{{For|other similarly named teams|Seattle Sounders (disambiguation)}} {{Short description|Former American soccer team}} {{See also|History of Seattle Sounders}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Use American English|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Seattle Sounders | image = Seattle sounders textlogo.png | image_size = 200px | fullname = Seattle Sounders | nickname = ''Sounders'' | founded = December 11, 1973 | dissolved = {{Start date and age|1983|09|06}} | stadium = [[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]] <br /> [[Kingdome]] | capacity = 17,925<br />58,218 (limited to 38,000) | chairman = | manager = | league = [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]] | season = | position = | leftarm1 = 021f3e | body1 = 021f3e | rightarm1 = 021f3e | shorts1 = 021f3e | socks1 = 021f3e | pattern_b1 = _pinstripes_and_collar_on_white | pattern_la1 = _pinstripes_and_border_on_white | pattern_ra1 = _pinstripes_and_border_on_white | pattern_sh1 = _adidaswhite | pattern_so1 = _color_3_stripes_on_white | leftarm2 = 021f3e | body2 = 021f3e | rightarm2 = 021f3e | shorts2 = 021f3e | socks2 = 021f3e | pattern_b2 = _pinstripes_and_collar_white | pattern_la2 = _pinstripes_and_border_white | pattern_ra2 = _pinstripes_and_border_white | pattern_sh2 = _adidaswhite | pattern_so2 = _color_3_stripes_white | American = true | }}
The '''Seattle Sounders''' were an American professional [[Association football|soccer]] team based in [[Seattle]], Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] where it played both [[indoor soccer|indoor]] and [[football (soccer)|outdoor soccer]]. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season but the name was revived in 1994 for a [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|lower-division team]] and [[Seattle Sounders FC]] of the top-flight [[Major League Soccer]], founded in 2007.
==History== {{main|History of professional soccer in Seattle#Seattle Sounders (NASL), 1974–1983}}
A Seattle [[expansion team]] for the North American Soccer League was proposed in early 1973 as part of a new Western Division that would include Los Angeles, San Jose, and Vancouver.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Hy |date=September 6, 1973 |title=Soccer to get succor in L. A. |page=E2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> On December 11, 1973, the league awarded an expansion team to Seattle that would be owned by a group of local businessmen led by [[Walter Daggatt]] of the [[Alpac Corporation]]; the team would play at [[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]] in the Western Division alongside new teams in Los Angeles, San Francisco (later moved to San Jose), and Vancouver.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Hy |date=December 11, 1973 |title=Seattle business elite back pro soccer team |page=E1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> A naming contest was held in January 1974, with a shortlist of six finalists: Cascades, Evergreens, Mariners, Schooners, Sockeyes, and Sounders.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 13, 1974 |title=What name do you like? |page=H6 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> "Sounders" was announced as the winner of the contest on January 21, having been chosen in 32 percent of the 3,735 votes cast by the public.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 22, 1974 |title=Sounders is the new name, soccer's the name of the game |page=D3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
The Sounders assembled a roster of players from European leagues, including Americans returning from overseas, and hired [[John Best (soccer)|John Best]] as their coach.<ref>{{cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Frank |date=September 9, 2014 |title=Soccer in Seattle at 40: NASL, where the love affair was born |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2024500673_soccerinseattle40-nasl.html |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404005057/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2024500673_soccerinseattle40-nasl.html |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Gordy |date=May 5, 1974 |title=Sounders To Open Boot Play Today |page=G3 |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]}}</ref> They played for four days before their league debut on May 5, 1974, against [[Los Angeles Aztecs]];<ref>{{cite news |date=May 6, 1974 |title=Sounders lose, 2-1, in opener |page=C1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> the team lost 2–1 on the road with the first goal in Sounders history scored by [[John Rowlands (footballer)|John Rowlands]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Gordy |date=May 6, 1974 |title=Sounders Doused In Opened by 2-1 Count |page=C1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> Their home debut, a week later at [[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]] in Seattle, was a 4–0 victory against the [[Denver Dynamos]] in front of 12,132 spectators; Rowlands scored twice in the match.