Detroit Express (1981–1983)

(Redirected from Detroit Express (1981–83)) This article is about the American Soccer League team. For the original North American Soccer League team, see Detroit Express. Soccer club

Detroit Express

Full name

Detroit Express

Nickname(s)

The Express

Founded

1980

Dissolved

1983

Ground

Pontiac Silverdome

Capacity

80,000

Chairman

Sonny Van Arnem

Head Coach

Brian Tinnion

League

American Soccer League

Home colors

Away colors

The Detroit Express was an American soccer team based in Detroit, Michigan and a member of the American Soccer League. They joined the league in 1981 after the original NASL Express were moved to Washington D.C. to replace the Diplomats who had folded at the end of 1980. The ASL Express played their home games in the Pontiac Silverdome and then at Tartar Field on the campus of Wayne State University.

The 1981 Express finished second in the Freedom Division with a 15 win, 11 loss and 2 tie record. Mike Mancini was the leading scorer for Detroit with 16 goals, followed by Brian Tinnion with 9. The Express advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a 4–1 defeat of the New York Eagles, but were knocked out of the semi-finals 1–1 and 1–2 by New York United.

The 1982 ASL consisted of 7 teams in one division. With 19 wins, 4 ties, and 5 losses, The Express had the best record in the league. They then won the championship, defeating the Georgia Generals in the semi-finals and the Oklahoma City Slickers in the finals. Detroit players Brian Tinnion, Andy Chapman, and Billy Boljevic were 1, 2 and 4 overall in league scoring. And goal keeper Tad DeLorm had the best goals against average in the league.

By 1983 the league had shrunk down to 6 teams, but returned to the 2 division format. The Express struggled to a 12–13 record (the league instituted a shootout rule for the season) to finish 2nd in the Western Division behind the Dallas Americans, and did not make the playoffs. Billy Boljevic and Andy Chapman led the team in scoring with 9 goals each.

In the early months of 1984, the ASL, which had been in a period of decline for several years, finally collapsed as most of its last few active teams elected to either fold or join a new league being formed by the owners of the Jacksonville Tea Men and Dallas Americans, the United Soccer League. Express owner Sonny Van Arnem took steps towards joining this new league, but he ultimately decided against it due to the league not being sanctioned by the USSF. Unable to find another home in an indoor league, the club closed up shop shortly afterwards.

Yearly awards

ASL All-Star Team

1981 – Steve Westbrook
1982 – Chris Tyson

ASL Leading Goal Scorer

1982 – Brian Tinnion (22 Goals)

ASL Leading Points Scorer

1982 – Brian Tinnion (59 Points)

ASL MVP

1982 – Brian Tinnion

ASL Leading Goalkeeper

1982 – Tad DeLorm

Year-by-year

Year	Division	League	W	L	T	Pts	Reg. Season	Playoffs	U.S. Open Cup
1981	2	ASL	15	11	2	125	2nd, Freedom	Semifinals (lost to New York United)	Did not enter
1982	2	ASL	19	5	4	144	1st	Champion	Did not enter
1983	2	ASL	12	13	—	98	2nd, Western	Did not qualify	Did not enter

References

"What can only be described as "Soccapocalypse"". Protagonist Soccer. 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2024-07-21.

v t e American Soccer League (1933–1983)
Seasons	1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
Teams	Baltimore Americans Baltimore Bays Baltimore Flyers Baltimore Germans Baltimore Pompei Baltimore Rockets Baltimore S.C. Baltimore St. Gerards Baltimore Stars Bethlehem Hungarian Bird & Son Boca Juniors Boston Astros Boston Metros Boston Soccer Club Boston Tigers Brookhattan Brookhattan-Galicia Brooklyn Celtic Brooklyn Brooklyn Hakoah Brooklyn Hispano Brooklyn Italians Brooklyn Wanderers California Sunshine Canton S.C. Carolina Lightnin' Chicago Americans Chicago Cats Cleveland Cobras Cleveland Stars Colombo Columbus Magic Connecticut Wildcats Connecticut Yankees Cincinnati Comets Dallas Americans Delaware Wings Detroit Express Detroit Mustangs Elizabeth Falcons Fairlawn Rovers Falcons SC Falcons-Warsaw Fall River Astros Fall River Rovers Fall River SC Fall River United Galicia-Honduras Galicia SC Gary Tigers Georgia Generals Golden Gate Gales Gremio Lusitano Hartford Kings Hartford S.C. Hakoah Hispano F.C. Indiana Tigers Indianapolis Daredevils Irish-Americans Inter SC Inter-Brooklyn Italians Jacksonville Tea Men Kearny Americans Kearny Celtic Kearny Scots Las Vegas Seagulls Los Angeles Skyhawks Ludlow Lusitano Ludlow S.C. Lusitano Sports Club Miami Americans Nashville Diamonds New Brunswick Hungarian Americans New England Oceaneers New England Sharks New Jersey Americans New Jersey Brewers New York Americans New York Apollo New York Brookhattan New York Eagles New York Greeks New York Hakoah New York Hakoah-Americans New York Inter New York United Newark Falcons Newark Germans Newark Portuguese Newark Ukrainian Sitch Oklahoma City Slickers Olimpia Oakland Buccaneers Passon Phillies Paterson Caledonians Paterson F.C. Patterson Roma SC Pawtucket Rangers Philadelphia Americans Philadelphia Germans Philadelphia German-American Philadelphia Nationals Philadelphia Spartans Philadelphia Ukrainians Pennsylvania Stoners Pittsburgh Canons Pittsburgh Miners Ponta Delgada S.C. Rhode Island Oceaneers Rochester Flash Rochester Lancers Roma S.C. Sacramento Gold Sacramento Spirit Sacramento Spirits Santa Barbara Condors Scots-Americans Southern California Lazers St. Louis Frogs St. Mary's Celtic Syracuse Scorpions Syracuse Suns Tacoma Tides Trenton Americans Trenton Athletics Trenton Highlanders Uhrik Truckers Ukrainian Nationals Utah Golden Spikers Utah Pioneers Virginia Capitol Cavaliers Washington Britannica Washington Cavaliers Washington Darts

American Soccer League (1933–1983)

Seasons

1933–34
1934–35
1935–36
1936–37
1937–38
1938–39
1939–40
1940–41
1941–42
1942–43
1943–44
1944–45
1945–46
1946–47
1947–48
1948–49
1949–50
1950–51
1951–52
1952–53
1953–54
1954–55
1955–56
1956–57
1957–58
1958–59
1959–60
1960–61
1961–62
1962–63
1963–64
1964–65
1965–66
1966–67
1967–68
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983

Teams

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