:Philadelphia Fury (1978–1980)

File:Mike Schmidt HR vs. Cincinnati Reds at Veteran's Stadium July 20, 1987.jpg]]

Philadelphia had previously been represented in the North American Soccer League (NASL) by the Philadelphia Atoms starting in 1973 with the team winning the NASL Final in its first year,{{cite web |last1=Litterer |first1=David |title=North American Soccer League |url=https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/nasl.html |website=The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. |access-date=February 2, 2022}} but the team folded after the 1976 season concluded and a move to San Antonio did not come to fruition.{{cite news |last1=Hutton |first1=Jim |title=NASL could come back |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/84121847/?terms=%22NASL%20could%20come%20back%22&match=1 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=San Antonio Express |date=February 8, 1977 |pages=1D - 2D |language=en}} In November 1977, Philadelphia was announced as the location of the NASL's twenty-second franchise for the upcoming 1978 season with Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton, Mick Jagger, and Paul Simon announced as members of the ownership group.{{cite news |title=NASL Song: Rock Stars Get In Act |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MkZQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TVgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6744,161105&dq=nasl+expansion&hl=en |access-date=February 2, 2022 |work=The Evening Independent |agency=AP |date=November 16, 1977 |location=New York |page=2-C |language=en}} Bob Ehlinger, former NASL deputy commissioner and the former general manager of the Atoms was appointed general manager and executive vice president of the new team.{{cite news |title=Ehlinger gets soccer post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/173535098/?terms=%22Bob%20Ehlinger%22&match=1 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=November 23, 1977 |page=2-D |language=en}} The following month, Rick Wakeman and former Yes manager Brian Lane led a press conference announcing the team would be known as the Fury and that former Newcastle United F.C. manager Richard Dinnis had been hired to be the team's head coach. The organization also announced that it had reached a financial settlement with original Atoms owner Thomas McCloskey and intended to settle approximately $90,000 remaining outstanding debts owed by the previous franchise. During the press conference, former Chelsea and Southampton striker Peter Osgood was introduced as the team's first signing.{{cite news |last1=Jasner |first1=Phil |title=Furies Is the Name, Soccer Is the Game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/185371570/?terms=Richard%20Dinnis%20Coach&match=1 |access-date=February 2, 2022 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=December 16, 1977 |page=74 |language=en}} In January 1978, the Fury signed Irish midfielder Johnny Giles{{cite news |title=Fury signs Irish star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/173155418/?terms=Johnny%20Giles&match=1 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 12, 1978}} and a week before the season Southampton Midfielder Alan Ball and former Chelsea F.C. center back John Dempsey were brought into the club.{{cite news |last1=McKee |first1=Don |title=Fury sign Ball, former captain of English team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/173651543/?terms=%22Alan%20Ball%22&match=1 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 23, 1978 |page=D1 |language=en}} In June 1978 and the team in last place with a record of six wins and ten losses, Dinnis resigned his position as head coach.{{cite news |title=Dinnis Resigns As Fury Coach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yd0hAAAAIBAJ&dq=Dinnis+Resigns+As+Fury+Coach&pg=PA51&article_id=3612,4253578 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=Reading Eagle |agency=AP |publisher=Reading Eagle |date=June 15, 1978 |location=Philadelphia |page=51 |language=en}} A few days later midfielder Alan Ball was named player-coach as his replacement.{{cite news |title=Fury selects Ball to replace Dinnis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fWoyAAAAIBAJ&dq=Fury+selects+Ball+to+replace+Dinnis&pg=PA6&article_id=6804,2610101 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=Lawrence Journal-World |agency=AP |date=June 17, 1978 |location=Philadelphia |page=10 |language=en}} The team's penultimate game of the season ended in controversy with Pierce O'Leary, on loan from Ireland's Shamrock Rovers F.C., attempted to attack referee George Courtney after Toronto Metros-Croatia striker Sead Sušić scored a goal in sudden death overtime.{{cite news |last1=McKee |first1=Don |title=Fury lose in fistic finish, 2-1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/176356414/ |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=July 30, 1978 |page=6-F |language=en}} The Fury finished the season in last place of the Eastern Division of the American Conference with a record of twelve wins and eighteen losses. The team set a league record of 527-plus minutes without scoring a goal{{cite news |last1=Jasner |first1=Phil |title=New Season Arrives, but Has the Fury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/185353691/?terms=Marko%20Valok%20Fury&match=1 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=March 22, 1979 |page=59 |language=en}} and were shutout a record twelve times during the season.{{cite news |last1=McKee |first1=Don |title=Fury home opener has Slavic flavor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174545599/?terms=Marko%20Valok%20Fury&match=1 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 31, 1979 |page=3B |language=en}}

