History

Philadelphia Soccer History

So what happened next? A Philadelphia Atoms denouement

Our series commemorating the Philadelphia Atoms’ historic 1973 NASL title concludes with a look at what happened to the team after the championship and the team’s impact on American soccer.

Philadelphia Soccer History

Champions! Atoms defeat Dallas Tornado 2-0 in NASL final

A confident Philadelphia Atoms traveled to Texas Stadium for the 1973 NASL championship final and returned 2-0 winners.

Philadelphia Soccer History

Midnight for Cinderella? The “Atom Bomb” before the 1973 final

Two days after winning their semifinal game against Toronto to advance to the 1973 NASL championship game the Atoms lost two of their most important players, recalled by their home club in England.

Philadelphia Soccer History

Atoms defeat the Toronto Metros 3-0 in 1973 NASL championship semifinal

The Eastern Division champion Atoms already had a bag full of league records heading into their 1973 NASL semifinal agaisnt the Toronto Metros, a team they had never before defeated.

The 1973 Philadelphia Atoms
Philadelphia Soccer History

The Philadelphia Experiment takes off

The Atoms opened their inaugural season in relative anonymity. Along the way to the NASL championship, they showed American fans will pay to watch Americans play soccer.

Philadelphia Soccer History

Something better beginning

Our series commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Atoms historic inaugural season NASL championship continues with a look at how Philadelphia ended up with its first NASL franchise.

Philadelphia Soccer History

Remembering 1973 and Philadelphia’s summer miracle

Our series commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Philadelphia Atom’s historic inaugural season NASL championship begins with Steve Holroyd’s look at the Philly sports scene in 1973.

US Soccer History

The North American Soccer Football League

Steve Holroyd looks at the history of the North American Soccer Football League, which existed for two short years right after the Second World War and featured the talents of Gil Heron.

US Soccer History

The MLS All Star Game: More traditional than you’d think

All-Star games are a fixture of American pro sports. In American pro soccer, they date back to the 1920s.

Philadelphia Soccer History

The Stoke City-Philadelphia connection runs through Cleveland

In 1967, Stoke City players made up the Cleveland Stokers squad. The next year in the inaugural season of the NASL, it was Philadelphia Spartans players filling the ranks.