The Connecticut Wolves were an American
soccer club that was founded by the Clifton Onolfo, the Onolfo Family, and several investors including Tony DiCicco. The Club's inaugural match was attended by 5,200 plus fans and competed in the
United Soccer Leagues
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
from 1993 to 2004. Based in
New Britain, Connecticut, and playing in
Veteran's Stadium, the club started in the
D-3 Pro League before moving to the
A-League
A-League Men (known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons) is the highest-level professional men's soccer league in Australia and New Zealand. At the top of the Australian league system, it is the country's premier men's competit ...
in 1997. The Connecticut Wolves were sold to the City of New Britain in 1997.
History
In 1992 prior to MLS and NASL the USISL had 19 Teams across the South and South East. The Onolfo Family and Investors acquired the rights for USISL Connecticut and announced the Connecticut Wolves in 1993. The USISL grew steadily through the next five years adding teams in the North East including the Long Island Roughriders, NY Fever, Boston Breakers, Rochester Rhinos, Richmond Kickers, Delaware Wizards. 1996 the A League merged with the support of Umbro into the USL now 116 Teams Strong in ProAm, D3 and A League Divisions. The Club ownership was transferred the City oh New Britain, in lieu of moving to Stamford Connecticut. The Wolves enjoyed three seasons over 10 years where they reached the Quarterfinals of USL League playoffs. at its peak the Jr Wolves Academy hosted over 19 team affiliates coached by Wolves Players and Alumni, winning 11 State Championships. In 2002, USL and A League merged USL and D3, the Wolves played there for one year before the City of New Britain folded the team. Former players for the Wolves include
Bo Oshoniyi of Southern Connecticut State University, David Kelly, currently coach at Central Connecticut State University, former Wimbledon F.C. player
Carlton Fairweather, and former Moroccan international goalkeeper Chuck Martini (also known as Chuck Moussadik). Martini subsequently played for at least 12 football clubs in England, mostly non-league, the most recent being Worthing FC of the Ryman Premier League. David Williamson ex Hong Kong International and former Motherwell, Cambridge United league and cup winner with Bohemians of Dublin and cup winner with Hibernians of Malta.
The biggest victories for the Club were the defeat of NE Revolution Alexi Lalas night, defeating Galatasary of Turkey, and on June 26, 2001 when the Wolves defeated
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Cana ...
's
Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny was a professional soccer team based in Tampa, Florida. They were a charter member of Major League Soccer (MLS) and played from 1996 to 2001. They played their home games at Tampa Stadium and then at Raymond James Stadium.
The ...
3–2 in the
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to advance to the third round of the tournament.
Year-by-year
Head coaches
*
Leszek Wrona (1993–1995)
* Steven Stokoe (1995–1996)
*
Brian Bliss (1999)
*
Dan Gaspar
Daniel Gaspar (born August 27, 1955, in South Glastonbury, Connecticut) is a Portuguese-American football and goalkeeping coach who was an assistant coach for Carlos Queiroz's Iran team. He is a long-time assistant and consultant to Queiroz ...
(2000–2004)
Manager of Football & President
Clifton Onolfo. (1993–1997)
General Manager
Tom Jackson. (1993–2000)
Defunct soccer clubs in Connecticut
USISL teams
A-League (1995–2004) teams
1993 establishments in Connecticut
2002 disestablishments in Connecticut
Association football clubs established in 1993
Association football clubs disestablished in 2002
Sports in New Britain, Connecticut
Soccer clubs in Connecticut
Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States
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