Staten Island Vipers

The Staten Island Vipers were a soccer club that competed in the USL A-League in 1998 and 1999. The club was based on Staten Island, New York City. The team played its games at Tottenville High School and Wagner College. The team dissolved following the 1999 season.

This article is about the defunct USL A-League club which played from 1998-1999. For the American Basketball Association team that began play in 2012, see Staten Island Vipers (ABA).
Staten Island Vipers
Full nameStaten Island Vipers
Nickname(s)Vipers
Founded1998
Dissolved1999
GroundTottenville High School
Huguenot, Staten Island
New York City, New York
Capacity3,000
Owner(s) Joe Manfredi
Coach Adrian Gaitan
LeagueUSL A-League

History

The Vipers debuted in the USISL A-League in 1998, co-owned by Staten Island businessman and local soccer enthusiast Joe Manfredi[1] and Roger Gorevic, who moved his New York Fever A-League franchise to Staten Island. The team was started up and managed initially by Tom Neale (General Manager) and Mike Winograd (Director of Youth and Team Development), who were college roommates and teammates at Lafayette College. Neale, former General Manager of the New York Fever, went on to be General Manager of the San Jose Earthquakes and COO of the New York Metrostars of MLS, and Winograd, a former professional soccer player in Kfar Saba, Israel and assistant coach at the University of Richmond, went on to law school at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Vipers initially struggled to find a ground at which to play, debuting first at Monsignor Farrell High School in Oakwood before being forced out by community opposition. The club would land at Tottenville High School in Huguenot after reaching an agreement to refurbish the school's field and bleachers and adding lights for night games, along with a commitment for the team to work with the school to develop a city soccer program.[2] The club was coached by Adrian Gaitan.[3]

The team colors were blue and white, with shirts sponsored by Toyota and the kit supplied by Umbro.

The team mascot was a costumed character in a green outfit called the "Hyper Viper." Among the Staten Islanders who donned the costume was Craig Perrino and Jay Akselrud, who also entertained at Staten Island Yankees games.

The club averaged an attendance of over 1,500 fans per game and finished their first season in 1998 with a 15-11-1-1 (W-L-SOW-SOL) record, placing third in the Northeast Division but losing the Conference Quarterfinal.[4] The team improved their record to 19-9-2-1 in 1999, finishing 2nd in the division and advancing to the Conference Semifinal but eventually losing to the Hershey Wildcats.[5]

Players

John Diffley Dahir Mohammed Omid Namazi Daniel De Oliveira

Year-by-year
Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs Open Cup
1998 2 USISL A-League 3rd, Northeast Conference Quarterfinals Did not qualify
1999 2 USL A-League 2nd, Northeast Conference Semifinals Quarterfinals

See also

References
  1. http://www.statenislandchevrolet.com/About_Joe_and_Nick
  2. Jack Bell (1998-05-19). "Soccer Notebook: A-League; A Home At Last For Vipers". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
  3. . The first assistant coach hired was Dean Moraitis.liacademysoccer.com - de beste bron van informatie over soccer academy. Deze website is te koop!
  4. A-League 1998 Season
  5. A-League 1999 Season
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