Philadelphia Fury (1978–80)
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| Full name | Philadelphia Fury |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Fury |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Stadium | Veterans Stadium |
| Capacity | 60,000 |
| League | North American Soccer League |
The Philadelphia Fury was a soccer team based in Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Among the club's investors were rock musicians Mick Jagger, Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon. The team played at Veterans Stadium.
The Fury brought topflight soccer back to Philadelphia for the first time since the Philadelphia Atoms folded in 1976. They never had a winning season, but did make the playoffs two out of three seasons. Attendance dropped each year and after the 1980 season, the club was sold and moved, becoming the Montreal Manic.
Notable Philadelphia Fury players included Johnny Giles, Alan Ball and Peter Osgood, all of whom starred in England before joining the club. Ball served as player-coach in 1978 after the dismissal of head coach Richard Dinnis). Other players for the Fury included all-league defender John Dempsey, Pat Fidelia, David Robb, Frank Worthington, Fran O'Brien and Bob Rigby.
NASL championships
Division titles
All-star selections
Defender of the year
US Soccer Hall of Fame members
In February 2014 it was announced that the Philadelphia Fury would compete in the inaugural season of the new American Soccer League (ASL) after being purchased by former MLS Assistant Coach and ASL CEO, Matt Driver. The new Fury carry the colors of the original team but play home games at Washington Township High School in New Jersey.
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