<ref name="Times-Timeline">{{cite news |date=May 6, 2004 |title=Seattle Sounders: Kicking through the memories |page=C4 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20040506&slug=sounderstimeline06 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Gordy |date=May 13, 1974 |title=Sounders Swamp Denver |page=B1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The team finished the regular season with a 13–7 record and missed the playoffs, but had six [[sellout]] crowds at Memorial Stadium that broke the venue's previous records.<ref>{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=May 6, 2004 |title=Seattle loved sound of '74 |page=C1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Keefe |first=Vince |date=June 23, 1974 |title=13,876 see Sounder victory |page=C1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The Sounders averaged 13,520 per match in their inaugural season, second only to the [[San Jose Earthquakes (1974–1988)|San Jose Earthquakes]] among NASL teams.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Keefe |first=Vince |date=August 12, 1974 |title=Sounders sing 'Auld Lang Syne' |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
During the 1974–75 offseason, Memorial Stadium was expanded to 17,925 seats for Sounders matches; the team had four more sellouts and averaged 16,830 during the 1975 season with 7,477 [[season ticket]] holders. They announced a move to the new multi-purpose [[Kingdome]] ahead of the 1976 season, planning to limit capacity to 38,000 seats for most matches but charge the same prices as their Memorial Stadium tickets. The team also moved their front offices to [[Pioneer Square, Seattle|Pioneer Square]] in December 1975.<ref name="PI-Kingdome1975">{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Gordy |date=December 10, 1975 |title=Sounders to Play in the Dome |page=F1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The Sounders played the first sporting event at the Kingdome on April 9, 1976, hosting the [[New York Cosmos (1971–1985)|New York Cosmos]] in an exhibition match that they lost 3–1 with 58,128 in attendance. The Sounders went on to play in two [[Soccer Bowl]]s, losing in 1977 and 1982 to the Cosmos.<ref name="Times-Timeline"/> From 1975 to 1982, the Sounders had an average attendance of over 20,000 per match at the Kingdome and Memorial Stadium.<ref name="Times-2002">{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=July 28, 2002 |title=Sounders seek return to glory on new turf |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20020728&slug=sounders28 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 11, 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Seattle Sounders fire safety trading cards, 1980 (24873742868).jpg|thumb|350px|Seattle players (fltr) Jack Brand, Alan Hinton, and Roger Davies, depicted on 1980 collectible cards]] Frank and Vince Coluccio bought a majority stake in the Sounders franchise in 1979.<ref>{{cite news |last=Garnick |first=Coral |date=April 12, 2014 |title=Frank Coluccio dies; founder of construction company that began in 1953 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/frank-coluccio-dies-founder-of-construction-company-that-began-in-1953/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 12, 2018}}</ref> In January 1983, the Coluccios sold 75 percent of the franchise to former [[National Football League]] player and businessman [[Bruce Anderson (American football)|Bruce Anderson]] and [[REI]] executive [[Jerry Horn]], who split the shares in half; an offer to sell the team to [[Bud Greer]] for $5.8 million was rejected so the Coluccios could retain control of the Sounders. Anderson immediately announced the firing of head coach Alan Hinton, stating that the "style of play [was] not what we want to present".<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=January 12, 1983 |title=New Sounder owners fire Hinton |page=G1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The team adopted a new logo, colors, and theme song as part of an "Americanization" campaign led by Anderson, which was poorly received by fans.<ref name="Wayback">{{cite news |last=Eskenazi |first=David |date=April 12, 2011 |title=Wayback Machine: Sounders 1.0 — Final Soap Opera |url=https://www.sportspressnw.com/2124593/2011/wayback-machine-sounders-1-0-the-final-soap-opera |work=[[Sportspress Northwest]] |accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rudman |first=Steve |date=August 5, 1983 |title=Sounder players stuck in the middle of tragic farce |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Horn later resigned from the team's [[board of directors]] in June and sold his shares to the Coluccios, who regained majority control;<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=July 1, 1983 |title=What Happens Next? The Coluccios are back on top, but questions remain |page=E1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Anderson resigned as team president at the same time and sold his remaining shares in August as the NASL dispatched mediators to settle the dispute between owners.