On February 16, 1979, former Yugoslavia national team coach Marko Valok was announced as the team's new head coach.{{cite news |last1=Jasner |first1=Phil |title=Yugoslav Valok New Fury Coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/185376822/?terms=%22Marko%20Valok%22&match=1 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=February 16, 1977 |page=85 |language=en}} During the offseason, GM Ehlinger brought in goalkeeper Keith Van Eron from the Houston Hurricane, striker Davie Robb from the Tampa Bay Rowdies and four Yugoslav players, including Niki Nikolic who came in a deal from the Tulsa Roughnecks along with Englishmen Jimmy Redfern.{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=Fury open 2d season unsettled |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174460013/?terms=Marko%20Valok%20Fury&match=1 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 24, 1979 |page=3C |language=en}} As of the team's home opener on March 31, 1979, only four players from the previous seasons' roster were still on the team, including John Dempsey. Alan Ball agreed to return after Southampton was defeated by Nottingham Forest in the 1978–79 Football League Cup, but only play eight games for the team before his loan deal was sold to the Vancouver Whitecaps.{{cite news |title=Weary Fury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174755432/?terms=Alan%20Ball%20Fury&match=1 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=May 14, 1979 |page=2-C |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=Fury Transfers midfielder Ball to Whitecaps |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/176137854 |access-date=February 7, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=June 23, 1979 |page=1C |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Abbink |first1=Dinant |title=England League Cup Full Results 1960-1996 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engleagcuphistfull.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=February 4, 2022}} On April 16, 1979, General Manager Bob Ehlinger resigned his position due to disagreements with the ownership group, Sam L'Hommedieu, a theater manager and concert promoter, was named as his interim replacement.{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=Ehlinger and the Fury agree to disagree |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174436897/ |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=April 18, 1979}} In May 1979, England's First Division leading goal scorer Frank Worthington was brought over on loan from the Bolton Wanderers.{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=The Tornado has calmed and Worthington is now a Fury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174724107/?terms=Alan%20Ball%20Fury&match=1 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=May 11, 1979 |page=C1 |language=en}} On June 20, 1979, the Fury named Tom Fleck, youth coordinator for the United States Soccer Federation, as general manager.{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=Fury names Tom Fleck general manager |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/176116367/ |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=June 20, 1979 |page=4D |language=en}} Despite the roster and management changes, the Fury ended the 1979 season with a losing record of ten wins and twenty losses, having lost all fifteen away matches.{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=With new faces and a lean budget, Fury faces a must-succeed season |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/167918322/ |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 23, 1980 |page=2-F |language=en}} However, with the NASL standings based awarding teams six points for a win and one point for each regulation goal scored up to three per game, the Fury earned third place of the American Conference Eastern Division, finishing one point over the New England Tea Men who had won twelve games but only scored forty one goals, fourteen less, than the Fury for the season, and qualifying for the playoffs. The Fury defeated the Houston Hurricane at home 2-1{{cite news |last1=Jasner |first1=Phil |title=Robb, Fidelia Furyous in Victory |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/185748648/?terms=Fury%20houston%20playoffs&match=1 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=August 15, 1979 |page=64 |language=en}} in the first leg of Conference Quarterfinals and beat the Hurricanes in Houston by the same score, the team's first road victory in fifteen attempts.{{cite news |title=Fury triumphs, 2-1, to gain in playoffs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174926917/?terms=NASL%20playoffs&match=1 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=August 21, 1979 |page=D1 |language=en}} The team was defeated in the Conference Semifinals by the Tampa Bay Rowdies two games to none.{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=Rowdies oust Fury in playoffs with 1-0 win |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174928698/?terms=Fury%20tampa%20bay%20playoffs&match=1 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=August 26, 1979 |location=Tampa |page=F1 |language=en}} A few weeks later, Marko Valok resigned his position as head coach to return to Yugoslavia.{{cite news |last1=Brandschain |first1=Mayer |title=Valok quits as Fury coach, will return to Yugoslavia |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174918305 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=September 7, 1979 |page=1-B |language=en}} John Dempsey was named NASL Co-Defender of Year.{{cite news |last1=Jasner |first1=Phil |title=Pact Hassle Baffles Fury's Dempsey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/185307625/ |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=April 18, 1980 |page=80 |language=en}} In October 1979, Eddie Firmani, former head coach of the 1975 NASL Champion Tampa Bay Rowdies and back-to-back 1977 and 1978 NASL champion New York Cosmos, was announced as the new Fury head coach with a three-year deal.{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=Taking 'full control,' Firmani vows early training for Fury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174623977/ |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=October 10, 1979 |page=E1 |language=en}}

