 | |||
| Full name | San Diego Toros | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1966 (Los Angeles Toros) 1968 (San Diego Toros) | ||
| Dissolved | 1968 | ||
| Stadium | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (1967) Los Angeles, California Balboa Stadium (1968) San Diego, California | ||
| Capacity | 93,000 34,000 | ||
| League | North American Soccer League | ||
TheSan Diego Toros were a professionalsoccer team based inSan Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1967 as theLos Angeles Toros, the team was one of the ten charter members of theNational Professional Soccer League (NPSL). When the NPSL and the rivalUnited Soccer Association (USA) merged in 1968 to form theNorth American Soccer League (NASL), the team was relocated to San Diego as a member of the new league. While in Los Angeles, the team played its home matches at theLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum and atBalboa Stadium when it moved to San Diego. The team folded at the conclusion of the1968 NASL season.
In 1966 several groups of entrepreneurs were exploring the idea of forming a professional soccer league in United States. Two of these groups merged to form the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) and franchise rights were awarded to ten ownership groups, with one given toLos Angeles Rams ownerDan Reeves.[1][2] The Toros secured a lease at theLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which would also host theLos Angeles Wolves of the rivalUSA during the 1967 season.[3]
The Toros began the season on April 16, 1967, with a home 3-2 win against theNew York Generals in front of a crowd of over nine thousand.[4] The team finished the season in fifth place in the Western Division with a record of 7 wins, 10 loses, and 15 draws with an average attendance for the season of 3,595.[5] Dan Reeves sold the team to a group that includedBill Cox who acted as general manager.[2]
With the merger of theNPSL with theUnited Soccer Association it was announced that Los Angeles would be one of the 20-teams in play in theNorth American Soccer League (NASL).[6][a] Prior to the 1968 season, the Toros were moved toSan Diego to avoid the league having two teams in the same market of Los Angeles[7] playing their home games atBalboa Stadium.[8] Midway through the1968 NASL season, Cox took a position with theSt. Louis Stars and sold the team toEmilio Azcárraga Milmo.[2] The team finished the season in first place of the Pacific Division with a record of 18 wins, 8 loses and 6 draws earning the highest points total in the league.[9][5] The team defeated theKansas City Spurs with an aggregate score of 2 - 1 over 2 matches in the Conference Finals, but were defeated by theAtlanta Chiefs with an aggregate score of 3 - 0 in theNASL Final 1968.[10][11][12][13] The Toros were one of 12 teams that folded between the 1968 and 1969 NASL seasons.
| Year | League | W | L | T | Pts | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | NPSL | 7 | 10 | 15 | 114 | 5th, Western Division | did not qualify |
| 1968 | NASL | 18 | 8 | 6 | 186 | 1st, Pacific Division | Won Playoff (Kansas City) Lost Championship (Atlanta) |
Source:[14]
