Los Angeles Wolves

Los Angeles Wolves
Full name	Los Angeles Wolves
Nickname(s)	Wolves
Founded	1966; 58 years ago
Dissolved	1968; 56 years ago
Stadium	Los Angeles Coliseum ; Rose Bowl
Chairman	Jack Kent Cooke
Head coach	Ronnie Allen (1967) ; Ray Wood (1968)
Home colors	Away colors

The Los Angeles Wolves were an American professional soccer team that played for two seasons. In 1967 they played in the United Soccer Association, finishing as champions, and in 1968 they were founding members of the North American Soccer League.

United Soccer Association

In 1966 a group of American and Canadian sports Entrepreneurs, led by Jack Kent Cooke, formed the United Soccer Association with the intention of organizing a professional soccer league. The USA originally intended to launch its league in the spring of 1968. However a rival league, the National Professional Soccer League, announced it was ready to launch in 1967. Not wanting to lose ground to its rival, the USA decided to fast track its launch. Without any players of its own, it opted to import whole teams from Europe and South America. It was intended that these teams would represent the franchises during the inaugural season, giving them time to build their own squads for the following season. Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had won promotion to the English First Division at the end of the 1966–67 season subsequently represented the Los Angeles franchise. Cooke had originally intended to call the team the Los Angeles Zorros, but when the agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers was made, it was decided to use their nickname of Wolves.

1967 Kit

Wolves played in the Western Division alongside San Francisco Golden Gate Gales, Chicago Mustangs, Houston Stars, Vancouver Royal Canadians and Dallas Tornado. These teams were represented by ADO Den Haag, Cagliari Calcio, Bangu AC, Sunderland and Dundee United. Of the twelve teams in the league, Wolves with a team coached by Ronnie Allen and featuring Derek Dougan, emerged as one of the strongest sides. After winning the Western Division, a flip of a coin gave them the right to host the championship play-off game against the Eastern Division champions, Washington Whips, who were represented by Aberdeen. The match drew 17,824 to Los Angeles Coliseum. Wolves won the championship beating the Whips 6–5 after 36 minutes of extra-time. Four goals were scored within a 4-minute period midway through the second half and each team scored during extra time. The game was decided after Whips defender Ally Shewan scored an own goal.^[1]

NASL

In December 1967 the USA merged with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. As a result, Wolves became founding members of the new league. During the inaugural 1968 season Wolves played in the Pacific Division alongside the San Diego Toros, Oakland Clippers and Vancouver Royals. With a team coached by Ray Wood and featuring Carlos Metidieri, but no Wolverhampton Wanderers players, they failed to repeat the success of the previous season. After finishing third in their division, Wolves were one of several NASL franchises that folded after just one season. The idea of importing teams to represent franchises was revived during the 1969 North American Soccer League season and Wolverhampton Wanderers returned to the United States, this time representing Kansas City Spurs, and winning the NASL International Cup.

Year-by-year

Year	League	W	L	T	Pts	Reg. season	Playoffs	Avg. attendance
1967	USA	5	5	2	15	1st, Western Division	Champions	7,777
1968	NASL	11	8	13	139	3rd, Pacific Division	did not qualify	2,441

Coaches

Players

Mike Bailey (M) (1967)^[2]
Jorge Benitez (F) (1968) 11 apps, 6 goals
David Burnside (M) (1967) 12 apps, 1 goal
Danny Campbell (M) (1968) 32 apps, 1 goal
Derek Dougan (F) (1967) 11 apps, 3 goals
Alun Evans (F) (1967)
Graham Hawkins (D) (1967)
Ernie Hunt (F) (1967) 10 apps, 4 goals
Tony Knapp (D) (1968) 30 apps, 1 goal
Peter Knowles (F) (1967) 12 apps, 3 goals
Carlos Metidieri (F) (1968) 32 apps, 16 goals
Phil Parkes (GK) (1967) 7 apps.
Gerald Taylor (D) (1967)
Bobby Thomson (D) (1967) 12 apps, 3 goals
Ray Veall (M) (1968) 31 apps, 4 goals
David Wagstaffe (M) (1967) 10 apps.
Terry Wharton (F) (1967) 10 apps.
Les Wilson (D) (1967)
Ray Wood (GK) (1968)