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wright |first=Bart |date=July 1, 1983 |title=Anderson resigns as president; sale of stock near |page=B1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-collucio-brothers-buy-b/125771598/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=August 1, 1983 |title=NASL dispatches lawyer to view Sounder chaos |page=D8 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Former players [[Jack Brand]] and [[Roger Davies (footballer)|Roger Davies]] had also filed lawsuits seeking unpaid wages from their terminated contracts.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=July 16, 1983 |title=Sounders may be finished if buyer can't be found |page=C1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
The team folded on September 6, 1983, after the Coluccios struggled to keep the club afloat through the remainder of the regular season; the team did not qualify for the playoffs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=September 6, 1983 |title=Sounders call it quits |page=D1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The payrolls for players and staff went unpaid for several matches in August, including the [[EuroPac Cup]] against Vancouver and teams from Brazil and China.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=August 2, 1983 |title=Sounders' show goes on—without pay |page=C2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Several potential new investors had inquired about owning the Sounders,<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=June 21, 1983 |title=New faces in Sounders owner furor |page=E2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> but were unable to negotiate for the rights.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carlton |first=Debera |date=September 7, 1983 |title=Sounder franchise collapses |page=B1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> A plan to play the 1983–84 NASL indoor season at the [[Tacoma Dome]] was scrapped after losing to a new [[Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992)|Major Indoor Soccer League]] franchise, later the [[Tacoma Stars (1983–1992)|Tacoma Stars]]; an alternate site, the [[Sullivan Arena]] in [[Anchorage, Alaska]], was also favored by Anderson but never used.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=August 16, 1983 |title='Crisis management' chills Sounder hopes |page=D2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=July 20, 1983 |title=Sounders looking at Anchorage for some indoor dates |page=B8 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The Sounders lost an estimated $7 million in their final years of operation and the rights to the team's name were sold to Hinton.<ref>{{cite news |last=Peoples |first=John |date=September 29, 1993 |title=Kicking back in Seattle |page=C1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The NASL folded a year later and a new team, [[F.C. Seattle Storm]], was formed to continue playing outdoor soccer on a semi-professional level in the city.<ref name="Times-Timeline"/> The Storm later played in the [[American Professional Soccer League]] in 1990, but folded two years later.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=February 21, 1992 |title=Curtain closes on Seattle Storm |page=E2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> A [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|new Sounders team]] formed in 1994 and played in the American Professional Soccer League (later the [[A-League (1995–2004)|A-League]] and [[USL First Division]]).<ref name="Times-Timeline"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=April 7, 1994 |title=Hinton answers call to coach soccer again |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19940407&slug=1904266 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 23, 2022}}</ref> They were replaced by a [[Major League Soccer]] team, named [[Seattle Sounders FC]] in honor of both predecessors, which made their debut on March 19, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Drosendahl |first=Glenn |date=April 8, 2015 |title=Seattle Sounders FC |url=https://historylink.org/File/11056 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=December 23, 2022}}</ref>
==Stadium== [[File:Kingdome across parking lot in 1996.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Kingdome]], the home venue of the Sounders from 1976 to 1983]]
The Sounders played at [[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]] for their first two seasons under a lease with the [[Seattle School District]]. The stadium was expanded to 17,925 seats during the 1974–75 offseason with temporary bleachers to accommodate the team's crowds, which were among the largest in the NASL.<ref name="PI-Kingdome1975"/> The [[artificial turf]] pitch at Memorial Stadium was {{convert|110|yd|ft}} long and {{convert|62|yd|ft}} wide, among the narrowest in the league.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Hy |date=July 20, 1975 |title=The desirable dilemma: Kingdome or Memorial? |page=G2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The team also considered playing some matches, including playoff games, at [[Husky Stadium]] in the event that Memorial Stadium was too small or unavailable.<ref>{{cite news |last=Meyers |first=Georg N. |date=August 13, 1974 |title='75 Sounders: the cherry on top |page=E1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Keefe |first=Vince |date=July 2, 1974 |title=More seats if Sounders reach soccer playoffs |page=B2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
