View source for Los Angeles Skyhawks

{{short description|Former American professional soccer club}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname      = Los Angeles Skyhawks
| image         = Los Angeles Skyhawks logo.png
| image_size    = 
| upright       = 
| alt           = 
| caption       = 
| fullname      = 
| nickname      = 
| short name    = 
| founded       = 1976
| dissolved     = 1979
| American      = y
| stadium       = [[John Shepard Stadium]]
| capacity      = 
| coordinates   = 
| owntitle      = <!--optional, default: Owner -->
| owner         = Robert Nordskog
| chrtitle      = <!--optional, default: Chairman -->
| chairman      = 
| mgrtitle      = <!--optional, default: Manager -->
| manager       = 
| coach         = 
| league        = [[American Soccer League (1933–1983)|American Soccer League]]
| season        = 
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}}

The '''Los Angeles Skyhawks''' was an American professional [[Football (soccer)|soccer]] club based in [[Los Angeles, California]], that was a member of the [[American Soccer League (1933-1983)|American Soccer League]]. Founded as part of the American Soccer League's expansion to the west coast in 1976, they were the first professional sports team to be based in the [[San Fernando Valley]] area of Los Angeles. The ASL, under commissioner [[Bob Cousy]], had expanded in an attempt to compete with the North American Soccer League. Coming into the league with the Skyhawks were the Oakland (later Golden Bay) Buccaneers, [[Tacoma Tides]], [[Sacramento Gold (1976–1980)|Sacramento Spirits]], and the [[Utah Golden Spikers|Utah Pioneers]] (later Golden Spikers). These teams formed the Western Division, while the Eastern Division had the established teams [[New York Apollo]], [[Connecticut Yankees (soccer)|Connecticut Yankees]], [[Rhode Island Oceaneers]], [[Chicago Cats]], [[New Jersey Americans]], and [[Cleveland Cobras]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Skyhawks |url=https://extratimevintage.com/collections/los-angeles-skyhawks |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Extra Time Vintage |language=en}}</ref>

The Skyhawks played their games at [[Birmingham High School|Birmingham High School Stadium]] for the 1976 and 1977 seasons. At the time, Birmingham was the largest stadium in the valley with a capacity of 10,000, and it was centrally located. Many of the players commented that the field conditions and lighting were better than that at many lower division European stadiums. After 1977, the Skyhawks moved to Shephard Stadium at [[Los Angeles Pierce Community College]].

==History==

===1976: The magical first season===
The Skyhawks managed to obtain the services of the renowned [[Ron Newman (footballer)|Ron Newman]] as their head coach, and he assembled a roster consisting of a number of young players from England's second and third divisions. Many of these players also had some limited first division experience; players such as goalkeeper Brian Parkinson (Everton), Midfielder Tony "Wheels" Whelan (Manchester City), Jimmy Rolland (Northwich Victoria), and forward Jimmy "the Price" Hinch (York), were the stars of the team. In addition, U.S. college player of the year [[Steve Ralbovsky]] (Brown University) spurned the N.A.S.L. and signed with the Skyhawks. The defense was anchored by 38-year-old sweeper and former Scottish International [[Ron Yeats]] ("the Colussus"), a veteran of the English First Division, where he was Liverpool's captain when Liverpool rose to glory in the 1960s. Hinch ended up as the A.S.L.'s leading scorer and Parkinson had the lowest goals against average (0.78) among A.S.L. goalkeepers. Led by these stars and a strong supporting cast, the Skyhawks had the league's best record (13 wins, 6 draws, 2 defeats) and regularly drew upwards of 4,000 fans per game, easily leading the ASL in attendance.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Strack-Zimmermann |first=Benjamin |title=Los Angeles Skyhawks (1976) |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/club/10070/1976_2/Los_Angeles_Skyhawks.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=www.national-football-teams.com |language=en}}</ref>

The 1976 ASL playoff format had the top 3 teams in each division qualifying for the playoffs, with the 1st place teams earning a first round bye while the 2nd place team hosted the 3rd place team.

After earning a first round bye, the Skyhawks faced the 2nd place Tacoma Tides, who had defeated Utah 2–1 in the first round. The Skyhawks took a 1–0 lead, but midway through the second half, goalkeeper Brian Parkinson suffered a head injury in a collision, and Tacoma equalized against backup keeper Marine Cano to force overtime. Facing the prospect of going into a penalty kick shootout without their #1 keeper, the Skyhawks won the game in the second 10-minute overtime period on a goal by Jimmy Rolland.

