The first Philadelphia Ukrainians team, also known as the "Philadelphia Tridents", Tryzub FC (Ukrainian Sports Association Philadelphia Tridents, in Ukrainian: УСО (Український Спортовий Осередок) «Тризуб» (Філадельфія). USO (Ukrainsky Sportovy Oseredok) «Tryzub» (Philadelphia)), was an American soccer club based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was a member of the American Soccer League. The Ukrainian Nationals were six (6) time American Soccer League Champions: in 1960-61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1967–68 and 1970. The team's colors are red and black. The Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals were the first team in United States history to have home games televised, and played in the first regulation indoor soccer game in Atlantic City's Convention Center in New Jersey.
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| Full name | Ukrainian Sports Association Philadelphia Tridents | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Ukrainians, The Tridents | ||
| Founded | 1950 | ||
| League | American Soccer League (1957-70) German-American Soccer League (1970-76) | ||
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Throughout its history the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals have hosted international friendly matches with teams such as Manchester United F.C., Austria Wien, VfB Stuttgart, Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., Eintracht Frankfurt, Manchester City F.C., Dundee F.C. and Nottingham Forest F.C.
History
editPhiladelphia Ukrainians
editThe club was suspended by the USSFA one week into its first professional season, following a complaint by the Penn State Association.[1]
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | National Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957/58 | N/A | ASL | Suspended after 1 game | N/A | N/A |
Ukrainian Nationals/Philadelphia Ukrainians
editThe Ukrainian Nationals was an American soccer club based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was a member of the American Soccer League.
After the Philadelphia Ukrainians was suspended a week into the season, a new Philadelphia franchise, the Ukrainian Nationals, was awarded and took the former Philadelphia Ukrainians' spot in the league.
For the 1964/65 second season, the club joined the "super-league" Eastern Professional Soccer Conference. After the EPSC folded at the end of its only season, the team returned to the ASL.
The club became known as the Philadelphia Ukrainians before the 1968 season.
After the 1970 season, the team moved to the amateur German American Soccer League.
The club completed the "double" in 1961 and 1963, winning the league and the National Challenge Cup. The club also won the league cup (the Lewis Cup) in 1959 and were runners-up in 1958 and 1963.
Year-by-year[2]
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | National Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957/58 | N/A | ASL | 2nd | No playoff | ? |
| 1958/59 | N/A | ASL | 2nd | No playoff | Semifinals |
| 1959/60 | N/A | ASL | 2nd | No playoff | Champion |
| 1960/61 | N/A | ASL | 1st | Champion (no playoff) | Champion |
| 1961/62 | N/A | ASL | 1st | Champion (no playoff) | Semifinal |
| 1962/63 | N/A | ASL | 1st | Champion (no playoff) | Champion |
| 1963/64 | N/A | ASL | 1st | Champion (no playoff) | Final |
| 1964/65 | N/A | EPSC | 3rd, South | No playoff | Semifinals |
| 1965/66 | N/A | ASL | 3rd | No playoff | Champion |
| 1966/67 | 2 | ASL | 2nd, North | did not qualify | Quarterfinals |
| 1967/68 | 2 | ASL | 1st | Champion | Semifinals |
| 1968 | 2 | ASL | 3rd | No playoffs | N/A |
| 1969 | 2 | ASL | 3rd, Southern | No playoffs | did not enter |
| 1970 | 2 | ASL | 1st | Champion (no playoff) | did not enter |
Honors
edit- 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1963-64, 1967-68, 1970[2]
- 1959-60, 1960-61, 1962-63, 1965-66[3]
- 1967[4]
- Philadelphia Soccer League Champion: 1
- 1955-56
References
edit- Notes
- ^ Great Philly soccer teams: Ukrainian Nationals. The Philly Soccer Page. Ed Farnsworth, January 21, 2010. "As the Philadelphia Ukrainians, they first took the field in 1950 and by 1956 had reached the finals of the National Amateur Cup, losing to St. Louis Kutis S.C. The Philadelphia Ukrainians decided to turn pro after that and joined the ASL for the 1957-58 season. For reasons that are at present unknown to me, the Philadelphia Ukrainians were suspended by the United States Soccer Football Association one week into the season. The Ukrainian Nationals were formed in their place, taking part of their name from the by now defunct Philadelphia Nationals."
- ^ a b USA - American Soccer League II
- ^ USA - List of US Open Cup Finals
- ^ Copa de Campeones CONCACAF 1967
External links
edit- Футбол - Українська футбольна діаспора (in Ukrainian)
- History of the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals at their 60th anniversary - "America" news article
- Historical standings of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League (German-American Football Association)
- United Soccer League of Pennsylvania: Ukrainian Nationals Standings