The team moved to the indoor [[Kingdome]] for the 1976 season, which it would later share with other professional sports teams. The Sounders initially limited capacity for most matches to 38,000 by using the entire lower bowl and only part of the upper bowl.<ref name="PI-Kingdome1975"/> On April 25, 1976, 58,218 watched the Seattle Sounders and the New York Cosmos in the first sports event held in the Kingdome.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Kingdome|url=http://your.kingcounty.gov/stadium/|publisher=King County|access-date=August 7, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182351/http://your.kingcounty.gov/stadium/|archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref> It was the largest crowd to watch a professional soccer match in the United States at the time.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Hy |date=April 10, 1976 |title=Sports history shaped like soccer ball—with dome |page=D1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
From 1979 to 1982, they competed in three NASL Indoor seasons, playing their home games also at the Kingdome. The stadium was reconfigured for indoor soccer with a playing surface that was {{convert|210|ft|m}} long and {{convert|85|ft|m}} wide.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 11, 1980 |title=Sounders set indoor schedule |page=D5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Capacity was limited beginning in the 1981 indoor season to 16,500 seats;<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Lenny |date=December 3, 1981 |title=Sounders dig in for the Winter |page=B1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> the following year, the field was shortened and moved closer to the western stands, while 2,500 bleacher seats were added to the east side.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=June 30, 1982 |title=New look all around as Sounders host Toronto |page=E7 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The Sounders attempted to move to the new [[Tacoma Dome]] for the 1983 indoor season, but lost out to the [[Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992)|Major Indoor Soccer League]]'s [[Tacoma Stars (1983–1992)|Tacoma Stars]] as primary tenant.<ref>{{cite news |last=Farber |first=Stan |date=August 23, 1983 |title=Does it end here for the Sounders? |page=B2 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-does-it-end-here-for-th/125772282/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref>
==Broadcasting==
===Radio===
Radio station [[KVI]] carried all of the Sounders' regular season matches in 1974 with [[play-by-play]] commentary from Bob Robertson.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 5, 1974 |title=Sounder games slated on radio |page=D2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The team renewed their contract with KVI for the 1975 season, with Robertson reprising his role and joined by head coach John Best for a pre-match segment.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Gary |date=March 24, 1975 |title=KTW-AM News-Satire Wins Peabody Award |page=C7 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> For the 1976 season, the station broadcast preseason games in addition to regular season and playoff coverage;<ref>{{cite news |date=March 19, 1976 |title=First soccer broadcast due |page=17 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> the team paid for their radio time and sold advertising to recoup costs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Jack |date=August 21, 1976 |title=Seattle Baseball—the Pay-by-Pay |page=A11 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The Sounders left KVI after the season due to fears it would be "overshadowed" by the station's [[Seattle Mariners]] broadcasts, which would take priority.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gressel |first=Janine |date=July 30, 1976 |title=Sounders to leave KVI; Seahawks get six hours |page=C5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
