 | |
| Full name | Boston Bulldogs Pro Soccer |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Bulldogs |
| Founded | 1996 (asWorcester Wildfire) |
| Dissolved | 2001 |
| Stadium | Bowditch Field Framingham,Massachusetts |
| Capacity | 5,000 |
| Owner(s) | John Curtis (1996) Tom Bagley Reidar Tryggestad |
| League | USISL (1996) USL A-League (1997-2000) USL D3 Pro League (2001) |
TheBoston Bulldogs were asoccer club founded in 1996 as theWorcester Wildfire. The debuted in theUSISL and would play in theA-League from 1997 to 2000. Before folding, the team played its final season in theUSL D3 Pro Soccer League in 2001.[1] The club played its games atBowditch Field inFramingham,Massachusetts.[2]
The first year in theA-League was fraught with financial problems and lack of a regular training facility. The owner was John Curtis fromCape Cod who also owned theCape Cod Crusaders and the new women's franchise theBoston Renegades. Curtis was forced to sell the club before the start of the second season. The first coach of the A-League Wildfire wasNigel Boulton, a native ofWales. Boulton resigned following the completion of the first year to take up the State Director of Coaching position inMississippi. He now coaches the men's program atWilliam Carey University inHattiesburg, Mississippi. The Wildfire were the official 'farm team' for theNew England Revolution ofMajor League Soccer. Notable former players on the Wildfire/Bulldogs roster includeJon Busch (1997) (who played for the US National Team in 2005) andSteve Nicol, (a legend with Liverpool FC in England, and the Scotland National team) both of whom have also found success in Major League Soccer.
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 | USISL Pro League | 9th Northeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1996/97 | N/A | USISL I-League | Played limited schedule | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1997 | 2 | USISL A-League | 6th, Northeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | 2 | USISL A-League | 5th, Northeast | Did not qualify | Third Round |
| 1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 6th, Northeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | 2 | USL A-League | 5th, Northeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2001 | 3 | USL D3-Pro League | 1st, Northern | Semifinals | Semifinals |
Nigel Boulton: 1997
John Kerr: 1998-99
Steve Nicol: 1999, 2000–01