Pennsylvania Stoners
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Stoners is an American soccer team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...

, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Founded in 2007, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...

 (NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...

, in the Eastern Keystone Division.

The team plays its home games at the Zephyr Sports Complex on the campus of Whitehall High School
Whitehall High School (Pennsylvania)
Whitehall High School is a public high school, based in Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley region, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Whitehall-Coplay School District. As of the 2006-2007 academic school year, 1,393 students attend the...

 in nearby Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, where they have played since 2009. The team's colors are royal blue and white.

The "Stoners" name is derived from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's official nickname, The Keystone State. A previous incarnation of the Stoners was 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...

 from 1979 to 1983.

History

From 1979 to 1983, the Stoners were members 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...

. The team had a five-year league record of 76-49-25, and won the league championship in 1980. Due to increasing competition from other soccer leagues, and decreasing attendance, the team folded in 1983.

The team was resurrected in 2007 as the Pennsylvania Stoners, and competes in the National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...

 (NPSL). The team originally played its home games at J. Birney Crum Stadium
J. Birney Crum Stadium
J. Birney Crum Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The stadium seats 15,000 and is used by several area high schools and the Pennsylvania Stoners of the NPSL and the Northampton Laurels of the WPSL soccer teams. J...

. In 2008, the team captured the NPSL league championship. Starting in 2009, the Stoners played their home matches at Whitehall-Coplay School District
Whitehall-Coplay School District
Whitehall-Coplay School District is a public school district located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It serves the borough of Coplay and Whitehall Township.-Schools:*Whitehall High School*Whitehall-Coplay Middle School...

's Zephyr Sports Complex in nearby Whitehall.

Current roster

as at June 7, 2009

Notable former players

Paulo Nani (Da Silva) (1980) Mike Barbarick
Mike Barbarick
Mike Barbarick is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association....

 (1983) Giulio Bernardi
Giulio Bernardi
Giulio Bernardi was an American soccer defender who spent two seasons in the American Soccer League, one in the United Soccer League and several in Major Indoor Soccer League....

 (1983) George Gorleku
George Gorleku
George Gorleku is a retired soccer defender from Ghana. He played professionally in the American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.Gorleku attended Eastern Illinois University where he played on the men's soccer team from 1975 to 1978...

 (1980) Soloman Hilton
Soloman Hilton
Solomon "Solly" Hilton is a retired soccer forward who played professionally in the American Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association....

 (1982-83) Tony Johnson
Tony Johnson (soccer)
Tony Johnson is a retired American soccer forward who played professionally in the American Soccer League, United Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association, Lone Star Soccer Alliance and the Southwest Indoor Soccer League....

 (1983) Steve Long
Steve Long (soccer)
Steve Long is a retired Zaire/U.S. soccer player who played in the American Soccer League, North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League....

 (1979) Ken McDonald
Ken McDonald (soccer)
Ken McDonald is a retired American soccer forward who played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and American Soccer League....

 (1981) Scott Manning
Scott Manning (soccer)
Scott Manning is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. He spent four seasons in the American Soccer League where he was the 1980 league leading goalkeeper...

 (1979-80) Art Napolitano
Art Napolitano
Art Napolitano is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League....

 (1980) Chris Nwokocha (1979)
Rich Reice
Rich Reice
Rich Reice is a retired American professional soccer forward who played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and United Soccer League....

 (1980-1983) Tom Reynolds
Tom Reynolds (soccer)
Tom Reynolds is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played two seasons in the North American Soccer League, one in the Major Indoor Soccer League and at least four in the American Soccer League....

 (1981) 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....

 (1983) Elson Seale
Elson Seale
Elson Seale was a Barbados-American soccer forward who played in the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He is currently an independent businessman in the Kansas City area....

 (1981) George Taratsides
George Taratsides
George Taratsides is a retired Greek-American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League....

 (1982) Jeff Tipping (1979-83) Keith Tozer
Keith Tozer
Keith Tozer is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He currently coaches the Milwaukee Wave of Major Indoor Soccer League.-College:...

 (1979) Roman Urbanczuk
Roman Urbanczuk
Roman Urbanczuk is a retired Polish-American soccer forward who played professionally in the American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League....

 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....

 (1981)

Individual honours

  • Coach of the Year - Willie Ehrlich
    Willie Ehrlich
    Willie Ehrlich was born in Budapest, Hungary on April 23, 1928. Willie grew up in Hungary until the Hungarian Revolution when he and his wife, Agnes, fled to Austria. In 1950, Agnes and William arrived in Camp Kilmer, New Jersey where they were treated as refugees. Willie re-located to Bethlehem,...

     (1979, 1980)
  • MVP - George Gorleku
    George Gorleku
    George Gorleku is a retired soccer defender from Ghana. He played professionally in the American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.Gorleku attended Eastern Illinois University where he played on the men's soccer team from 1975 to 1978...

     (1980)
  • Goalkeeper of the Year - Scott Manning
    Scott Manning
    Scott Manning was a Canadian athlete and aerobatic pilot of the world's smallest jet, the BD-5J.He grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, and earned a degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo in 1985...

     (1980)
  • Goalkeeper of the Year - Tom Reynolds
    Tom Reynolds (soccer)
    Tom Reynolds is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played two seasons in the North American Soccer League, one in the Major Indoor Soccer League and at least four in the American Soccer League....

     (1981)
  • All-Star Team - Ken McDonald
    Ken McDonald (soccer)
    Ken McDonald is a retired American soccer forward who played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and American Soccer League....

     (1981)
  • All-Star Team - Jeff Tipping (1981)

Year-by-year

Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs Open Cup
1979 2 ASL 3rd, Eastern Semifinals Did not enter
1980 2 ASL 1st, National Champion Did not enter
1981 2 ASL 2nd, Liberty Semifinals Did not enter
1982 2 ASL 6th 1st Round Did not enter
1983 2 ASL 2nd, Eastern Final Did not enter
2008 4 NPSL 1st, North Champion Did not enter
2009 4 NPSL 3rd, Keystone Did not qualify Did not enter

Honors

  • NPSL Champions 2008
  • NPSL North Division Champions 2008
  • ASL Champions 1980
  • ASL National Division Champions 1980

Head coaches

Willie Ehrlich
Willie Ehrlich
Willie Ehrlich was born in Budapest, Hungary on April 23, 1928. Willie grew up in Hungary until the Hungarian Revolution when he and his wife, Agnes, fled to Austria. In 1950, Agnes and William arrived in Camp Kilmer, New Jersey where they were treated as refugees. Willie re-located to Bethlehem,...

 (1979-80) Gary Hindley
Gary Hindley
Gary Hindley is an American soccer coach. He has coached youth soccer, high school, college and professional teams. He won Coach of the Year honors in 1984 in the United Soccer League, 1991 American Professional Soccer League and 1998...

 (1982-83) Todd Ervin (2008) David Weitzman (2009-present)

Stadia

  • J. Birney Crum Stadium
    J. Birney Crum Stadium
    J. Birney Crum Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The stadium seats 15,000 and is used by several area high schools and the Pennsylvania Stoners of the NPSL and the Northampton Laurels of the WPSL soccer teams. J...

    ; Allentown, Pennsylvania
    Allentown, Pennsylvania
    Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...

     (2008)
  • Zephyr Sports Complex; Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania (2009-present)

External links

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