View source for Seattle Storm (soccer)

{{Short description|American soccer team}}
{{for|the WNBA basketball team of the same name|Seattle Storm}}
{{Infobox football club 
|  clubname = Seattle Storm
|  image    = Fc seattle logo.png
| image_size = 80
|  fullname = Football Club Seattle Storm
|  nickname = The Storm
|  founded  = 1984
|  dissolved  = {{end date and age|1995}}
|  stadium  = [[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]]
|  capacity = 12,000
|  chairman = Bud Greer
|  manager  = 
|  league   = [[Western Soccer League]]
|  season   = 
<!-- home kit -->
| pattern_la1   = _whiteborder
| pattern_b1    = _collarwhite
| pattern_ra1   = _whiteborder
| pattern_sh1   =  
| pattern_so1   =  
| leftarm1      = 000033
| body1         = 88cffa
| rightarm1     = 000033
| shorts1       = 000033
| socks1        = 88cffa
<!-- away kit -->
| pattern_la2   = 
| pattern_b2    = 
| pattern_ra2   = 
| pattern_sh2   = 
| pattern_so2   = 
| leftarm2      = 
| body2         = 
| rightarm2     = 
| shorts2       = 
| socks2        = 
}}
'''Football Club Seattle Storm''', also known as the '''F.C. Seattle Storm''', was an American [[soccer]] team based in [[Seattle, Washington]].  F.C. Seattle was a "super club" created to provide Seattle players an opportunity to play at a higher level than the local recreational and semi-pro leagues.  In addition to playing exhibition matches against top international teams, F.C. Seattle was a member of the short lived [[Western Soccer Alliance]], was a founding member of the [[American Professional Soccer League]] and later spent three seasons in the [[Pacific Coast Soccer League]].

==History==

===1984: F.C. Seattle Challenge===

In 1984, F.C. Seattle hosted the F.C. Seattle Challenge '84.  This series pitted F.C. Seattle against three [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]] teams, the [[Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)|Vancouver Whitecaps]] (2–2 tie), [[Minnesota Strikers]] (0–3 loss), [[New York Cosmos (1971–1985)|New York Cosmos]] (1–2 loss), as well as the [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 U.S. Olympic Team]].  For this challenge cup, the team filled its roster from local colleges, high schools and semi-pro teams.  However, five F.C. Seattle players had previous professional experience: [[Jack Brand (soccer)|Jack Brand]], [[Jerry Cameron]], [[Eddie Krueger]], [[Joe James (soccer)|Joe James]] and [[Robbie Zipp]].  The team was coached by former Sounders player Tom Jenkins and played its games in Seattle's [[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Farber |first=Stan |date=June 8, 1984 |title=F.C. Seattle begins area pro soccer test |page=C5 |work=[[The News Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-fc-seattle-begins-are/125763255/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>[http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/FCupdates/1984/gabriel_1984_seattle_fc.htm Football Club Seattle]</ref> The series averaged just over six thousand fans per game.  At the end of it, NASL officials approached F.C. Seattle about entering the NASL for the 1985 season.  F.C. Seattle declined, noting that most NASL teams hemorrhaged money.<ref>[http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1984.html The Year in American Soccer - 1984]</ref> The club's backers, including owner Bud Greer, preferred to keep it on a semi-professional basis and develop players while building a fanbase for a future professional team.<ref name="Times-MacDonald">{{cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Frank |date=September 10, 2014 |title=Soccer in Seattle at 40: FC Seattle leads the way, goes organic |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2024509090_soccerinseattle40-fcseattle.html |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404005108/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2024509090_soccerinseattle40-fcseattle.html |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref>

===1985: Western Alliance Challenge Series===
In 1985, F.C. Seattle joined with three other independent "super clubs", [[F.C. Portland]], [[San Jose Earthquakes (NASL team)|San Jose Earthquakes]] and [[Victoria Riptides]], to create the Western Alliance Challenge Series.  This series came in response to the cancellation of games F.C. Seattle had scheduled against English teams [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] and [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]].  In June, [[FIFA]] had banned English clubs from travelling for international games after [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] fans sparked massive deaths in [[Heysel Stadium disaster|fan violence in Belgium]].