Legacy

In 2014, the Wolves name was resurrected by a United Premier Soccer League team called the LA Wolves FC.^[3]^[4]

In 2023, the LA Wolves story was brought alive via a collaboration between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Munidal (part of the FootballCo group). The trailer of the film was released on 14 July 2023 to commemorate 56 years since the final. The final film was released in November 2023 and available on TNT in the UK, across the Discovery network in Europe and on NBC in the USA. It was also made available on the club’s official Wolves YouTube channel. The film was subsequently shortlisted for the Kicking & Screening Film festival in New York City in March 2024 and was also a finalist in the 2024 New York Festivals TV & Film awards.

References

^ United Press International (July 16, 1967). "Wolves capture U.S. soccer title". The New York Times. p. 152. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
^ USA NASL Los Angeles Wolves Rosters
^ "BRINGING BACK THE WOLVES LA club joins United Premier Soccer League". Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
^ "Home | L.A. Wolves FC". Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2014.

External links

When LA Wolves conquered the USA (Video/Documentary, 30 mins.), Wolves Studios in partnership with FootballCo and Mundial
Team stats A
Team stats B
List of LA Wolves players
1966 in American soccer
1967 in American soccer
1968 in American soccer
1969 in American soccer

[1] United Press International (July 16, 1967). "Wolves capture U.S. soccer title". The New York Times. p. 152. Retrieved November 2, 2012.

[2] USA NASL Los Angeles Wolves Rosters

[3] "BRINGING BACK THE WOLVES LA club joins United Premier Soccer League". Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.

[4] "Home | L.A. Wolves FC". Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2014.

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v t e Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club
Topics	History Records Seasons Managers Europe All articles
Players	First team Notable players
Grounds	Dudley Road (1881–1889) Molineux (1889–present)
Rivalries	League record by opponent Black Country derby
Other teams	Development Squad and Academy Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C. Los Angeles Wolves

v t e North American Soccer League (1968–1984)
Broadcasters USSF CSA Portal NASL (2011–2017) First overall draft picks
Seasons	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Soccer Bowls	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Predecessors	USA 1967 Final NPSL 1967 Final
Indoor seasons	1971 1975 1976 1978 1979 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1983 1983–84
Conferences	1968 East West 1976–1977 Atlantic Pacific 1978–1980 American National
Related	Soccer Bowl broadcasters NASL Indoor Championship
Clubs	Atlanta Apollos Atlanta Chiefs Baltimore Bays Baltimore Comets Boston Beacons Boston Minutemen Boston Shamrock Rovers† Calgary Boomers California Surf Chicago Mustangs Chicago Spurs² Chicago Sting Cleveland Stokers Caribous of Colorado Connecticut Bicentennials Dallas Tornado Denver Dynamos Detroit Cougars Detroit Express Edmonton Drillers Fort Lauderdale Strikers Golden Bay Earthquakes Hartford Bicentennials Houston Hurricane Houston Stars Jacksonville Tea Men Kansas City Spurs Las Vegas Quicksilvers Los Angeles Aztecs Los Angeles Wolves Memphis Rogues Miami Gatos Miami Toros Minnesota Kicks Minnesota Strikers Montreal Manic Montreal Olympique New England Tea Men New York Cosmos New York Generals New York Skyliners¹ Oakland Clippers Oakland Stompers Philadelphia Spartans² Philadelphia Atoms Philadelphia Fury Pittsburgh Phantoms² Portland Timbers Rochester Lancers San Antonio Thunder San Diego Jaws San Diego Sockers San Diego Toros San Francisco Golden Gate Gales¹ San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders St. Louis Stars Tampa Bay Rowdies Team America Team Hawaii Toronto Blizzard Toronto City¹ Toronto Metros Toronto Metros-Croatia Tulsa Roughnecks Vancouver Royals Vancouver Whitecaps Washington Darts Washington Diplomats Washington Whips
¹ United Soccer Association team that did not join NASL upon merger with NPSL. ² National Professional Soccer League team that did not join NASL upon merger with USA.