In the ASL championship game, the Skyhawks faced Eastern Division winner and defending champion New York Apollo. Over 9,000 fans showed up at Birmingham Stadium and saw the Skyhawks fall behind early, 1–0. Then late in the first half, Skyhawk defender Alty McKenzie was controversially sent off with a red card so L.A. had to play a man down the remainder of the game. But Hinch equalized early in the second half, and late in the game Ralbovsky was tripped from behind in the penalty area while on a breakaway. Skyhawk forward Ane Mihailovich buried the penalty kick into the back of the net past N.Y. keeper Gerard Joseph,  and the Skyhawks were ASL champs, making Ron Newman the only man to coach an ASL and NASL champion. Hinch was named MVP, and Newman was coach of the year.<ref name=":0" />

====Roster====
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player | no=1 | nat=ENG | pos=GK | name= [[Brian Parkinson]]}}
{{Fs player | no=2 | nat=JAM | pos=DF | name= [[Alty McKenzie]]}}
{{Fs player | no=3 | nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= [[Ken Fogarty]]}}
{{Fs player | no=4 | nat=ENG | pos=MF | name= [[Mickey Cave]]}}
{{Fs player | no=5 | nat=SCO | pos=DF | name= [[Ron Yeats]] ''(captain)''}}
{{Fs player | no=6 | nat=USA | pos=MF | name= [[Steve Ralbovsky]]}}
{{Fs player | no=7 | nat=SCO | pos=FW | name= [[Jimmy Rolland]]}}
{{Fs player | no=8 | nat=ISR | pos=MF | name= [[Abraham Cohen (soccer)|Abraham Cohen]]}}
{{Fs player | no=9 | nat=ENG | pos=FW | name= [[Jimmy Hinch]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player | no=10 | nat=YUG | pos=FW | name= [[Ane Mihailovich]]}}
{{Fs player | no=11 | nat=ENG | pos=MF | name= [[Tony Whelan]]}}
{{Fs player | no=12 | nat=ISR | pos=DF | name= [[Benny Binshtock]]}}
{{Fs player | no=13 | nat=NOR | pos=MF | name= [[Leif Werneid]]}}
{{Fs player | no=14 | nat=USA | pos=FW | name= [[Steve Cacciatore]]}}
{{Fs player | no=16 | nat=USA | pos=GK | name= [[Marine Cano]]}}
{{Fs player | no=17 | nat=MEX | pos=DF | name= [[Javier Loza]]}}
{{Fs player | no=18 | nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= [[John Willis (footballer)|John Willis]]}}
{{Fs player | no=19 | nat=USA | pos=FW | name= [[Jerry Kazarian]]}}
{{Fs player | no=20 | nat=ISR | pos=DF | name= [[Moshe Hoftman]]}}
{{Fs end}}

===1977 season===
The Skyhawks were again led offensively by Jimmy Hinch and Jimmy Rolland (who finished 2nd and 3rd in the league in scoring) and in goal by Brian Parkinson (who finished 2nd in GAA). While they couldn't duplicate their dominance of the 1976 season, they finished 2nd in the West and 4th overall with 13 wins, 4 draws, and 7 defeats. After a 3–2 first round playoff win over the California Sunshine, they lost to Western Division champion Sacramento in the Western Division playoff finals, 2–1.

====Roster====
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Brian Parkinson]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Jimmy Hinch]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[John Willis (footballer)|John Willis]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=[[Brooks Cryder]]}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=SLV|pos=DF|name=[[Miguel Lopez (soccer, born 1953)|Miguel Lopez]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=USA|pos=GK|name=[[Marine Cano]]}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=ISR|pos=DF|name=[[Moshe Hoftman]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=[[Jimmy Rolland]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=MEX|pos=DF|name=[[Javier Loza]]}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Bernie Fagan]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Garo Osmanian]]}}
{{Fs end}}

===1978 season===
By 1978, the ASL was in severe financial difficulty, with every team losing money. On the field, the Skyhawks, led by ASL leading scorer and MVP Jimmy Rolland and goalkeeper Brian Parkinson (again 2nd in GAA), returned to the top of the Western Division and with a record of 17–6–1. They made it to the championship game for the 2nd time in 3 years, but lost in the final, 1–0 to the New York Apollo, who had the league's best record at 18–5–1.