[[F.C. Portland]] hosted F.C. Seattle for the first game of the series, a game F.C. Seattle won on the strength of a Bruce Raney hat trick.  Other significant F.C. Seattle players included [[Jeff Durgan]], the Schmetzer brothers - [[Andy Schmetzer|Andy]], [[Brian Schmetzer|Brian]] and [[Walt Schmetzer|Walter]], and [[Peter Hattrup]].  However, [[Bruce Rioch]], who had replaced [[Jack Brand]] as head coach in February, released Durgan from the team after he was ejected for making several flagrant fouls in the game against the [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada national team]] in July.

===1986–1989:  Western Soccer Alliance/League===
In 1986, three of the four teams from 1985, decided to form the [[Western Soccer Alliance]].  Only Victoria declined to join the new alliance, but they were replaced by the [[Edmonton Brick Men]].

In 1987, the WSA instituted a two-game post-season playoff series.  F.C. Seattle, which finished second in alliance standings, lost 3–0 to the [[San Jose Earthquakes (NASL team)|San Jose Earthquakes]] in the wild card game.

Up to now F.C. Seattle had also been known as the F.C. Seattle Storm.  In 1988, the team officially dropped the F.C. and became the Seattle Storm.  However, they were still referred to as the F.C. Seattle Storm throughout the season and the new name was not widely used until the 1989 season.  The 1988 season was one of the most successful for the Storm when it cruised to the top of the regular season standings, then crushed the Earthquakes 5–0 in the championship game.

In 1989, the Storm failed to build on its previous year's success and finished out of playoff contention.  As a side note, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League.

===1990: American Professional Soccer League===

In 1990, the Storm, along with the rest of the WSL merged with the [[American Soccer League (1988-1989)|American Soccer League]] to form the [[American Professional Soccer League]]. They would play in the North Division of the WSL Conference, which comprised all teams from the former WSL.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 23, 1990 |title=Seattle Storm aligns with outdoor soccer league |page=B3 |work=[[Kitsap Sun]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kitsap-sun-seattle-storm-aligns-with-out/125659789/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref> Despite [[Chance Fry]] leading the league with 17 goals and 5 assists, the Storm finished last in the North Division of the West Conference.  Following the season, Greer announced his intention to have the Storm sit out the 1991 season. However, in February 1992, he decided to fold the team.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=February 21, 1992 |title=Curtain closes on Seattle Storm |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19920221&slug=1476949 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref>

===1993–1995: Pacific Coast Soccer League===
In December 1992, [[Stuart Lee]] bought the rights to the team and entered it in the amateur [[Pacific Coast Soccer League]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19930114&slug=1680078|title=Revived Storm To Join Amateur Soccer League|work=The Seattle Times|first=Craig|last=Smith|date=January 14, 1993|accessdate=October 22, 2014}}</ref> The team competed through the 1995 season then withdrew from senior competitions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Knight |first=Bill |date=February 7, 1995 |title=Soccer storms Seattle area |page=D1 |url=<!--http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1995/9502070003.asp--> |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> It continues to operate as a local soccer club with boys and girls teams in all age competitions.<ref>[http://www.fcseattle.com/ FC Seattle]</ref>

==Yearly record==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Team Name
!League
!Reg. Season
!Playoffs
!Open Cup
|-
|[[1985 Western Alliance Challenge Series|1985]]
|F.C. Seattle
|WSA
|3rd
|''No playoffs''
|''Did not enter''
|-
|[[1986 Western Soccer Alliance|1986]]
|F.C. Seattle
|WSA
|3rd
|''No playoffs''
|''Did not enter''
|-
|[[1987 Western Soccer Alliance|1987]]
|F.C. Seattle Storm
|WSA
|2nd
|Wild Card
|''Did not enter''
|-
|[[1988 Western Soccer Alliance|1988]]
|Seattle Storm
|WSA
| style="background:#b3b7ff;"|1st
| style="background:#ffebad;"|Champion
|''Did not enter''
|-
|[[1989 Western Soccer League|1989]]
|Seattle Storm
|WSL
|3rd, North
|''Did not qualify''
|''Did not enter''
|-
|[[1990 American Professional Soccer League|1990]]
|Seattle Storm
|APSL
|5th, WSL North
|''Did not qualify''
|''Did not enter''
|-
|1993
|F.C. Seattle Storm
|PCSL
|
|
|''Did not enter''
|-
|1994
|F.C. Seattle Storm
|PCSL
|
|
|''Did not enter''
|-
|1995
|F.C. Seattle Storm
|PCSL
|8th
| ''Did not qualify''
|''Did not enter''
|}