[[KIRO (AM)|KIRO Radio]] replaced KVI as the radio broadcaster for the Sounders, with [[Wayne Cody]] assigned to play-by-play duties for the 1977 and 1978 seasons with [[color commentary|color commentator]] Tommy Grieve.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Gordy |date=February 5, 1977 |title=Cody New Sounders' Voice |page=B3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref><ref name="Times-TV1978">{{cite news |last=Gressel |first=Janine |date=March 24, 1978 |title=Sportscasts: Sounders get more television coverage |page=B4 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The team contracted with [[KOMO-AM|KOMO]] beginning in the 1979 season with Huskies announcer [[Bob Rondeau]] as play-by-play commentator for home matches alongside Grieve. Keith Askenasi, a member of the team's staff, would be the play-by-play commentator away matches.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gressel |first=Janine |date=March 16, 1979 |title=Sounders' Daley picked talent over announcer's experience |page=D8 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Due to scheduling conflicts, Rondeau was replaced by David Greene beginning with the 1980 indoor season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gressel |first=Janine |date=November 14, 1980 |title=Greene's newspaper-toting days paid off |page=C5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> [[KTTH|KXA]] and [[KDDS-FM|KAYO]] replaced KOMO for the 1981 indoor season and 1982 outdoor season;<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=November 25, 1981 |title=Sounders sign 3-year radio deal with KXA |page=E2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> former [[Seattle Totems]] hockey commentator Rob Glazier was hired by the Sounders to replace Greene.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=December 3, 1981 |title=If push comes to shove, Sounders should be ready tonight |page=G2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The rights for the 1983 season were acquired by [[KJR (AM)|KJR]] with Robertson returning as play-by-play commentator.<ref>{{cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Frank |date=February 6, 2016 |title=A First & Lasting Impression: Original Voice of Sounders Blazed a Broadcasting Path |url=https://www.sounderatheart.com/2016/2/6/10925872/original-voice-of-sounders-blazed-a-broadcasting-path-a-first |work=Sounder At Heart |accessdate=June 2, 2023 |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614065221/https://www.sounderatheart.com/2016/2/6/10925872/original-voice-of-sounders-blazed-a-broadcasting-path-a-first |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 19, 1983 |title=Sounder broadcasts on KJR |page=E2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
===Television===
Television highlights from the team's matches were broadcast in a weekly hour-long show on [[KOMO-TV|KOMO]] beginning in the 1975 season. It was the first television arrangement for an NASL team with a terrestrial broadcaster.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 30, 1975 |title=Seattle Booters On TV |page=C2 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> KOMO sports director Bruce King hosted the show and was joined by Best to explain rules and tactics for the audience.<ref>{{cite news |last=Voorhees |first=John |date=May 14, 1975 |title='Happy' has comedic bite |page=D4 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> KOMO later carried a live broadcast of the team's 1975 playoff game against the [[Portland Timbers (1975–1982)|Portland Timbers]] with commentary from King and [[Cliff McCrath]], head coach of the [[Seattle Pacific Falcons]] collegiate soccer team. The broadcast was produced by their sister station in Portland, [[KATU-TV|KATU]], and was criticized for its odd direction and poor video quality.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Jack |date=August 16, 1975 |title=For the Record... |page=A8 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>
The first live regular season broadcasts for the Sounders' away matches were aired on [[KSTW]] (Channel 11) for the 1976 season, with Robertson's radio commentary simulcast.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gressel |first=Janine |date=May 7, 1976 |title=Sportscasts: A 10-week 'telecourse' on The Olympic Games |page=C3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Robertson was retained for the following season by KSTW despite KVI's contract expiring; he also became the play-by-play commentator for the rival Portland Timbers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Gordy |date=March 2, 1977 |title=21 Sounders in First Drill |page=C2 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> Two matches were also broadcast by [[KIRO-TV]] on [[broadcast delay|tape delay]] as part of an agreement with [[TVS Television Network|TVS]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gressel |first=Janine |date=July 8, 1977 |title=Sportscasts: KIRO kicks at soccer snafu |page=C5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gressel |first=Janine |date=August 12, 1977 |title=Sportscasts: KIRO-TV to delay Sounders playoff telecast |page=C6 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> A new highlights show on [[KCTS]] was introduced for the 1978 season to cover home matches; KSTW would continue to carry live broadcasts for away matches with Robertson at the helm.<ref name="Times-TV1978"/>
==Supporters== The Seattle Sounders were supported by the "Seattle Sounders Booster Club" in the 1970s and early 1980s.