At the beginning of 1980, George O'Neill head coach of the Major Indoor Soccer League team the Philadelphia Fever and member of the NASL 1973 Championship winning Philadelphia Atoms was hired as an assistant coach.{{cite news |last1=Jasner |first1=Phil |title=Coach O'Neill Doubles Up |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/185356783 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=January 18, 1980 |page=75 |language=en}} The roster was revamped again, with less than half of the previous season's roster returning.{{cite web |title=Philadelphia Fury 1980 |url=https://www.nasljerseys.com/Rosters/Fury_Rosters.htm#1980 |website=nasljerseys}} Davie Robb who had led the team in scoring the previous season as well as acting as team captain and voted team MVP was traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps.{{cite news |last1=Jasner |first1=Phil |title=David Robb Moves on - to Vancouver |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/185829768 |access-date=February 7, 2022 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=February 29, 1980 |page=95 |language=en}} Notable additions to the squad brought in by Firmani included Netherlands national team forward Bobby Vosmaer, Đorđe Koković, and Andrew Parkinson. After training for two weeks in the Miami area, the Fury played two games against the Puerto Rico national team in Puerto Rico, winning both before opening the season against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=Fury keeper Rigby back in old form |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/171327626 |access-date=February 7, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 27, 1980 |page=7-C |language=en}} On May 17, 1980, it was reported that Molson Brewery was negotiating to purchase the team and move it to Montreal.{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=Molson negotiating to buy Fury, move it to Montreal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/171535639/ |access-date=February 7, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=May 17, 1980 |page=5-C |language=en}} Rumors of the move continued throughout the season.{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Danny |title=One sure thing about Fury: Nothing sure |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/171626690 |access-date=February 7, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=May 31, 1980 |page=6-C |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Jasner |first1=Phil |title=Fury: Going...Going... |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/186033499/ |access-date=February 7, 2022 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=August 8, 1980 |page=77 |language=en}} The Fury ended the 1980 season in last place of the with a record of ten wins and twenty-two losses. Managing director Larry Levine announced that if a local buyer could be found, the team would be sold to Molson. On October 6, 1980, NASL Commissioner Phil Woosnam announced the team ownership rights had been transferred to Molson and Montreal.{{cite news |title=Fury sale final; Mets sign Torre |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/171627472 |access-date=February 8, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=October 7, 1979 |location=New York |page=4-E |language=en}} The team had reportedly lost more than $3.1 million in its three seasons.{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Randy |title=Soccer team christened 'Manic' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FFwxAAAAIBAJ&dq=Soccer+team+christened+%27Manic%27&pg=PA79&article_id=1086,3273693 |work=The Gazette |publisher=The Montreal Gazette |date=November 27, 1980 |page=76 |language=en}}

NASL championships

• none

Division titles

• none

All-star selections

• 1978 Alan Ball (second team)

Defender of the year

• 1979 John Dempsey[http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/indepth/features/37635.chelsea_legend_dempsey_still_a_star/ "Chelsea Legend Dempsey Still A Star"]. This Is Local London. September 26, 2001.

U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame members

• 2007 Bobby Smith

• {{flagicon|England}} Richard Dinnis 1978
• {{flagicon|England}} Alan Ball, Jr. 1978
• {{flagicon|SFR Yugoslavia}} Marko Valok 1979
• {{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} {{flagicon|Italy}} Eddie Firmani 1980

In February 2014 it was announced{{cite web|url = http://furyasl.com/index.php/component/k2/item/22-philadelphia-fury-joins-the-asl|title = Philadelphia Fury joins the ASL|date = February 22, 2014|website = Philadelphia Fury}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} that the Philadelphia Fury would compete in the inaugural season of the new American Soccer League (ASL) after being purchased by former MLS Assistant Coach and ASL CEO, Matt Driver. The new Fury carry the colors of the original team but played home games at Washington Township High School in New Jersey.

• Philadelphia Atoms
• Philadelphia Union
• Philadelphia Spartans
• Montreal Manic

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071110002903/http://www.philadelphiaatoms.com/psuedoatoms.htm Brief history of the Fury]}}

{{North American Soccer League (1966–85)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Philadelphia Fury (1978-80)}}

Category:Association football clubs established in 1978

Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1980

Category:Defunct soccer clubs in Pennsylvania

Fury

Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) teams

F

Category:Soccer clubs in Pennsylvania

Category:1978 establishments in Pennsylvania

Category:1980 disestablishments in Pennsylvania

Category:Philadelphia Fury