==Ownership and staff==
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Bud Greer]] - Chairman
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[William C. Sage]] - President / General Manager

==Coaches==
''Record includes both league and exhibition matches.''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Name
!rowspan="2"|Nat
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="6"|Record
|-
!P!!W!!D!!L!!F!!A
|-
|align=left|[[Tommy Jenkins]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|1984
|align=left|February 1985
||7||1||1||5||6||12
|-
|align=left|[[Bruce Rioch]]
|{{flagicon|Scotland}}
|align=left|February 1985
|align=left|September 1985
||13||6||1||6||23||25
|-
|align=left|[[Jimmy Gabriel]]
|{{flagicon|Scotland}}
|align=left|September 1985
|align=left|1988
||35||14||4||17||49||53
|-
|align=left|[[Tommy Jenkins]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|1988
|align=left|1989
||39||25||2||12||76||49
|-
|align=left|[[Stuart Lee]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|1990
|align=left|1990
||26||13||0||13||53||45
|-
|align=left|[[Stuart Lee]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|1993
|align=left|1995
||||||||||||
|}

==Notable players==
''This list includes those former players who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left.''

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Scott Benedetti]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rick Davis]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jeff Durgan]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chance Fry]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brent Goulet]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Peter Hattrup]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chris Henderson]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Eddie Henderson (soccer)|Eddie Henderson]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Bernie James]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Billy Crook (American soccer)|Billy Crook]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rick Blubaugh]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brian Schmetzer]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jeff Stock]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Wade Webber]]
{{div col end}}

==Exhibition games==
As an independent soccer team, F.C. Seattle original purpose was to play exhibition games.  Even after the establishment of the Western Soccer Alliance, exhibition games remained one of the most significant elements of the team's seasons.

===1984===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"
!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Scorers
|- style="background-color:#ffffbb"
|{{left}}June 10, 1984
|{{left}}[[Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–84)|Vancouver Whitecaps]]
|[[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]]
|2–2
|5,984<ref>{{cite news |last=Hickey |first=Pat |date=June 11, 1984 |title='Caps granted reprieve |page=B3 |work=[[Vancouver Sun]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-caps-granted-reprieve/143267543/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=March 12, 2024}}</ref>
|{{left}}[[Bruce Raney|Raney]] {{small|(0:45)}}, [[Doug Backous|Backous]] {{small|(84:24)}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Farber |first=Stan |date=June 11, 1984 |title=Strong start for new soccer club |page=C3 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-strong-start-for-new-so/125763543/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background-color:#ffdddd"
|{{left}}June 21, 1984
|{{left}}[[Minnesota Strikers]]
|[[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]]
|0–3
|4,863<ref>{{cite news |last=Carlton |first=Debera |date=June 22, 1984 |title=Strikers give F.C. Seattle 3-0 loss |page=B2 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>
|{{sort dash}}
|- style="background-color:#ffdddd"
|{{left}}July 6, 1984
|{{left}}[[New York Cosmos (1971–85)|New York Cosmos]]
|[[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]]
|1–2 
|7,631<ref name="Times-Cosmos1984">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=July 7, 1984 |title=Cosmos rally, edge FC Seattle |page=D1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
|{{left}}[[Eddie Krueger|Krueger]] {{small|(1:50)}}<ref name="Times-Cosmos1984"/>
|- style="background-color:#ffdddd"
|{{left}}July 13, 1984
|{{left}}[[United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics#Football|1984 U.S. Olympic Team]]
|[[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]]
|1–3
|8,199<ref name="Times-Olympic1984">{{cite news |last=Reid |first=Scott M. |date=July 14, 1984 |title=Olympian effort, but F.C. Seattle falls |page=C1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
|{{left}}[[Mike Hiatt|Hiatt]] {{small|(5:42)}}<ref name="Times-Olympic1984"/>
|- style="background-color:#ddffdd"
|{{left}}August 4, 1984
|{{left}}at [[Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–84)|Vancouver Whitecaps]]
|[[BC Place]]
|1–2
|1,426<ref>{{cite news |date=August 7, 1984 |title=Whitecaps lose |page=10 |work=[[Nanaimo Daily News]] |agency=The Canadian Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/50753738/nanaimo-daily-news/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref>
|{{left}}[[Tad Willoughby|Willoughby]] {{small|(7:46)}}, [[Bruce Raney|Raney]] {{small|(80:26)}}<ref>{{cite news |date=August 5, 1984 |title=FC Seattle upsets Caps |page=B5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
|- style="background-color:#ffdddd"
|{{left}}September 8, 1984
|{{left}}Vancouver Fire
|[[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]]
|0–1
|
|{{sort dash}}
|}

