The Detroit Express was an American soccer team based in Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...

 and a member of the American Soccer League

American Soccer League

The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...

. They joined the league in 1981 after the original NASL Express were moved to Washington D.C. to replace the Diplomats who had folded at the end of 1980. The ASL Express played their home games in the Pontiac Silverdome

Pontiac Silverdome

The Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C...

 and then at Tartar Field on the campus of Wayne State University

Wayne State University

Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...

.

The 1981 Express finished second in the Freedom Division with a 15 win, 11 loss and 2 tie record. Mike Mancini

Mike Mancini

Mike Mancini is a retired English-American soccer forward who played professionally in the American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League....

 was the leading scorer for Detroit with 16 goals, followed by Brian Tinnion with 9. The Express advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a 4-1 defeat of the New York Eagles, but were knocked out of the semi-finals 1-1 and 1-2 by New York United.

The 1982 ASL consisted of 7 teams in one division. With 19 wins, 4 ties, and 5 losses, The Express had the best record in the league. They then won the championship, defeating the Georgia Generals in the semi-finals and the Oklahoma City Slickers in the finals. Detroit players Brian Tinnion

Brian Tinnion (footballer)

Brian Tinnion is a retired English Association football forward who played eleven seasons in the lower English divisions, four in the North American Soccer League, three in the American Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...

, Andy Chapman

Andy Chapman

Andrew "Andy" Chapman is a retired English-American soccer player who saw his greatest success as an indoor player in the United States...

, and Billy Boljevic

Billy Boljevic

Rajko "Billy" Boljevic is a retired Yugoslavian professional football forward. He was the 1981 American Soccer League Most Valuable Player and league leading scorer....

 were 1, 2 and 4 overall in league scoring. And goal keeper Tad DeLorm

Tad DeLorm

Tad DeLorm is a retired German-born American football goalkeeper who played three seasons in the North American Soccer League and three in the American Soccer League.-College:...

 had the best goals against average in the league.

By 1983 the league had shrunk down to 6 teams, but returned to the 2 division format. The Express struggled to a 12-13 record (the league instituted a shootout rule for the season) to finish 2nd in the Western Division behind the Dallas Americans, and did not make the playoffs. Billy Boljevic

Billy Boljevic

Rajko "Billy" Boljevic is a retired Yugoslavian professional football forward. He was the 1981 American Soccer League Most Valuable Player and league leading scorer....

 and Andy Chapman

Andy Chapman

Andrew "Andy" Chapman is a retired English-American soccer player who saw his greatest success as an indoor player in the United States...

 led the team in scoring with 9 goals each.

The ASL folded at the end of 1983.

Notable players

Ron Atanasio

Ron Atanasio

Ron Atanasio is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward.-Early and personal life:Atanasio was born and grew up in Oceanside, New York, where he attended Oceanside High School.-Career:...

 (1981) 24 Apps 6 Goals Billy Boljevic

Billy Boljevic

Rajko "Billy" Boljevic is a retired Yugoslavian professional football forward. He was the 1981 American Soccer League Most Valuable Player and league leading scorer....

 (1982-83) 22 Goals Andy Chapman

Andy Chapman

Andrew "Andy" Chapman is a retired English-American soccer player who saw his greatest success as an indoor player in the United States...

 (1982-83) 15 Goals   Tad DeLorm

Tad DeLorm

Tad DeLorm is a retired German-born American football goalkeeper who played three seasons in the North American Soccer League and three in the American Soccer League.-College:...

 Trevor Franklin

Trevor Franklin (soccer)

Trevor Franklin is a retired English-American professional soccer defender. Since retirement he has owned the Champagne I Limousine Co.Franklin attended Keene State College, where he was a 1977 and 1978 NAIA first team All-American soccer player. He was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of...

 Jim Gabarra

Jim Gabarra

Jim Gabarra is a retired American soccer forward who coached the Washington Freedom women's soccer team for ten years. He played professionally in the American Soccer League, United Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association and Major Indoor Soccer League and Western Soccer Alliance.-Early...

