Milwaukee Rampage

Milwaukee Rampage
Full name Milwaukee Rampage
Nickname(s) Rampage
Founded 1993
Dissolved 2002 (as a professional franchise)
Stadium Uihlein Soccer Park
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Capacity 7,000
League A-League

The Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League.

History

Founded in 1993, the Rampage played its first game on June 24, 1993 against Siarka Tarnobrzeg. Head coach Boro Sucevic fielded a team which included Kris Kelderman, Joey Kirk and Steve Provan. The Rampage played another six exhibition games that summer.[1] The team entered the 1994 United States Interregional Soccer League where it fell to the Minnesota Thunder in the Midwest Division final. This set up a rivalry between the two teams which continued until the Rampage's demise in 2002. In 1995, the USISL split into an upper and lower league. The Rampage joined the higher, professional league. That year, Milwaukee again fell to the Thunder in the Midwest Division final. In 1996, the USISL added a third league, the 1996 USISL Select League. The Rampage again fell to the Thunder, this time in the first round of the playoffs. In 1996, the Select League, along with the competing A-League, both received Division 2 status from FIFA. This led to a merger between the two leagues to form the 1997 A-League under the umbrella of the USISL. Milwaukee joined this combined league. This time the Thunder did not stand in its way as the Rampage went to the league championship, defeating the Carolina Dynamo in penalty kicks. The team won the championship once more, in 2002. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems. Upon their collapse, the Rampage were replaced in the A-league by the Milwaukee Wave United. The Milwaukee Rampage still exists as an amateur soccer club in Milwaukee.[2]

Working various pressbox duties throughout the Rampage's nine years (including operating the scoreboard, working the sound system and as back-up to the public address announcer) was Michael James.

General Managers

Coaches

Year-by-year

Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs Open Cup Avg. Attendance
1993 Exhibition schedule
1994 3 USISL 2nd, Midwest Divisional Finals Did not enter
1995 3 USISL Pro League 1st, Midwest West Sizzling Nine Did not qualify
1996 3 USISL Select League 1st, Central 2nd Round Did not qualify 3,053
1997 2 USISL A-League 4th, Central Champion Did not qualify 3,165
1998 2 USISL A-League 3rd, Central Conference Quarterfinals 2nd Round 3,176
1999 2 USL A-League 5th, Central Did not qualify Did not qualify 3,219
2000 2 USL A-League 2nd, Central Conference Finals Did not qualify 3,654
2001 2 USL A-League 3rd, Western Semifinals 3rd Round 2,682
2002 2 USL A-League 1st, Central Champion Quarterfinals 2,058

References

  1. ↑ Rampage looks to Rogers
  2. ↑ Milwaukee Rampage FC Homepage