==Year-by-year== {{Main|List of Seattle Sounders (1974–1983) seasons}}
This is a complete list of seasons for the NASL club. For a season-by-season history including the current [[Seattle Sounders FC]] MLS franchise, see [[History of professional soccer in Seattle]]. {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;" |- style="background:#f0f6ff;" !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=11|[[Major League Soccer|League]] !colspan=2|Position !rowspan=2|[[MLS Cup Playoffs|Playoffs]] !rowspan=2|[[U.S. Open Cup|USOC]] !rowspan=2 colspan=2|[[CONCACAF|Continental]] !rowspan=2|[[Major League Soccer attendance|Average attendance]] !colspan=2|Top goalscorer(s) |- !Div !League !Pld !W !L !D !GF !GA !GD !Pts !PPG !Conf. !Overall !Name !Goals |- |'''[[1974 Seattle Sounders season|1974]]''' | rowspan=10 | 1 | [[1974 North American Soccer League season|NASL]] | 20 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 37 | 17 | +20 | 101 | 5.05 | bgcolor=CFAA88 | 3rd | 5th | DNQ | rowspan=10 | DNE | colspan=2 rowspan=10 | Ineligible | 13,434 |align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Rowlands (footballer)|John Rowlands]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1974.html|title=The Year in American Soccer - 1974|website=homepages.sover.net|access-date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105121101/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1974.html|archive-date=November 5, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> | 10 |- |'''[[1975 Seattle Sounders season|1975]]''' | [[1975 North American Soccer League season|NASL]] | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 28 | +14 | 129 | 5.86 | bgcolor=silver | 2nd | bgcolor=CFAA88 | 3rd | [[1975 North American Soccer League season#Playoffs|QF]] | 16,818 |align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Rowlands (footballer)|John Rowlands]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1975.html |title=The Year in American Soccer, 1975 |author=Steve Holroyd |date=January 31, 2010 |publisher=American Soccer Archives |access-date=January 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105121106/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1975.html |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | 9 |- |'''[[1976 Seattle Sounders season|1976]]''' | [[1976 North American Soccer League season|NASL]] | 24 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 40 | 31 | +9 | 123 | 5.13 | bgcolor=CFAA88 | 3rd | 8th | [[1976 North American Soccer League season#Playoffs|QF]] | 23,828<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandsberry |first=Scott |date=April 26, 1977 |title=Sounders try to put on great show |page=9 |work=The Bellingham Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-sounders-try-to-pu/131486405/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=September 10, 2023}}</ref> |align="left" | {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Gordon Wallace (soccer)|Gordon Wallace]] | 13 |- |'''[[1977 Seattle Sounders season|1977]]''' | [[1977 North American Soccer League season|NASL]] | 26 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 43 | 34 | +9 | 123 | 4.73 | 5th | 8th | bgcolor=silver | [[1977 North American Soccer League playoffs|RU]] | 24,226 |align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Micky Cave]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1977.html|title=The Year in American Soccer - 1977|website=homepages.sover.net|access-date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713134953/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1977.html|archive-date=July 13, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> | 12 |- |'''[[1978 Seattle Sounders season|1978]]''' | [[1978 North American Soccer League season|NASL]] | 30 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 50 | 45 | +5 | 138 | 4.60 | 7th | 12th | [[1978 North American Soccer League playoffs|R1]] | 22,572 |align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Micky Cave]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1978.html|title=The Year in American Soccer - 1978|website=homepages.sover.net|access-date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217025808/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1978.html|archive-date=February 17, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> | 13 |- |'''[[1979 Seattle Sounders season|1979]]''' | [[1979 North American Soccer League season|NASL]] | 30 | 13 | 17 | 0 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 125 | 4.17 | 10th | 17th | DNQ | 18,998 |align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Ryan (footballer, born 1947)|John Ryan]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1979.html|title=The