Detroit Besa

Detroit Besa is an American soccer club based in Hamtramck, Michigan, an enclave of Detroit. The club was founded in 1974 and originally competed in the Second Division of the Detroit Soccer League (DSL). In 1979, the club made the transition to the professional level by becoming the fourth American franchise (Buffalo Blazers, Detroit Canadians, and Detroit Vardar) to compete in Canada's National Soccer League (NSL).[1] After competing in the NSL for three seasons they returned to the amateur level by rejoining the Detroit Soccer League.[2]

Full nameDetroit Besa SC
Founded1974
StadiumKeyworth Stadium
Hamtramck, Michigan

Detroit originally played their home matches at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Michigan. The club was later renamed Drita S.C. and played in the Michigan Premier Soccer League in 2018.

History

Detroit Besa was formed in 1974 as a soccer club which represented the Albanian American community in the Metro Detroit, and played in the Second Division of the Detroit Soccer League (DSL).[3][4] Detroit would also make their debut in the National Amateur Cup tournament during their inaugural year.[5] In 1976, Detroit defeated Carpathia Kickers by a score of 2-0 for the DSL second division title.[6] In 1977, the club was promoted to the First Division, and was fined by the league after a brawl erupted between fans during a match.[7][8] The remainder of the season Besa competed in the 1977 National Amateur Cup, but were eliminated in the state semifinal to Detroit Sport Club.[9]

For the second consecutive season Detroit reached the state semifinal of the 1978 National Amateur Cup.[10] Throughout the regular season Besa clinched the National Conference title, and faced Detroit Vardar for the DSL Championship but were defeated by a score of 6-1.[11][12] In 1979, the club entered the professional ranks by securing a franchise in the National Soccer League (NSL), and became one of the few American representatives in the history of the Canadian league.[13][14] The following season Detroit briefly played in the Detroit Soccer League, but returned to the NSL for the 1981 season.[13][15][16] The 1981 team was managed by former Yugoslav player Nino Berisic with several players with experience in the American Soccer League.[4][17] Detroit returned to the NSL for the 1982 season, but withdrew from the competition near the conclusion of the season.[18][19]

In 1985, the team competed in the Budweiser Indoor League [20] The club was later renamed Drita S.C. and played in the Michigan Premier Soccer League in 2018.[21]

Honours
  • Detroit Soccer League National Conference: 1978
  • Detroit Soccer League Second Division Championship: 1976

Seasons
Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs Ref
1979 National Soccer League 15 7–6–11 7th – [22]
1981 11 7–2–11 8th – [2]
1982 withdrew from competition

References
  1. Litterer, David A. (June 7, 2013). "Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation - Canadian National Soccer League". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  2. "1979-1982 NSL Seasons" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca.
  3. "Detroit Soccer League". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. May 20, 1974. p. 46. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  4. Pepper, Jon (August 6, 1981). "They play soccer for honor". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 41. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  5. "Germania Hits in Soccer Camp". Detroit Free Press. November 18, 1974. p. 48.
  6. "Vartar, Besa Soccer Champs". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. October 25, 1976. p. 44. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  7. "Soccer Games Cancelled After Brawl at Roseville". The Herald-Palladium. May 19, 1977. p. 27.
  8. Guidi, Gene (May 29, 1977). "Fans' Tempers Lead to Blowup in Soccer Ranks". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  9. "3-Goal Man a Soccer Hero". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. November 21, 1977. p. 66. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  10. "Soccer Cuppers back in action". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. December 8, 1978. p. 79. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  11. "Besa hosts Vardar in DSL". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. September 29, 1978. p. 62. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  12. "Vardar soccer champion again". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. October 2, 1978. p. 67. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  13. Labow, Jeffrey (May 6, 1981). "Canadian flavor for new look NSL". The Globe and Mail. p. S4.
  14. Diener, Seymour (March 21, 1979). "Ottawa team eyes planned soccer league". Ottawa Journal. p. 17.
  15. "Detroit Soccer League". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. May 6, 1980. p. 36. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  16. Pepper, Jon (April 26, 1981). "Son of Express gets ready; old mates pay visit". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 79. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  17. Pepper, Jon (August 6, 1981). "They play the sport of their Yugoslav homeland". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 46. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  18. "Tabla de Posiciones National Soccer League". El Popular. August 18, 1982. p. 12.
  19. Pepper, Jon (July 2, 1982). "Talking to himself". Detroit Free Press. p. 41.
  20. "Soccer - Indoor". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. March 12, 1985. p. 42. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  21. "Detroit Besa Soccer Club". The Canadian National Soccer League. 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  22. "Detroit Besa | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
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