California Surf

The California Surf was an American soccer team that played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1978 to 1981. The team was based in Anaheim, California. They played their home games at different venues: the Anaheim Convention Center and the Long Beach Arena for indoor games, and Anaheim Stadium for outdoor matches.

The California Surf started out as another team called the St. Louis Stars. After the 1977 NASL season, they moved to Anaheim. The team played for a few years but eventually stopped after the 1981 season.

History

The California Surf was a soccer team that started in 1967 as the St. Louis Stars. They joined the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1968. In 1977, the team moved to Anaheim, California, and became known as the Surf. Their name was chosen from ideas sent in by fans.

The Surf began playing in the NASL in 1978. They played their first game on April 1, 1978, and won 1–0 against the Portland Timbers. Over the years, they had many ups and downs, sometimes doing very well and sometimes not making it to the playoffs. They also played indoor soccer during the winter months. Sadly, after the 1981 season, the team stopped playing because they couldn’t pay the money needed to keep going.

Ownership and staff

The California Surf soccer team had different owners during its time. From 1978 to 1980, the team was owned by Robert Hermann & Partners. Then, from 1980 to 1981, Henry Segerstrom & Partners took over as owners. Lynne Saunders served as the Deputy General Manager during this period.

Head coaches

The California Surf had three head coaches during their time in the North American Soccer League. John Sewell coached from 1978 to 1979, followed by Peter Wall from 1979 to 1981. Laurie Calloway took over as coach in 1981. All three coaches were from England.

Year-by-year

Honors

The California Surf achieved several notable honors during their time in the North American Soccer League. They won division titles in the 1978 season and the 1980–81 indoor season. Ray Evans was recognized as part of the NASL All-Star First Team in 1978. Several players and figures associated with the team were later inducted into various soccer halls of fame, including the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame, Canada Soccer Hall of Fame, and Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame.