FC Seattle 1985
From Eric Gilbertson:
Club History:
June 10, 1984 -- draw 2-2 with Vancouver Whitecaps in first of four exhibition matches. Bruce Raney scores the first goal in FC Seattle history.
February 25, 1985 -- Bruce Rioch becomes head coach for first full season
February 26, 1985 -- Alan Hinton signs on as Director of International Operations
May 20, 1985 -- Jeff Durgan, formerly of Cosmos, signs for FC Seattle
June 6, 1985 -- In the wake of fan violence in Belgium at Liverpool v. Juventus match the prievious month, FIFA bans English teams from international travel. Matches v. West Brom Albion and Aston Villa are cancelled.
July 3, 1985 -- Bruce Raney scores first hat trick v. FC Portland
July 29, 1985 -- Bruce Rioch releases Jeff Durgan after flagrant actions v. Canada in which he was sent off
Sept 25, 1985 -- Bruce Rioch resigns as coach to return to England
Sept 27, 1985 -- Jimmy Gabriel is named head coach after serving as coaching director the previous two seasons. Bill Sage replaces Jack Brand as club president.
Dec 4, 1985 -- club adopts "Storm" as nickname. WSA formed, San Diego Nomads, LA Heat, Hollywood Kickers, and Edmonton Brickmen join the league, Victoria leave.
Apr 24, 1986 -- Canada World Cup team play a friendly here and win 3-2.
1985 FC Seattle Results:
Date Opponent Result (home first) Attendance
================================================================
6/2/85 Sea v. Dundee (SCO) 0-1 4487
6/8/85 Sea v. Santos (BRA) 2-1 4180
6/16/85 Sea v. U. de Guadalajara (MEX) 2-3 2847
6/23/85 Sea v. US National Team 2-3 3928
6/30/85 Sea v. FC Portland 0-2 2212
7/3/85 *FC Portland v. Sea 1-6 1950
7/7/85 *Sea v. San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 1773
7/13/85 *Victoria Riptides v. Sea 4-2 450
7/14/85 Sea v. Canada National Team 3-2 1728
7/27/85 *Sea v. Canada National Team 2-4 2200
7/31/85 *Sea v. FC Portland 0-0 1000
8/2/85 *San Jose Earthquakes v. Sea 1-0 3212
8/9/03 *Sea v. Victoria Riptides 3-0 1628
Home Attendance: 24,983, average 2598
* = Western Alliance Challenge Series match (3-3-1, 2nd place)
1985 selected Match reports
Game 1, Sea v. Dundee:
What FC Seattle lost on the scoreboard they gained in experience after dropping a 1-0 decision to Dundee (Scotland) in the 1985 season opener.
"We did quite well as a team," head coach Bruce Rioch noted. "It was a good first effort and we have a good base to build on."
Rioch's optimism was well noted. Dundee represented the talent farmed out of the Scottish Premier Division and proved quicker and sharper than the locals. Yet Seattle's young unit saw the beginning of a new future.
Seattle's '85 debug also marked the return of Tacoma native and former New York Cosmos standout Jeff Durgan, who had seen action with the US National Team the previous night.
FC Seattle battled Dundee on even terms for much of the afternoon, but George McGreachie decided the match, heading in the game winner at 66:14 from five yards out.
Although the Scots outshot the locals 26-16, Seattle's front line threatened with near goals by forward Gerard McGlynn in the second half, and with just 4:10 remaining, Ken Fuegmann's shot appeared to tie the contest, but the tally was called back on a foul call prior to the shot.
"Gerard really challenged Dundee today," Rioch said. We had the opportunity to socre and couldn't get the job done. We shouldn't have had a blank scoresheet today, but we have a great foundation to build upon."
Goals: DUN McGreachie 67'
Shots: Dundee 26, Seattle 16
Corners: Dundee 12, Seattle 6
Fouls: Dundee 23, Seattle 20
Offside: Dundee 3, Seattle 1
Saves: Dundee (Geddes) 4, Seattle (Schuur) 4
Cautions/Ejections: none
Attendance: 4487
Game 2: Seattle v. Santos
It was an upset, and FC Seattle took its 2-1 margin over world famed Santos (Brazil) in stride, chalking up the first win of 1985 to a week of hard work under head coach Bruce Rioch.