Year in American Soccer - 1979|website=homepages.sover.net|access-date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510021010/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1979.html|archive-date=May 10, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> | 12 |- |'''[[1980 Seattle Sounders season|1980]]''' | [[1980 North American Soccer League season|NASL]] | 32 | 25 | 7 | 0 | 74 | 31 | +43 | 201 | 6.28 | bgcolor=silver | 2nd | bgcolor=silver | 2nd | [[1980 North American Soccer League season#Playoffs|QF]] | 24,246 |align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Roger Davies (footballer)|Roger Davies]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1980.html|title=The Year in American Soccer - 1980|website=homepages.sover.net|access-date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105121122/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1980.html|archive-date=November 5, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> | 25 |- |'''[[1981 Seattle Sounders season|1981]]''' | [[1981 North American Soccer League season|NASL]] | 32 | 15 | 17 | 0 | 60 | 62 | −2 | 137 | 4.28 | 4th | 15th | [[1981 North American Soccer League season#Playoffs|R1]] | 18,224 |align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Kevin Bond (English footballer)|Kevin Bond]] | 16 |- |'''[[1982 Seattle Sounders season|1982]]''' | [[1982 North American Soccer League season|NASL]] | 32 | 18 | 14 | 0 | 72 | 48 | +24 | 166 | 5.19 | bgcolor=gold | 1st | bgcolor=silver | 2nd | bgcolor=silver | [[1982 North American Soccer League season#Playoffs|RU]] | 12,359 |align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Ward (footballer, born 1955)|Peter Ward]] | 18 |- |'''[[1983 Seattle Sounders season|1983]]''' | [[1983 North American Soccer League season|NASL]] | 30 | 12 | 18 | 0 | 62 | 61 | +1 | 119 | 3.97 | bgcolor=CFAA88 | 3rd | 9th |DNQ | 8,181 |align="left" | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mark Peterson (soccer)|Mark Peterson]]<hr/>{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Ward (footballer, born 1955)|Peter Ward]] | 13 |- |- | '''Total''' | – | – | '''278''' | '''151''' | '''124''' | '''3''' | '''538''' | '''409''' | '''+129''' | '''1362''' | '''4.90''' | – | – | – | – | colspan="2" | – | – |align="center"| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mark Peterson (soccer)|Mark Peterson]] | '''48''' |} <small>{{note|1}}1. '''Avg. attendance''' include statistics from league matches only.</small><br /> <small>{{note|2}}2. '''Top goalscorer(s)''' includes all goals scored in League, League Cup, [[U.S. Open Cup]], [[CONCACAF Champions League]], [[FIFA Club World Cup]], and other competitive continental matches.</small>
=== Indoor === {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;" |- style="background:#f0f6ff;" !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=7|League !colspan=2|Position !rowspan=2|Playoffs !rowspan=2|Average attendance !colspan=2|Top goalscorer(s) |- !League !Pld !W !L !GF !GA !GD !Conf. !Overall !Name !Goals |- |'''[[1975 NASL Indoor tournament|1975]]''' | [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]] | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 23 | –15 |style=background:#FFCCCC | 4th |style=background:#FFCCCC | 16th | rowspan=2 | DNQ | N/A | align="center" colspan="2" style="background:#ececec; color:gray |— |- |'''[[1980–81 NASL Indoor season|1980–81]]''' | [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]] | 18 | 9 | 9 | 106 | 98 | +8 |style=background:#FFCCCC | 4th | 11th | 6,751 | align="center" colspan="2" style="background:#ececec; color:gray |— |- |'''[[1981–82 NASL Indoor season|1981–82]]''' | [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]] | 18 | 9 | 9 | 95 | 97 | –2 | 4th | 7th | [[1981–82 NASL Indoor season#Playoffs|QF]] | 6,137 | align="center" colspan="2" style="background:#ececec; color:gray |— |- | '''Total''' | – | '''38''' | '''18''' | '''20''' | '''209''' | '''218''' | '''–9''' | – | – | – | – | align="center" colspan="2" style="background:#ececec; color:gray |— |}
==Honors== ===Team honors===
'''NASL championships''' * [[Soccer Bowl '77|1977]] runner-up * [[Soccer Bowl '82|1982]] runner-up
'''NASL Conference championships''' * [[1977 North American Soccer League season|1977]] Pacific Conference<ref name=PC />
'''NASL Division championships''' * [[1977 North American Soccer League season|1977]] Western Division, Pacific Conference<ref name=PC>{{cite web|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1977.html|title=The Year in American Soccer - 1977|website=Sover.net}}</ref>
'''NASL Division Titles''' ''(regular season)'' * [[1980 North American Soccer League season|1980]] Western Division, National Conference * [[1982 North American Soccer League season|1982]] Western Division