 (1982-83) Mike Getman

Mike Getman

Mike Getman is the head men's soccer coach at UAB. He has held that position since 1992, posting a 190-120-26 record during that span. He currently ranks 41st among active head soccer coaches in winning percentage, and 26th in victories. His career head coaching record currently stands at 232-146-35...

 Mike Mancini

Mike Mancini

Mike Mancini is a retired English-American soccer forward who played professionally in the American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League....

 (1981) 26 Apps 16 Goals   Ane Mihailovich

Ane Mihailovich

Ane Mihailovich is a retired Yugoslavian-American soccer player. He spent at least four season in the American Soccer League, four in the North American Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned five caps with the U.S...

   Gus Moffatt Mike Powers

Mike Powers (soccer)

Mike Powers is a retired American soccer midfielder who played sixteen years with the Dallas Sidekicks. He also played in the second American Soccer League and the United Soccer League....

 Walter Schlothauer

Walter Schlothauer

Walter Schlothauer is a retired U.S. soccer player and coach. He played in several outdoor and indoor leagues. In 1980, he was the American Soccer League Rookie of the Year with the Cleveland Cobras....

 (1981) 29 Apps 6 Goals Ray Schnettgoecke

Ray Schnettgoecke

Ray Schnettgoecke is a retired U.S. professional soccer player who spent one season in the North American Soccer League, one in the Major Indoor Soccer League and at least three in the American Soccer League. He is currently a sales and services executive at Xerox.Schnettgoecke grew up in St....

 (1982) Brian Tinnion

Brian Tinnion (footballer)

Brian Tinnion is a retired English Association football forward who played eleven seasons in the lower English divisions, four in the North American Soccer League, three in the American Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...

 (1981) 31 Goals Chris Tyson (1982) Clyde Watson

Clyde Watson

Clyde Watson is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the American Soccer League. He is currently assistant coach at the Washington Freedom....

 (1982) 6 Goals Steve Westbrook

Steve Westbrook

ogle.comSteve Westrook is a retired American soccer defender who played professionally in the American Soccer League, United Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League....

 (1981)

Yearly Awards

ASL All-Star Team

• 1981 - Steve Westbrook
  Steve Westbrook
  ogle.comSteve Westrook is a retired American soccer defender who played professionally in the American Soccer League, United Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League....
  
  
• 1982 - Chris Tyson

ASL Leading Goal Scorer

• 1982 - Brian Tinnion
  Brian Tinnion (footballer)
  Brian Tinnion is a retired English Association football forward who played eleven seasons in the lower English divisions, four in the North American Soccer League, three in the American Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
  
   (22 Goals)

ASL Leading Points Scorer

• 1982 - Brian Tinnion
  Brian Tinnion (footballer)
  Brian Tinnion is a retired English Association football forward who played eleven seasons in the lower English divisions, four in the North American Soccer League, three in the American Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
  
   (59 Points)

ASL MVP

• 1982 - Brian Tinnion
  Brian Tinnion (footballer)
  Brian Tinnion is a retired English Association football forward who played eleven seasons in the lower English divisions, four in the North American Soccer League, three in the American Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
  
  

ASL Leading Goalkeeper

• 1982 - Tad DeLorm
  Tad DeLorm
  Tad DeLorm is a retired German-born American football goalkeeper who played three seasons in the North American Soccer League and three in the American Soccer League.-College:...
  
  

Year-by-year

Year	Division	League	W	L	T	Pts	Reg. Season	Playoffs	U.S. Open Cup
1981	2	ASL	15	11	2	125	2nd, Freedom	Semifinals (Lost to New York United)	Did not enter
1982	2	ASL	19	5	4	144	1st	Champion	Did not enter
1983	2	ASL	12	13	—	98	2nd, Western	Did not qualify	Did not enter