Detroit Express
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| Full name | Detroit Express |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Express |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Dissolved | 1981 |
| Stadium | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Capacity | 80,000 |
| Coach | Ken Furphy |
| League | NASL |
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned by Roger Faulkner and by famed English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing director and chairman of the English club Coventry City. The team was coached by Ken Furphy.
England forward Trevor Francis was the first big name signed by the team and arrived in early May 1978. He missed the first third of the season, but still led the team with 22 goals and 10 assists in 19 games. The coach's son, forward Keith Furphy was 2nd with 11 goals and 12 assists. David Bradford and Alan Brazil added 9 goals each. The Express won the Central Division of the American Conference with a 20 win and 10 loss record. In the playoffs, Francis scored the series winning goal to defeat the Philadelphia Fury in the first round, but the Express were then knocked out by the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at the Silverdome in a mini-game overtime after going 1–1 in the conference semi-finals.
Back in England, Francis made history as the first player in the UK to command a £1 million transfer when he was purchased by Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City. Forest was not keen to allow their new asset to return to the states, but they relented and Francis returned just past the midway point of the 1979 season. He drew large crowds and contributed 14 goals and 8 assists in 14 games, tying Keith Furphy for the team lead. Ted MacDougall added 9 goals and 11 assists. But the Express struggled to a 14 win – 16 loss record and a 3rd-place finish. They were then swept out of the playoffs 2–0 in the first round by the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Trevor Francis would never return to the NASL.
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