Following a barnstorming year in 1981, the Nashville Diamonds played one season as a professional soccer team in the American Soccer League. Playing matches in both North Nashville and Brentwood over the course of the year, the team closed up shop and left town in the following winter. This page, which is currently under construction, catalogs their short-lived existence. Much of this information was found via the archives of The Tennessean and The Nashville Banner.
1982
AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE STANDINGS
| Rank | Team | Record | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit Express | 19-5-4 | 37 | 59 | 144 |
| 2 | Oklahoma City Slickers | 19-6-3 | 58 | 42 | 138 |
| 3 | Georgia Generals | 12-9-4 | 55 | 40 | 115 |
| 4 | Carolina Lightnin’ | 11-13-4 | 37 | 45 | 99 |
| 5 | Rochester Flash | 10-15-2 | 48 | 53 | 84 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania Stoners | 8-13-5 | 34 | 44 | 81 |
| 7 | Nashville Diamonds | 3-21-4 | 25 | 67 | 41 |
(Much like the NASL of the time, the American Soccer League used a modified scoring system, awarding five points for a win and two for a draw. Teams were also eligible to earn up to three points for the amount of goals they scored. So, using Nashville’s 3-2 loss to Pennsylvania as an example, the Stoners took home eight points from that win, while Nashville finished with two.)
TEAM SCORE SHEET
GOALS
Juan Yepez — 4
Michael Harderson — 3
Goran Meskovic — 3
David Strecker — 3
Frank Lawson — 2
Kirk Gilbert — 2
Godwin Iwelumo — 2
Mac Garrigan — 1
Dario Ochoa — 1
Brett Simon — 1
Kurt Swanbeck — 1
Vernon Taylor — 1
ASSISTS
Godwin Iwelumo — 4
Fred Armstrong — 1
Morrese Green — 1
Frank Lawson — 1
Goran Meskovic — 1
Dario Ochoa — 1
SEASON RESULTS
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 05.15 | Carolina Lightnin’ | W, 2-0 |
| 05.16 | at Pennsylvania Stoners | L, 2-3 |
| 05.21 | at Georgia Generals | L, 1-4 |
| 05.23 | Pennsylvania Stoners | L, 1-3 |
| 05.30 | Oklahoma City Slickers | L, 1-2 |
| 06.05 | at Carolina Lightnin’ | L, 0-2 |
| 06.06 | Rochester Flash | L, 1-4 |
| 06.12 | at Carolina Lightnin’ | L, 1-2 |
| 06.13 | Georgia Generals | D, 2-2 |
| 06.18 | Detroit Express | L, 1-2 |
| 06.21 | at Pennsylvania Stoners | W, 1-0 |
| 07.02 | at Rochester Flash | L, 0-3 |
| 07.04 | at Oklahoma City Slickers | L, 3-4 |
| 07.07 | at Detroit Express | L, 0-4 |
| 07.09 | Oklahoma City Slickers | L, 0-3 |
| 07.11 | Oklahoma City Slickers | D, 2-2 |
| 07.18 | Pennsylvania Stoners | D, 0-0 |
| 07.23 | at Detroit Express | L, 0-1 |
| 07.24 | Carolina Lightnin’ | L, 0-2 |
| 07.30 | Detroit Express | L, 1-3 |
| 08.01 | Rochester Flash | L, 1-3 |
| 08.06 | at Carolina Lightnin’ | L, 1-3 |
| 08.08 | at Oklahoma City Slickers | L, 0-9 |
| 08.13 | Oklahoma City Slickers | L, 1-2 |
| 08.15 | at Georgia Generals | D, 1-1 |
| 08.22 | at Georgia Generals | L, 0-3 |
| 08.27 | at Rochester Flash | L, 1-3 |
| 08.30 | Georgia Generals | W, 1-0 (forfeit) |