Oklahoma City Slickers

The Oklahoma City Slickers was the name given to two different American soccer club based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The first team competed in the second American Soccer League in 1982 and 1983, and as the Oklahoma City Stampede in the United Soccer League in 1984 and 1985. The second Oklahoma City Slickers competed in the USISL from 1993 to 1996.

Oklahoma City Slickers (1982-1985)

In 1982, the first Oklahoma City Slickers joined the de facto second division American Soccer League.[1] The Slickers went to the championship series, losing to the Detroit Express. Head coach Brian Harvey was the ASL Coach of the Year. In 1983, the Slickers finished last in the league. The American Soccer League collapsed following the 1983 season. This led to the creation of the United Soccer League in 1984. The Slickers joined the new league, changing their name to the Oklahoma City Stampede in the process.[2] The club once again came tantalizingly close to a league championship, winning the regular-season title on point differential over the Fort Lauderdale Sun but falling in the playoff semi-finals to the Houston Dynamos in a three-game series. This success, however, was short-lived. After the 1984 season, the club relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Tulsa Tornados, with Brian Harvey still attached as head coach. But the Tornados and the rest of USL folded in the spring of 1985 after just a handful of games. During its short existence, Oklahoma City's best-known players were goalkeeper Phil Parkes and Jeff Bourne, both veterans of the North American Soccer League and English First Division. Home games were played at historical (but woefully narrow for soccer purposes) Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Year-by-year

Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs National Cup
1982 2 ASL 2nd Finals Did not enter
1983 2 ASL 3rd, Western Did not qualify Did not enter
1984 N/A USL 1st, Western Semifinals Did not enter

Notable players

Oklahoma City Slickers (1993-1996)

In February 1993, the United States Interregional Soccer League announced the merger of the Oklahoma City Warriors of the USISL and the Oklahoma City Spirit of the Lone Star Soccer Alliance. The new team would compete in the USISL using the name the Oklahoma City Slickers.[3] Brian Harvey coached the Slickers in their first year with Warriors head coach Chico Villar serving as an assistant and team general manager. The team also returned to Taft Stadium.[4] In 1994, Duane Cummings replaced Harvey as head coach. The Slickers withdrew from the league and disbanded after the 1995–96 USISL indoor season.

Year-by-year

Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs National Cup
1994 N/A USISL 7th, South Central Did not qualify Did not enter
1994-95 N/A USISL Indoor 1st, South Central Finals N/A
1995 3 USISL Premier 4th, Western First round Did not enter
1995-96 N/A USISL Indoor 3rd, Central Sizzlin' Five N/A

External links

References

  1. ↑ The Year in American Soccer - 1982
  2. ↑ The Year in American Soccer - 1984
  3. ↑ City Slickers Have New Life
  4. ↑ Slickers Host Dallas in Debut
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