US Soccer Centennial Moment: 1973 Philadelphia Atoms - American Champions

Immigrants have played a crucial role in the history of American Soccer. If there was a water mark where the imprint of the game became more American, it was 1973 and the Philadelphia Atoms.

The Atoms were an expansion club in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The previous season the New York Cosmos, a team in its 2nd year, won the Championship. That Cosmos side featured one native born and 2 naturalized Americans in a limited capicity.

 

Conversely, the Atoms roster had 11 Americans of whom 7 participated in over half their games. Of those, four would represent the US National Team during 1973 World Cup qualifying - Bob Rigby, Bobby Smith, George O'Neill and Barry Barto.

1973 NASL CHAMPIONS

 

Playing their home matches in Veterans Stadium, they were coached by Pennsylvania native, Al Miller. Miller built the squad around American players, most notably his Goalkeeper Bob Rigby, who played under him at East Stroudsberg State. 

 

Miller would be named the U.S. National Team coach in 1975. However, he would face a tug-of-war with the NASL clubs and the international schedule.

 

Contrary to popular belief, the excitement of the NASL and its rising stars came before the arrival of Pele' to the Cosmos.

 

This was evidenced by the September 3rd 1973 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED cover. (see below)

Bob Rigby - SI cover boy.

 

The Atoms finished with a 9-2-8 record and progressed through the NASL Play-off rounds where they defeated Toronto. In the NASL Final, dubbed The Soccer Bowl, they shut out Dallas to win the title.

 

1973 NASL Championship ring.

 

The reborn North American Soccer League will play its Soccer Bowl Final in November at Atlanta. While there are several Americans in the new league, none are internationals representing the USA.

 

The Philadelphia Atoms were one of the possible names for the MLS's expansion club Philadelphia Union. The 1973 Atoms provided the most US National players from a Philadelphia club since Walter Bahr and Ed McIllvenny of the Philadelphia Nationals appeared in the 1950 World Cup.

 

Walter Bahr's sons - Casey Bahr and Chris Bahr also played for the Atoms in the early 1970's before they became NFL place kickers.

Philadelphia - 100 Years of Soccer

On the eve of Philadelphia Union's Major League Soccer debut, the International Soccer Archives has acquired rare memorabilia from the city of Brotherly love. While many European soccer clubs can trace their beginnings back over a century, several American cities have played the sport just as long. Pennsylvania's Eastern mecca of Philadelphia is one such city.

With strong British roots dating to colonial days, Philadelphia was a playground for exiled Britons who imported the sports of horse racing, boxing and soccer to America. Organized soccer leagues formed as early as 1884. One of the nation's most prominant was the Allied American Football Association which spurred the likes of powerhouse club Bethlehem Steel F.C., and was directly affiliated with The Football Association in England.

The Bethlehem Company's footballers were National Champions on several occasions. They would be joined in later years by semi-pro and amateur clubs such as the Philadelphia Ukranians, and professionals like the Philadelphia Atoms, who won the title in their innaugural NASL season.

Cup and tournament play were organized and divisional tables were marked with championship medals and trophies. These recent additions to the I.S.A. collection include these medals and postcards of these early clubs.

The Allied American Football Association was the second oldest organized sports league in America after baseball. They were recognized by FIFA in 1913 and had established the American Cup - the fore runner to the (Lamar Hunt) U.S. Open Cup.

The artifacts that were added to the I.S.A. collection include:

- 1917/18 (Philadelphia) Allied American Football League medal
- 1914/15 (Philadelphia) Allied American Football League medal
- 1910  Philadelphia Cup medal
- 1913/14 West Philadelphia F.C. postcard
- 1912c. Philadelphia soccer team photo