New England Soccer Today

How New England Teams Have Fared in Minnesota

Photo credit: New England Tea Men 1979 Yearbook

On Sunday, Minnesota United FC will host their first MLS home match against fellow expansion side Atlanta United FC before a national audience. While the Revolution won’t play in the Gopher State until next season, let’s take a look at how some of New England’s pro sides have fared in Minnesota.

June 24, 1978: In their lone visit to Minnesota, the New England Tea Men outgunned the Minnesota Kicks in a wild 5-3 win at Metropolitan Stadium. Mike Flanagan scored twice en route to a 30-goal season while Dennis Wit, Gerry Daly and Laurie Abrahams all tallied as well in a match the Tea Men were losing early on. Ron Futcher, Alan West, and Alan Willey secured the Kickers goals before a crowd of 29,131.

According to the “’78 Tea Mean Diary” entry of the match in the 1979 New England Tea Men Yearbook, team president Derek Carroll “yelled his head off in the stands directly in front of the press box while sitting with the Kicks’ owners. After the game, he was hoarse and exhausted.”

July 4, 1977: Leave it to the league office to put a club with a patriotic name on the road for Independence Day. In front of 45,888, the Connecticut Bicentennials put together a valiant effort, but simply couldn’t keep the Kicks off the scoreboard at Metropolitan Stadium in a 3-0 defeat. Ade Coker bagged a brace for the hosts while Alan Willey found the back of the net as well.

Of note: the Tea Men and Minnesota Strikers faced off in Minneapolis for NASL Indoor action on December 12, 1980. The final score for that match? Your guess is as good as ours.

(Sources: Soccerstats.us, 1979 New England Tea Men Yearbook)

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