"There was some very good coaching during the week and it set us up to be prepared," said defender Jeff Durgan. "The coaches told us to get the ball wide and support each other, play tight defense in midfield... We didn't give them any space."
It was the midfield that supported Durgan and teammates with Brian Schmetzer on the end of both Seattle goals. Schmetzer joined Rioch's club earlier in the week on loan from the San Diego Sockers after helping that club win the 1985 MISL title. It also marked a reunion with twin brothers Andy and Walter Schmetzer, who had led Nathan Hale HS to the State High School Championship a few weeks earlier.
Both Schmetzer goals came on second half corners from Don Farler after Santos led 1-0 through the first half.
The first mark knotted the match from 23 yards out. Less than five minutes later, Schmetzer again fielded Farler's cross, sidestepped two defenders and punched in the game winner from 8 yards.
"I've never scored two goals in a professional game, I know that," Schmetzer said.
Rioch, undoubtedly pleased with the season's first win, knew his club had taken an important step.
"In anyone's book, in anyone's career, beating the Brazilians is an outstanding achievement," Rioch said. "We've begun to prove ourselves".
Goals: Santos -- Mirandinha 24'
Seattle -- Schmetzer 58', 63'
Shots: Seattle 15, Santos 14
Corners: Santos 7, Seattle 4
Fouls: Santos 12, Seattle 9
Offside: Seattle 3, Santos 2
Saves: Seattle (Schuur) 6, Santos (Rodrigues) 5
Cautions: Mirandinha 24', Roberto 38', Gersinho 39', Brian Schmetzer 58'
Attendance: 4180
Game 3: Seattle v. U. de Guadalajara
FC Seattle found the value of both experience and leadership while matching up against world class talent for the third consecutive week. They also found that the absence of those qualities has its distinct shortcomings.
Playing with the services of stalwart defender Jeff Durgan (pinched nerve in his neck) and losing Brian Schmetzer midway though the second half (sent off in the 53rd minute), Seattle fell to Mexico's Universidad de Guadalajara 3-2.
The Mexicans jumped on top early when forward Paulo Paulino scored just 43 seconds into the game, and Hector Prieto took a long pass from Paulino just six minutes later to lead 2-0.
Head coach Bruce Rioch quickly identified his team's weakness. "We came out like a boxer without his gloves on," Rioch admitted. "We gave them a quick 2-0 lead and did it the hard way."
Seattle mounted a comeback late in the first half when Andy Schmetzer took Ken Fuegmann's pass and scored from 14 yards out, and defender Robbie Zipp scored via Walter Schmetzer and Bruce Raney to tie the match at 2-2.
Seattle established the game's tempo and contained the Mexicans in the second half until Brian Schmetzer was flagged for a rough foul and sent off with 38 minutes to play.
Guadalajara landed the game winner when Prieto slipped his second goal of the day past Seattle GK Mark Schuur for the 3-2 final.
"I deserved the red card," Schmetzer later admitted. "I have to take the blame. If we had 11 men against an experienced team like that, we could've fought back."
Goals: GUAD Paulino 1'
GUAD Prieto 7'
SEA A. Schmetzer 29'
SEA Zipp 31'
GUAD Prieto 83'
Shots: SEA 22, GUAD 15
Corners: SEA 6, GUAD 2
Fouls: GUAD 31, SEA 20
Offside: GUAD 2, SEA 1
Saves: GUAD (Ibarra) 6, SEA (Schuur) 4
Cautions: B Schmetzer 48', Farler 62', Raney 63'
Ejections: B Schmetzer 55'
Attendance 2847
Game 4 -- Seattle v. USA
FC Seattle added a touch of American flavor in its fourth outing, but left Memorial Stadium with a bad taste after falling to the US National Team 3-2, while dropping its third match of the year.
Seattle fell behind early in the contest, giving up a goal in the opening minute for the second week in a row when National Team captain Hugo Perez broke through the Seattle back line just 58 seconds into the match for his first of two goals on the day.
Brian Schmetzer equalled that act with an easy volley at 12:51, but Perez put the US on top again four minutes later. Andy Schmetzer then tied the game at 2-2 with Brian Schmetzer and Don Farler assisting just before halftime.