====Roster====
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Brian Parkinson]]}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=[[Charlie Kadupski]]}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=SLV|pos=DF|name=[[Miguel Lopez (soccer, born 1953)|Miguel Lopez]]}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Alan Sproates]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Paul Taylor (footballer born 1949)|Paul Taylor]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=[[Jimmy Rolland]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Mal Roche]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=MEX|pos=DF|name=[[Javier Loza]]}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=ISR|pos=DF|name=[[Moshe Hoftman]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=[[Billy McNichol]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Geoff Davies (footballer)|Geoff Davies]]}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Doug McMillan]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Garo Osmanian]]}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=USA|pos=GK|name=[[Joe Hight]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Brian Gardiner (soccer)|Brian Gardiner]]}}
{{Fs end}}

===1979 season===
The Skyhawks lost much of their scoring punch with the departures of Jimmy Hinch and Jim Rolland. Despite it all, the Skyhawks managed to place 3rd in the West with a 13–11–4 record. But the season ended with a first round playoff loss to Sacramento by a score of 3–2, in what proved to be the final Skyhawk game ever. The Skyhawks also played a friendly that season in Los Angeles Jackie Robinson Stadium against the 1980 US Men's Olympic Team in March losing the match 2–1. Due to financial difficulties, the team folded at the end of the 1979 season.

====Roster====
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Brian Parkinson]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Dave Donaldson (footballer born 1954)|Dave Donaldson]]}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=[[Leo Kulinczenko (soccer)|Leo Kulinczenko]]}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=MEX|pos=DF|name=[[Javier Loza]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Mal Roche]]}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=ARG|pos=MF|name=[[Carlos Zavaleta]]}}
{{Fs player|no=13|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=[[Kurt Stierle]]}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Paddy Dunning]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Vinnie McCarthy]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Paul Taylor (footballer born 1949)|Paul Taylor]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Garo Osmanian]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=[[Billy McNichol]]}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=SLV|pos=DF|name=[[Miguel Lopez (soccer, born 1953)|Miguel Lopez]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Les Peterson]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=[[Kevin Handlan]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Manny Matos (soccer)|Manny Matos]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Brian Gardiner (soccer)|Brian Gardiner]]}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=USA|pos=GK|name=[[Joe Hight]]}}
{{Fs end}}

==Honors==
'''Champions'''
* 1976

'''MVP'''
* 1976: [[Jimmy Hinch]]
* 1978: [[Jimmy Rolland]]

'''Leading Scorer'''
* 1976: [[Jimmy Hinch]]
* 1978: [[Jimmy Rolland]]

'''Leading Goalkeeper'''
* 1976: [[Brian Parkinson]]

'''Coach of the Year'''  
* 1976: [[Ron Newman (footballer)|Ron Newman]]

'''First Team All Star'''
* 1977: [[Jimmy Hinch]]

==Year-by-year==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Division
!League
!Reg. Season
!Playoffs
!U.S. Open Cup
|-
|1976
|West
|ASL
|bgcolor="B3B7FF"|1st, West
|bgcolor="FFEBAD"|Champion
|''Did not enter''
|-
|1977
|West
|ASL
|2nd, West
|Semifinals
|''Did not enter''
|-
|1978
|West
|ASL
|bgcolor="B3B7FF"|1st, Western
|Final
|''Did not enter''
|-
|1979
|West
|ASL
|3rd, Western
|1st Round
|''Did not enter''
|}

==Management==
* Jack Young, General Manager & Owner (1976–1977)
* Robert Nordskog, Owner (1978–1979)

==Coaches==
*1976 {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ron Newman (footballer)|Ron Newman]] (Head coach)
*1978 {{flagicon|POL}} [[Max Wosniak]] (Head coach) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30368219/|title=Valley News from van Nuys, California on April 21, 1977 · Page 52|date=21 April 1977 }}</ref>
*1978 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Doug McMillan]] (Head coach)
*1979 {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Geoff Davies (footballer)|Geoff Davies]] (Head coach)

==Skyhawk Trivia and Notes==
*Colors: Black and Gold. The home uniforms featured gold jerseys with black shorts and gold socks, while the away uniforms were black jersey with black shorts and black socks.
*First game: April 17, 1976  at Birmingham Stadium. Score: Sacramento 0  Skyhawks 0  Attendance: 4,108
*First goal: April 24, 1976, scored by Leif Werneid in a 1–1 tie vs. Oakland in the second game of the season.
*Ron Newman is the only man to coach an NASL champion (Dallas Tornado), ASL champion (L.A. Skyhawks) and MISL champion (San Diego Sockers). He also coached the Kansas City Wizards to a division title in the MLS.
* Skyhawk alum Marine Cano currently runs "Mr. Soccer" Soccer camps in southern California. In addition, he has been a highly successful college women's soccer coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills and UC Irvine.
* The Skyhawks played a friendly in March 1979 against the 1980 US Olympic team at Jackie Robinson stadium losing the match 2–1. Jimmy Rolland scored the only goal for the Skyhawks before his departure to the California Sunshine.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{American Soccer League}}

[[Category:Los Angeles Skyhawks| ]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer clubs in California]]
[[Category:American Soccer League (1933–1983) teams]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1979 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:Soccer clubs in California]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1976]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1979]]