===1985 results===
June 2: [[Dundee F.C.]] 0–1<br />
June 9: [[Santos Futebol Clube|Santos]] 2–1<br />
June 16: [[Club Deportivo Guadalajara|Guadalajara]] 2–3<br />
June 23: [[United States men's national soccer team|US National Team]] 2–3

===1986===
April 24: [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada national team]] 2–3<br />
May 27:  [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] 0–1<br />
June 6:  [[Dundee F.C.]] 1–2<br />
July 19:  SC Cleveland 2–1

===1987===
May 31:  [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]] 1–1<br />
June 5:  [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] 2–0<br />
June 20:  Neza, Mexico City<br />
July 10: [[Herfølge Boldklub|Herfølge]] 2–1<br />
July 15: [[Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)|Vancouver Whitecaps]] 0–1<br />
'''Stormin the Isles Tour of Britain:'''
:July 27:  [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] 1–2
:July 29:  [[AFC Bournemouth]] 0–1
:July 31:  [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.]] 2–2
:August 4:  [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] 0–3
:August 6:  [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] 1–3

===1988===
May 7: [[Calgary Strikers]] 3–1<br />
June 11:  [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] 2–1<br />
June 26:  [[Atlante F.C.|Atlante]]<br />
August 3: [[Oldham Athletic]] 0–2<br />
August 6: [[Lincoln City F.C.]] 2–2<br />
August 10: [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] 0–3<br />
August 13: [[Sunderland F.C.]] 0–3<br />
August 16: [[Hull City A.F.C]] 2–2

===1989===
May 7:  [[Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010)|Vancouver 86ers]] 2–1<br />
August 3:  [[Victoria Vistas]] 3–0

===1990===
May 5: [[Victoria Vistas]] 3–0<br />
May 20:  [[AFC Bournemouth]] 1–0<br />
May 29:  [[FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk|Dnepr]] 1–2<br />
August 1:  at [[Victoria Vistas]] 1–0<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900802/1085662/victoria-extends-storm-losing-streak-to-seven|title=Victoria Extends Storm Losing Streak to Seven}}</ref><br />
August 5:  at [[Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010)|Vancouver 86ers]] 5–3<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900806/1086582/vancouver-86ers-deal-storm-eighth-consecutive-defeat-5-3|title=Vancouver 86Ers Deal Storm Eighth Consecutive Defeat, 5-3}}</ref><br />
August 8:  [[Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010)|Vancouver 86ers]] 3–2

==All time roster (1984–1990)==

===Goalkeepers===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Jack Brand (soccer)|Jack Brand]]: 1984
* Sergio Soriano: 1984
* Mark Schuur: 1985-1986, 1988
* Bill Glandon: 1986
* Jeff Koch: 1986-1989
* [[Jeff Storrs]]: 1987-1990
* Mark Berry: 1987<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pcopple.9f.com/rich_text_10.html |title=WSYSA Male Alumni Players Accomplishments |access-date=2015-03-13 |archive-date=2012-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829202500/http://pcopple.9f.com/rich_text_10.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Rolf Norton: 1988-1989
* Jim Neighbors: 1988
* [[Matthew Olson]]: 1989
* Chris Bell: 1990
* [[Jim Brazeau]]: 1990
{{div col end}}

