American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League (APSL) was a professional men's soccer league with teams from the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League. It was formed in 1990 by the merger of the third American Soccer League with the Western Soccer League. Between 1990 and 1995 it was the de facto top professional soccer league in the United States. After 1993 it was also the top league in the Canadian soccer pyramid. However it was never officially granted Level 1/Division 1 status on the United States soccer pyramid because, at the time, FIFA would not give this status to leagues that crossed national borders. In 1993, it applied for the vacant Level 1/Division 1 role but lost out to Major League Soccer. For its final two seasons, 1995 and 1996, the APSL changed its name to the "A-League". It was subsequently absorbed by the emerging United Soccer Leagues organization. The USL retained the A-League name until 2004 when it became the USL First Division.
Read more about American Professional Soccer League: History, Complete Team List, League Average Attendance
Famous quotes containing the words american, professional, soccer and/or league:
“Let those flatter, who fear: it is not an American art. To give praise where it is not due, might be well from the venal, but would ill beseem those who are asserting the rights of human nature.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
“Many young girls are ... becoming trained nurses, whose gentle ministrations in the sick-room, skilled touch, patient watchfulness and unwearied vigils, are as great factors in the care of the sick, as are the professional physicians.”
—Lydia Hoyt Farmer (1842–1903)
“If we were doing this in the Falklands they would love it. It’s part of our heritage. The British have always been fighting wars.”
—British soccer fan. quoted in Independent (London, Dec. 23, 1988)
“We’re the victims of a disease called social prejudice, my child. These dear ladies of the law and order league are scouring out the dregs of the town. C’mon be a glorified wreck like me.”
—Dudley Nichols (1895–1960)