The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor Soccer League. Over the years, the team played in three other leagues (CISL, WISL, and the second incarnation of the MISL. The team's most famous player was Tatu, who was known for throwing his shirt into the stands after every goal. The team hosted the 1989 MISL All-Star Game.
Although the team has not played since 2004, there have been published rumors ever since about the team's return. So far, these rumors have not panned out.[1]
[edit] Honors
Championships
- 1986-87 MISL
- 1993 CISL
- 1998 PSA
- 2001 WISL
Division Titles
- 1989-90 MISL Western Division
- 1993 CISL Regular Season
- 1994 CISL Eastern Division
- 1998 PSA Regular Season
- 2003-04 MISL II Western Division
[edit] Rivalry
During the MISL I days, the Sidekicks main rivales were the San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars, and Minnesota Strikers. During the late 1990's, a rivalry developed between the Sidekicks and Monterrey La Raza.
[edit] Head coaches
The following table shows each coach's record while with the Sidekicks. (Since some coached other Indoor Soccer teams, their overall record may differ.)
| Year | Coach | Record (including playoffs) | Notable Wins |
| 1984-1989 & 1991-1997 | Gordon Jago | 263-230 | 2 Championship victories (1986-87 in the MISL and 1993 in the CISL) |
| 1989-1991 | Billy Phillips | 58-57 | 1 Western Division Title (1989-90 in the MISL ) |
| 1998-2004 | Tatu | 70-56 | 2 Championship victories (1998 and 2001 in the WISL) |
[edit] Retired uniform numbers
- #5 Mike Powers 1987-2001
- #8 Wes McLeod 1986-1992
- #10 Kevin Smith 1984-92, 1995-98
- #22 Doc Lawson 1985-91
- #31 Krys Sobieski 1985-91
- (Gordon Jago) Head Coach/General Manager 1984-98
[edit] Notable players and personalities
[edit] Arenas [edit] Year-by-year | Year | League | Reg. Season | GF | GA | Pct | Finish | Playoffs | Owner(s) | Attendance Average | Slogan | | 1984-85 | MISL | 12-36 | 194 | 286 | .250 | 7th West | Out of Playoffs | Donald Carter | 4,969 | A/N | | 1985-86 | MISL | 25-23 | 220 | 231 | .521 | 3rd East | Lost Quarterfinal | Donald Carter | 6,654 | It'll knock yer socks off! | | 1986-87** | MISL | 28-24 | 209 | 197 | .538 | 3rd East | Won Championship | Stan Finney, Jan Rogers, Joe Shea | 8,637 | The wild side of soccer! | | 1987-88 | MISL | 28-28 | 200 | 204 | .500 | 3rd East | Lost Division Semifinal | Stan Finney, Jan Rogers, Joe Shea | 9,878 | Never Say Die | | 1988-89 | MISL | 24-24 | 185 | 206 | .500 | 3rd MISL | Lost Semifinal | Stan Finney, Jan Rogers, Joe Shea | 8,567 | Get your kicks | | 1989-90 | MISL | 31-21 | 217 | 190 | .596 | 1st West | Lost Division Final | David Pascal | 9,004 | N/A | | 1990-91 | MSL | 20-32 | 257 | 294 | .385 | 4th West | Out of Playoffs | Phill Cobb | 6,920 | N/A | | 1991-92 | MSL | 22-18 | 231 | 229 | .550 | 2nd MISL | Lost Final | Donald Carter | 7,003 | N/A | | 1993 | CISL | 23-5 | 230 | 150 | .821 | 1st CISL | Won Championship | Donald Carter | 5,800 | N/A | | 1994 | CISL | 24-4 | 255 | 160 | .857 | 1st East | Lost Final | Donald Carter | 7,310 | N/A | | 1995 | CISL | 18-10 | N/A | N/A | .643 | 2nd East | Lost Semifinal | Donald Carter | 9,380 | N/A | | 1996 | CISL | 16-12 | 186 | 167 | .571 | 3rd East | Lost Semifinal | Sonny Willams, Donald Carter | 9,202 | Hot Soccer Cool Seat | | 1997 | CISL | 13-15 | 165 | 160 | .464 | 4th East | Lost Quarterfinal | Sonny Willams, Donald Carter | 9,212 | Major League Fun | | 1998 | PSA | 8-2 | N/A | N/A | .800 | 1st WISL | Won Championship | Sonny Willams, Donald Carter | 9,167 | N/A | | 1999 | WISL | 17-5 | 127 | 88 | .773 | 2nd WISL | Lost Final | Sonny Willams, Donald Carter | 8,860 | N/A | | 2000 | WISL | 17-7 | 153 | 107 | .708 | 2nd WISL | Lost Final | Sonny Willams, Donald Carter | 7,482 | N/A | | 2001 | WISL | 14-10 | 109 | 108 | .583 | 2nd WISL | Won Championship | Sonny Willams, Donald Carter | 8,640 | Not You Ordinary Soccer | | 2002-03 | MISL II | 9-27 | 342 | 427 | .250 | 4th West | Out of Playoffs | Sonny Willams | 7,851 | Fast and Furious | | 2003-04 | MISL II | 21-15 | 213 | 167 | .583 | 1st West | Lost Semifinal | Sonny Willams | 5,756 | N/A | -
- This 1986-87 Sidekicks team was inducted into the Pizza Hut Park Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame. Known forever in Dallas as the "Never Say Die" season, the Dallas Sidekicks defeated a heavily favored Tacoma Stars squad to win the 1987 MISL Championship. Down three games to two in a best-of-seven series, the Sidekicks won the final two games 5-4 and 4-3 respectively, both in overtime and both in front of sold-out arenas in Tacoma and Dallas.
[edit] References - ^ http://www.fact-archive.com/encyclopedia/Dallas_Sidekicks
[edit] External links |