===Defenders===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* Doug Backous: 1984
* Pat Blann: 1984
* Dave Felt: 1984
* [[Eddie Krueger]]: 1984
* Terry McGill: 1984
* Steve Englebrick: 1984-1985
* [[Robbie Zipp]]: 1984-1985
* [[Rick Blubaugh]]: 1984, 1986-1989
* [[Joe James (soccer)|Joe James]]: 1984, 1989
* [[Jeff Durgan]]: 1985
* Don Farler: 1985-1990
* [[Pete Fewing|Peter Fewing]]: 1985-1990
* Dan Pingrey: 1985
* Tom Blahous: 1986-1987
* [[Daryl Green]]: 1986-1989
* James Hodgson: 1986
* Kevin Iverson: 1986
* Dave Wittrell: 1986
* Randy Hanson: 1987
* Kevin O’Keefe: 1987
* [[Jeff Stock]]: 1987-1989
* [[Billy Crook (American soccer)|Billy Crook]]: 1988
* [[Grant Gibbs]]: 1988-1990
* Rob Goff: 1988, 1989
* [[Bernie James]]: 1988-1989
* [[Ray Evans (footballer, born 1949)|Ray Evans]]: 1989
* Steve McCrath: 1988-1990
* Bob McLaughlin: 1989
* Ian MacLean: 1989
* Craig Ottosen: 1989
* [[Wade Webber]]: 1990
* [[Garrett Smith]]: 1990
{{div col end}}

===Midfielders===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Jerry Cameron]]: 1984
* Teddy Mitalas: 1984
* [[Tad Willoughby]]: 1984, 1986-1989
* Ken Fuegmann: 1985-1988
* Dennis Gunnell: 1985-1988
* [[Andy Schmetzer]]: 1985
* [[Brian Schmetzer]]: 1985
* Rob Fossett: 1985-1986
* [[Peter Hattrup]]: 1986, 1988-1989
* [[Geoff Wall]]: 1986, 1987, 1988
* Ken Coplin: 1987, 1989
* [[John Hamel]]: 1987-1990
* [[Fran O'Brien (footballer)|Fran O’Brien]]: 1988-1990
* [[Ralph Black (soccer)|Ralph Black]]: 1989
* [[Rick Davis]]: 1989
* [[Chris Henderson]]: 1989
* [[Jim McAlister (American soccer)|Jimmy McAlister]]: 1989
* Jim Weber: 1990
* Robb Sakamoto: 1990
* James Forgette: 1990
{{div col end}}

===Forwards===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* Eric Knapp: 1984
* Sasha Shefts: 1984
* [[Gerard McGlynn]]: 1984-1985
* Tom Blahous: 1984-1985
* Mike Hiatt: 1984-1985
* Bruce Raney: 1984-1986
* Sean Connors: 1985
* [[Walt Schmetzer]]: 1985
* Eric Guise: 1986-1987
* Gary Hunter: 1986
* Sean McGlynn: 1986, 1987
* Sean Connors: 1987
* [[Mike Enneking]]: 1987
* [[Chance Fry]]: 1987-1990
* [[Mark Peterson (soccer)|Mark Peterson]]: 1987
* [[Eddie Henderson (soccer)|Eddie Henderson]]: 1988-1990
* Clint Carnell: 1989
* [[Brent Goulet]]: 1989
* [[Gary Heale]]: 1989
* John Klein: 1989
* [[Scott Benedetti]]: 1990
* Jason Russ: 1990
* [[Chris Saari]]: 1990
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230054/http://goalseattle.com/museum/FCSeattleStorm.htm GOALSeattle.com FC Seattle Museum Pages]

{{Western Soccer Alliance seasons}}
{{American Professional Soccer League seasons}}

[[Category:Soccer clubs in Seattle]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer clubs in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Western Soccer Alliance teams]]
[[Category:American Professional Soccer League teams]]
[[Category:Pacific Coast Soccer League teams]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1995 disestablishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1995]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1984]]