'''[[Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup]]''' *1981 Winner
'''Europac Cup''' *1982 Winner
'''League MVP''' * 1980 [[Roger Davies (footballer)|Roger Davies]] * 1982 [[Peter Ward (footballer, born 1955)|Peter Ward]]
'''Rookie of the Year''' * 1977 [[Jim McAlister (American soccer)|Jim McAlister]]
'''North American Player of the Year''' * 1980 [[Jack Brand]] * 1982 [[Mark Peterson (soccer)|Mark Peterson]]
'''Coach of the Year''' * 1980 [[Alan Hinton]]
'''NASL Leading Goalkeeper''' * 1974 [[Barry Watling]] ''(GAA: 0.80)'' * 1976 [[Tony Chursky]] ''(GAA: 0.91, SO: 9)'' * 1980 [[Jack Brand]] ''(GAA: 0.91, SO: 15)''
===Individual honors===
'''All-Star first team selections''' * 1974 [[Barry Watling]], [[John Rowlands (footballer)|John Rowlands]] * 1975 [[Mike England]], [[Arfon Griffiths]] * 1976 [[Mike England]] * 1977 [[Mike England]] * 1978 [[Mike England]] * 1980 [[Roger Davies (footballer)|Roger Davies]], [[Bruce Rioch]] * 1982 [[Peter Ward (footballer, born 1955)|Peter Ward]]
'''All-Star second team selections''' * 1974 [[Jimmy Gabriel]], [[Hank Liotart]] * 1980 [[Jack Brand]], [[Alan Hudson]], [[John Ryan (footballer born 1947)|John Ryan]] * 1981 [[Kevin Bond (English footballer)|Kevin Bond]], [[Alan Hudson]] * 1982 [[Steve Daley]], [[Ray Evans (footballer, born 1949)|Ray Evans]] * 1983 [[Steve Daley]], [[Ray Evans (footballer, born 1949)|Ray Evans]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oocities.org/colosseum/Arena/6925/nasl.html|title=Steve Dimitry's NASL Web Page}}</ref>
'''All-Star honorable mentions''' * 1974 [[Roy Sinclair]] * 1975 [[Dave Gillett]], [[Barry Watling]] * 1976 [[Dave Gillett]], [[Jimmy Robertson (footballer born 1944)|Jimmy Robertson]] * 1977 [[Tony Chursky]], [[Jim McAlister (American soccer)|Jim McAlister]], [[Jimmy Robertson (footballer born 1944)|Jimmy Robertson]] * 1979 [[Alan Hudson]] * 1980 [[Tommy Hutchison]], [[David Nish]] * 1983 [[Peter Ward (footballer, born 1955)|Peter Ward]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Mudry|first=Richard|title=Rookie Thompson captures NASL honors|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/336225662|work=Tampa Tribune|via=newspapers.com|date=September 18, 1983|page=15-D|access-date=15 December 2017}}</ref>
'''NASL Indoor All-Stars''' * 1980–81 [[Alan Hudson]] ''(All-West)''<ref name="1980-81 All-Stars">{{cite news|last=Henderson|first=Jim |title=For Keith Bailey, The Long Wait Is Finally Over|date=April 21, 1981|newspaper= The Tampa Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/335321009|page=5-C|access-date=January 6, 2021}}</ref> * 1981–82 [[Alan Hudson]] ''(Pacific Conference)''
'''U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame''' * 2006 [[Al Trost]]
'''Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame''' * 2003 [[Ian Bridge]] * 2004 [[Tony Chursky]] * 2008 [[Jack Brand]] * 2014 [[Chris Bennett (soccer)|Chris Bennett]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesoccerhalloffame.ca/en-us/halloffame/halloffameinducteeannouncements/2014inductees.aspx |title=Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum Website > Hall of Fame > Hall Of Fame Inductee Announcements > 2014 Inductees |website=www.thesoccerhalloffame.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802201406/http://www.thesoccerhalloffame.ca/en-us/halloffame/halloffameinducteeannouncements/2014inductees.aspx |archive-date=2014-08-02}} </ref>
==Coaches== * {{flagicon|United States of America}}, [[John Best (soccer)|John Best]] 1974–1976 * {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Jimmy Gabriel]], 1977–1979 * {{flagicon|England}} [[Alan Hinton]], 1980–1982 * {{flagicon|England}} [[Laurie Calloway]], 1983
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080510142230/http://home.att.net/~nasl/rosters/sounders.htm Seattle Sounders All-Time Player Roster] *[http://GOALSeattle.com/OriginalSounders.htm GOALSeattle.com Sounders Online Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220094829/http://goalseattle.com/OriginalSounders.htm |date=December 20, 2016 }}
{{Seattle Sounders FC}} {{North American Soccer League (1966–85)}} {{Seattle Sports}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seattle Sounders (1974-83)}} [[Category:Seattle Sounders (1974–1983)| ]] [[Category:1974 establishments in Washington (state)]] [[Category:1983 disestablishments in Washington (state)]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1974]] [[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1983]] [[Category:Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States]] [[Category:Defunct soccer clubs in Washington (state)]] [[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) teams]]