ASL Champions
- 1981
ASL Rookie of the Year
- 1981 Tony Suarez
ASL First Team All Star
- 1981 Don Tobin, Tony Suarez
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2 | ASL | 1st, Freedom | Champion | Did not enter |
| 1982 | 2 | ASL | 4th | Semifinals | Did not enter |
| 1983 | 2 | ASL | 3rd, Eastern | Semifinals | Did not enter |
| 1984 | N/A | USL | 2nd, Southern | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
Coaches
Rodney Marsh 1981-1983
Notable players
Paul Child (1982)-
Pat Fidelia (1982–84) - Matt Kennedy (1983)
- Stuart Lee (1983) 25 Apps 11 Goals
- Scott Manning (1981–82)
- Dave Philpotts (1978–83)
- Dave Pierce (1981–83) 60 Apps Winning assist ASL Final 1981
- Mal Roche (1981) 22 Apps 8 Goals
Derek Smethurst (1982) 6 Apps
Don Tobin (1981)
Tony Suarez (1981–83) 22 Apps 15 Goals- Dave Power (1981–83) Captain
- Hugh O'Neill (1981–82) Winning goal ASL Final 1981
References
- Scott, David. (2007, April 20). Suarez, ex-soccer star and fan favorite, dies. The Charlotte Observer
- American Soccer History Archives
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