Kansas City Spurs facts for kids
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| Full name | Kansas City Spurs | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Spurs | ||
| Founded | 1968 | ||
| Dissolved | 1970 | ||
| Stadium | Kansas City Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri |
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| Stadium capacity |
35,561 | ||
| Manager |  Alan Rogers |
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| League | North American Soccer League | ||
| 1970 | 3rd, Northern Division Playoffs: DNQ |
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The Kansas City Spurs were an American professional soccer team. They were based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Spurs played in the North American Soccer League (NASL). Their home games were held at Kansas City Municipal Stadium. This stadium was also home to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals.
The club was first known as the Chicago Spurs. They played in the National Professional Soccer League. After two leagues merged in 1967, the team moved to Kansas City. The Spurs won the NASL Championship in 1969. However, the team stopped playing shortly after the 1970 NASL season. The club's colors were red and white.
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The Kansas City Spurs: A Brief History
The Kansas City Spurs team was started in 1968. This happened after two soccer leagues, the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) and the United Soccer Association (USA), joined together. They formed a new top-level professional league called the North American Soccer League (NASL).
Moving from Chicago to Kansas City
Before becoming the Kansas City Spurs, the team was called the Chicago Spurs. They had only played one season in Chicago in 1967. The team moved to Kansas City to avoid competing with another team, the Chicago Mustangs. The Mustangs had also joined the new NASL.
Challenges and Triumphs in 1969
After the 1968 NASL season, the league faced problems. Ten teams had to close down. The 1969 season was split into two parts. The first part was called the International Cup. In this tournament, the remaining NASL clubs were represented by teams from the United Kingdom.
The Kansas City Spurs were represented by Wolverhampton Wanderers. This English team had won a championship in 1967. The Spurs won the International Cup with a great record. They won 6 games, lost 2, and tied 0.
For the second part of the 1969 season, the teams played with their regular players. They played 16 games, and there were no playoffs. The Spurs won the regular season championship that year. Players like Willy Roy and Pepe Fernandez helped them succeed. The team also had the most fans, with an average of 4,273 people at their games.
The Final Season: 1970
In 1970, the Spurs finished in last place in their division. The team stopped playing shortly after this season.
Coaching the Spurs
The club was first coached by Hungarian coach Janos Bedl. He led the team to victory in their second season. The next year, he was replaced by English manager Alan Rogers. Alan Rogers had coached the Chicago Spurs in 1967. He returned to coach the team for their final season in 1970.
Year-by-Year Performance
Here's how the Kansas City Spurs performed each year:
| Year | League | Wins | Losses | Ties | Points | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs | Average Attendance |
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| 1968 | NASL | 16 | 11 | 5 | 158 | 1st, Gulf Division | Lost Playoff (San Diego) | 8,510 |
| 1969 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 110 | 1st | Champions (no playoff) | 4,273 | |
| 1970 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 100 | 3rd, Northern Division | Did not qualify | 2,398 |
Team Achievements and Awards
The Kansas City Spurs earned several honors during their time:
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NASL Championships
NASL Season Premierships
NASL Division Titles
NASL International Cup
NASL Coach of the Year
NASL MVP (Most Valuable Player)
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All-Star First Team Selections
All-Star Second Team Selections
U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame
Canada Soccer Hall of Fame
Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame
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Coaches of the Spurs
Janos Bedl (1968-1969)- Alan Rogers (1970)
See also
In Spanish: Kansas City Spurs para niños
- Chicago Spurs
- Chicago Mustangs (1967–68)
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Sporting Kansas City