It was the second half of play that will be remembered, however, particularly the final minute which decided the affair and sent former teammates Jeff Durgan and Ricky Davis to the showers with just seconds to play.
The melee began when Andy Schmetzer's apparent game winning goal was disallowed. The US were then credited with the game winner (a deflection off Seattle defender Dennis Gunnell for an own goal with 32 seconds remaining) after one linesman had whistled play dead.
An ensuing argument resulted in the ejection of both Durgan (former US captain) and Davis who later explained the flap as simple frustration.
"It was a good game that got out of hand," Durgan said. "Put it down to emotion. These were two teams of American kids and they both wanted to win."
Davis echoed the after-thought. "We played spirited today, but after playing poorly in the World Cup, we just got frustrated. Americans are better players than this."
Goals: US - Perez 1' (Brent Goulet, Jeff Hooker)
SEA - B Schmetzer 13'
US Perez 17'
SEA - A Schmetzer 43' (Farler, B Schmetzer)
USA - own goal 90' (Gunnell)
Shots: Seattle 17, US 11
Corners: Seattle 5, US 5
Fouls: US 20, Seattle 16
Offside: Seattle 2, US 0
Saves: US (Arnold Mausser) 6, Seattle (Schuur) 2
Cautions: Durgan (SEA) 72', Davis (US) 81', Zipp (SEA) 85'
Ejections: Durgan (SEA) 90', Davis (US) 90'
Attendance: 3928
1985 Roster
#-Pos Name
======================================================
1-GK Mark Schuur
1-GK Jeff Koch
1-GK Bill Glandon
2-D Don Farler
3-MF/F Kevin Iverson
4-MF Dan Pingrey
5-D James Hodgson
6-F Bruce Raney
7-MF Geoff Wall
8-D Tom Blahous
9-F Craig Beeson
10-MF Tad Willoughby
11-MF Peter Fewing
12-F Eric Guise
13-D Dennis Gunnell
14-F Peter Hattrup
15-MF Ken Fuegmann
16-D Dave Wittrell
17-D Daryl Green
18-D Rick Blubaugh
19-D/MF Bobby Bruch
20-F Gary Hunter
Head Coach: Jimmy Gabriel
Asst Coach: Tommy Jenkins
Colors: Dark blue, light blue, white
Home kits: Light blue shirts, dark blue shorts, light blue socks
Away kits: White shirts, white shorts, white socks
From the US Soccer Archives
Western Soccer Alliance (Div. 3)
On July 3 of 1985, a short time after the demise of the USL, outdoor professional soccer was born again as four independent West Coast teams created the Western Alliance Challenge Series. These included the San Jose Earthquakes, The Riptide from Victoria, British Columbia, and F. C. Portland & F. C. Seattle, two amateur teams. The series was established an a way to provide the regional soccer fans some meaningful competition, after the demise of the NASL and USL, and the cancellation of overseas tours by Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion. Those tours had been cancelled in the wake of FIFA's ban on international competition by English clubs. They played home and away against each other, and also played games against the Edmonton Brickmen and Canadian National Team. Although not part of the Challenge standings, the clubs also played matches against some top touring teams including Santos of Brazil and Sporting Lisbon of Portugal. San Jose won the series. Although Victoria quit the alliance, the event was well received by the fans and the remaining teams voted to establish a full-fledged league and expand for 1986. The opening game had attracted 2,906 fans to Portland's Civic Stadium. From these humble beginnings, was eventually born the A-League which stood in the 21st century as the national 2nd division league for the US, and FIFA-recognized first division league for Canada.
Final WSA League Standings, 1985
G W L T GF GA PTS
San Jose Earthquakes 7 4-1-2 10 9
13
Victoria Riptide 7
3-1-3 16 11 10
F. C. Seattle
7 3-1-3 13 13 10
F. C. Portland
7 1-2-4 8 16
5
LEAGUE CHAMPION: San Jose
There were games played against Edmonton Brickmen and a game against the
Canadian National team. The combined record of these games was 2-1-1 in favor
of the non-league teams. Also included is a game against the Canadian National
Team.
After the season, Victoria withdrew from the league.