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 NASL teams, the Vancouver Whitecaps (2–2 tie), Minnesota Strikers (0–3 loss), New York Cosmos (1–2 loss), as well as the 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, Jerry Cameron, Eddie Krueger, Joe James and Robbie Zipp. The team was coached by former Sounders player Tom Jenkins and played its games in Seattle's Memorial Stadium.Football Club Seattle 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.The Year in American Soccer - 1984 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.

1985: Western Alliance Challenge Series In 1985, F.C. Seattle joined with three other independent "super clubs", F.C. Portland, 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 and Aston Villa. In June, FIFA had banned English clubs from travelling for international games after Liverpool fans sparked massive deaths in 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, Brian and 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 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 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 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. 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.

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. The team competed through the 1995 season then withdrew from senior competitions. It continues to operate as a local soccer club with boys and girls teams in all age competitions.FC Seattle

Yearly record YearTeam NameLeagueReg. seasonPlayoffsOpen Cup1985F.C. SeattleWSA3rdNo playoffsDid not enter1986F.C. SeattleWSA3rdNo playoffsDid not enter1987F.C. Seattle StormWSA2ndWild CardDid not enter1988Seattle StormWSA1stChampionDid not enter1989Seattle StormWSL3rd, NorthDid not qualifyDid not enter1990Seattle StormAPSL5th, WSL NorthDid not qualifyDid not enter1993F.C. Seattle StormPCSLDid not enter1994F.C. Seattle StormPCSLDid not enter1995F.C. Seattle StormPCSL8th Did not qualifyDid not enter

Ownership and staff Bud Greer - Chairman William C. Sage - President / General Manager

Coaches Record includes both league and exhibition matches. NameNatFromToRecordPWDLFATommy Jenkins1984February 19857115612Bruce RiochFebruary 1985September 1985136162325Jimmy GabrielSeptember 1985198835144174953Tommy Jenkins1988198939252127649Stuart Lee1990199026130135345Stuart Lee19931995

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.

Scott Benedetti Rick Davis Jeff Durgan Chance Fry Brent Goulet Peter Hattrup Chris Henderson Eddie Henderson Bernie James Billy Crook Rick Blubaugh Brian Schmetzer Jeff Stock Wade Webber

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 DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersJune 10, 1984Vancouver WhitecapsMemorial Stadium2–25,984Raney , Backous June 21, 1984Minnesota StrikersMemorial Stadium0–34,863July 6, 1984New York CosmosMemorial Stadium1–2 7,631Krueger July 13, 19841984 U.S. Olympic TeamMemorial Stadium1–38,199Hiatt August 4, 1984at Vancouver WhitecapsBC Place1–21,426Willoughby , Raney September 8, 1984Vancouver FireMemorial Stadium0–1

1985 results June 2: Dundee F.C. 0–1 June 9: Santos 2–1 June 16: Guadalajara 2–3 June 23: US National Team 2–3

1986 April 24: Canada national team 2–3 May 27: Manchester City 0–1 June 6: Dundee F.C. 1–2 July 19: SC Cleveland 2–1

1987 May 31: Hearts 1–1 June 5: Norwich City 2–0 June 20: Neza, Mexico City July 10: Herfølge 2–1 July 15: Vancouver Whitecaps 0–1 Stormin the Isles Tour of Britain: July 27: Middlesbrough 1–2 July 29: AFC Bournemouth 0–1 July 31: Queens Park Rangers F.C. 2–2 August 4: Dundee 0–3 August 6: Portsmouth 1–3

1988 May 7: Calgary Strikers 3–1 June 11: Middlesbrough 2–1 June 26: Atlante August 3: Oldham Athletic 0–2 August 6: Lincoln City F.C. 2–2 August 10: Middlesbrough 0–3 August 13: Sunderland F.C. 0–3 August 16: Hull City A.F.C 2–2

1989 May 7: Vancouver 86ers 2–1 August 3: Victoria Vistas 3–0

1990 May 5: Victoria Vistas 3–0 May 20: AFC Bournemouth 1–0 May 29: Dnepr 1–2 August 1: at Victoria Vistas 1–0 August 5: at Vancouver 86ers 5–3 August 8: Vancouver 86ers 3–2

All time roster (1984–1990)

Goalkeepers

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 Rolf Norton: 1988-1989 Jim Neighbors: 1988 Matthew Olson: 1989 Chris Bell: 1990 Jim Brazeau: 1990

Defenders

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: 1984, 1989 Jeff Durgan: 1985 Don Farler: 1985-1990 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: 1988 Grant Gibbs: 1988-1990 Rob Goff: 1988, 1989 Bernie James: 1988-1989 Ray Evans: 1989 Steve McCrath: 1988-1990 Bob McLaughlin: 1989 Ian MacLean: 1989 Craig Ottosen: 1989 Wade Webber: 1990 Garrett Smith: 1990

Midfielders

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: 1988-1990 Ralph Black: 1989 Rick Davis: 1989 Chris Henderson: 1989 Jimmy McAlister: 1989 Jim Weber: 1990 Robb Sakamoto: 1990 James Forgette: 1990

Forwards

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: 1987 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

References

External links GOALSeattle.com FC Seattle Museum Pages