List of Washington Diplomats players

The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C. The club was formed in 1974 when the North American Soccer League (NASL), itself founded in 1968, granted a franchise to a Washington, D.C.–based business group. The team played all their home games at RFK Stadium in 1974, but in 1975 and 1976 they played most of their games at W.T. Woodson High School in Northern Virginia, including all of their 1976 games. They played indoor home matches at the neighboring D.C. Armory.[1][2] After a lackluster beginning to the franchise, the Diplomats qualified for the playoffs and increased average game attendance in each of their last three years of existence. Additionally, in their final year, the Diplomats were able to sign the future European Player of the Century Johan Cruyff. After the 1980 season the Diplomats folded when then owner, the Madison Square Garden Corp., had accumulated losses of $6 million and team president Steve Danzansky could not gather enough money to keep the team alive.[3]

After the original Diplomats folded following the 1980 season, the Detroit Express moved to Washington to become the new Diplomats. This team only lasted for one season.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of players who played at least one league match for the Diplomats.

Key

Regular season players

Name Country Position Years Notes
Joseph Agyemang-Gyau Ghana MF 1974 –
Sonny Askew United States FW 1977-80 –
Mike Bakić Canada MF 1978-79 –
Petar Baralić Yugoslavia MF/FW 1981 –
Mike Barry Wales MF 1975 –
Ivan Belfiore Canada DF 1981 –
Barney Boyce United States DF/MF 1980 –
David Bradford England MF 1981 –
Jim Brown Scotland GK 1981 –
Paul Cannell England FW 1976, 78-79, 81 –
Peter Carr England DF 1981 –
Clive Clarke England MF 1974 –
Eddie Colquhoun Scotland DF 1981 –
Tony Crescitelli United States FW 1979-80 –
Johan Cruyff Netherlands FW 1979-81 –
Benny Dargle England DF 1981 –
Gary Darrell Bermuda DF/MF 1974-80 –
Windsor del Llano Bolivia MF 1974 –
Leroy DeLeon Trinidad and Tobago FW 1974-77 –
Mike Dillon England DF 1978-79 –
Don Droege United States DF 1979-80 –
Roy Ellam England DF 1976 –
Trevor Franklin England DF 1981 –
Sepp Gantenhammer United States GK 1978 –
Randy Garber United States MF 1977-78 –
Ray Graydon England MF 1978 –
Alan Green United States FW 1977, 79-80 –
Bertrand Grell Trinidad and Tobago MF 1974-75 –
Clive Haywood England FW 1981 –
Trevor Hebberd England MF 1978 –
Guus Hiddink Netherlands MF 1978 –
Kenny Hill England DF 1977 –
Randy Horton Bermuda FW 1975 –
József Horváth Hungary MF 1979-80 –
Robert Iarusci Canada DF 1979-80 –
Gerry Ingram England FW 1975-76 –
Bill Irwin Northern Ireland GK 1978-80 –
Wim Jansen Netherlands DF/MF 1980, 81 –
Derek Jefferson England DF 1976 –
Ross Jenkins England FW 1981 –
John Kerr Sr. Canada MF 1976-77 –
Kurt Kuykendall United States GK 1974, 78 –
Mike Lester England MF 1977 –
Kevin Lewis England MF 1974 –
Mark Liveric United States FW 1977 –
Juan Lozano Spain MF 1980 –
Alain Maca United States DF 1974-76 –
Tony Macken Ireland DF 1976-77 –
Carmine Marcantonio Canada MF 1978-80 –
Eric Martin Scotland GK 1975-79 –
Andries Maseko South Africa MF 1978-80 –
Don McAllister England DF 1977 –
Tommy McConville Ireland DF 1974-76 –
Charlie McCully United States FW 1976 –
David McGill Canada MF 1981 –
Ane Mihailovich United States DF/FW 1978-79 –
Ole Mikkelsen United States FW 1981 –
Gus Moffat Scotland MF 1981 –
Ken Murphy United States DF/MF 1981 –
Donato Nardiello Wales FW 1981 –
Ney Marques de Sousa Brazil MF 1974 –
Tommy O'Hara United States MF 1978-80 –
Alex Pringle Scotland DF 1977-78 –
Dragan Radovich Yugoslavia GK 1979-80 –
Jimmy Redfern England MF 1977 –
Thomas Rongen Netherlands MF/FW 1980 –
George Ross Scotland DF 1974 –
Peter Silvester England FW 1977 –
Maurice Slater Ireland DF 1974 –
Alan Spavin England MF 1974-75 –
Jim Steele Scotland DF 1977-80 –
Bob Stetler United States GK 1977-79 –
Bobby Stokes England FW 1978-80 –
George Taratsides Greece GK/FW 1974-75 –
Peter Thomas Ireland GK 1975 –
Trevor Thompson England DF 1976 –
Art Welch Jamaica FW 1977, 80 –
Heinz Wirtz West Germany DF 1981 –
Robbie Zipp United States DF/MF 1981 –

By nationality

Country Number of
players
Bermuda 2
Bolivia 1
Brazil 1
Canada 6
England 23
West Germany 1
Ghana 1
Greece 1
Hungary 1
Ireland 4
Jamaica 1
Netherlands 4
Northern Ireland 1
Scotland 7
South Africa 1
Spain 1
Trinidad and Tobago 2
United States 17
Wales 2
Yugoslavia 2

References

  1. ^ "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  2. ^ "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  3. ^ Feinstein, John (December 9, 1980). "Death of the Diplomats". Washington Post. p. D1.
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