Cary, NC – The Carolina RailHawks continue their march up field toward the dream of a new league. Let’s review:
September: RailHawks leave USL
Nov 9: RailHawks form a new, unnamed league with six other teams
Nov 30: NASL is born – The North American Soccer League
Reborn is more like it. The name may sound familiar to long-time soccer fans. The original NASL, 1968-1984, was the first big pro soccer league in North America and featured Pele, the Babe Ruth of futbol.
“By becoming the NASL, we are paying respect to the players, coaches and leaders who were pioneers for men’s professional soccer in North America, many of whom remain involved and committed to the growth of our game in various capacities throughout the U.S. and Canada,” said Selby Wellman, principal owner of the RailHawks. “For that, we honour and thank them with a new era for the NASL.”
The Rochester Rhinos (why Rhinos?) have also joined the NASL. Team play is set to start here in Cary in April 2010, just five months away.
This is great news for soccer fans
http://www.usa2010.org
“Wear your support!”
I love the trend to keep with great American soccer traditions. The new NASL, the MLS Sounders, Earthquakes, and soon-to-be MLS Whitecaps. When pro soccer finally breaks into the living rooms of all Americans on the six o’clock news sports broadcasts (and one day it surely will), I predict that tv news anchors will mistakenly try to claim that soccer is “a new pro sport in America.” But, with visionary owners like Mr. Wellman paying homage to tradition, it will be a difficult position to hold, as all Americans will clearly see THROUGH FAMILIAR NAMES AND LOGOS the hundred-year-old tradition that soccer has enjoyed in the United States. THANK YOU to Mr. Wellman and to everyone who helps keep our great national soccer traditions alive.
USL failed as an ownership model. Funny, American pro-leagues follow a socialist structure, unlike anything else in this country. For me, it is still absurd that the players in MLS are owned by the league, and not by the clubs. This may be running against FIFA ownership rules…
At any rate, good luck to the new league.