Minnesota Kicks

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Minnesota Kicks

Full name

Minnesota Kicks

Nickname(s)

Kicks

Founded

1976

Dissolved

1981

Ground

Metropolitan Stadium
(Capacity 45,000)

Coach

Freddie Goodwin

League

North American Soccer League





Home colours





Away colours

Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota in 1976 after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos.

Stars for the Kicks included US Soccer Hall of Famers Patrick (Ace) Ntsoelengoe and Alan Willey fifth and third league all-time leading scorers respectively. Ron Futcher, who along with Willey played all six Kicks seasons went on to become the league's fourth all-time leading scorer.

The Minnesota Kicks are remembered for the tailgating in the Metropolitan Stadium parking lot. It became a cultural phenomenon in the late 1970's, with thousands of fans arriving early to socialize and consume beverages. Policemen on horseback soon began to closely patrol the tailgating and game attendance quickly dropped off.

[edit] Players

Mike Bailey (footballer) (1977-78) [1]
Geoff Barnett (1976-79)
Tony Betts (1979) [2]
Ron Webster (1976-1981?)
Steve Carter (1981)
Stan Cummins (1977) [3]
Ron Futcher (1976-81) 129 apps 73 goals
Charlie George (1978)
Ian Hamilton (1978-81) [4]
Steve Heighway (1981)
Stewart Jump (1980-81) [5]
Patrick (Ace) Ntsoelengoe (1976-81)
Alan West (1976- )
Alan Willey (1976-1981)
Frank Spraggon (1976-??)
Steve Litt (footballer) (1976-81)
David Stride (1981) [6]
Tim Twellman (1977-81)
Jeff Solem (1976)
Mike Flater (1976-7)

[edit] Year-by-year

1976 Alan Willey, Ace Ntsoelengoe, Peter Brine, Alan Merrick (Captain), Ron Webster, Mike Flater, Chaka Ngcobo, Geoff Barnett, Sam Bick, Ron Futcher, Alan West, Doug Brooks, Smith Eggleston, Nick Owcharuk, Ade Coker, Tom Howe, Jeff Solem, Steve Litt, Frank Spraggon, Peter Short. Freddie Goodwin (Coach), Gary Smith (Trainer), Dave Nowicki (Ass't Trainer), Dr. James Priest (Team Physician).

1979 Willie Morgan, Gary Vogel, Tony Want, Alan Merrick, Ace Ntsoelengoe, Alan West, Chico Hamilton, Volkmar Gross, Mark Moran, Geoff Barnett, Bjorn Nordqvist (Captain), Alan Willey, Tino Lettieri, Ricardo Alonso, Steve Litt, Greg Villa, Ron Futcher, Mike McLenaghan, Tim Twellman. Roy McCrohan (Head Coach), Gary Smith (Head Trainer), Jim Mulcahy (Ass't Trainer), Dr. James Priest (Team Physician), Freddie Goodwin (President).

Year	League	W	L	T	Pts	Reg. Season	Playoffs
1976	NASL	15	9	—	138	1st, Pacific Conference, Western Division	Won Division Championship (Seattle) Won Conference Championship (San Jose) Lost Soccer Bowl '76 (Toronto)
1977	NASL	16	10	—	137	1st, Pacific Conference, Western Division	Lost Conference Championship (Seattle)
1978	NASL	17	13	—	156	1st, National Conference, Central Division	Won 1st Round (Tulsa) Lost Conference Semifinal (Cosmos)
1979	NASL	21	9	—	184	1st, National Conference, Central Division	Lost Conference Quarterfinal (Tulsa)
1979/80	NASL Indoor	8	4	—	—	2nd, Western Division	Won 1st Round (Tulsa Roughnecks) Lost Semifinal (Memphis)
1980	NASL	16	16	—	147	2nd, National Conference, Central Division	Lost 1st Round (Dallas)
1980/81	NASL Indoor	12	6	—	—	2nd, Central Division	Lost 1st Round (Atlanta)
1981	NASL	19	13	—	163	2nd, Central Division	Won 1st Round (Tulsa) Lost Quarterfinal (Ft. Lauderdale)