Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers was an independent soccer team that existed from 1985 to 1990, based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1985 as F.C. Portland before adopting the Portland Timbers name in 1989, the club played at Portland's Civic Stadium and competed in the Western Alliance Challenge Series, Western Soccer Alliance, Western Soccer League, and American Professional Soccer League. The team was notable for featuring future international players like Kasey Keller and producing league MVPs and leading scorers during its brief but eventful five-year existence.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Portland Timbers, originally established as F.C. Portland in 1985, was an independent soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. The club was composed of both professional and amateur players, with amateur players largely recruited from local Portland amateur leagues. The team played its home games at Portland's Civic Stadium throughout its existence.
Most recent season and achievements
In 1990, the team's final season, Portland Timbers finished with a 10-10 record in the American Professional Soccer League and failed to qualify for the playoffs. This marked the first year the team failed to garner any individual player honors. The leading goal scorer was Shawn Medved with 10 goals and 2 assists, ranking seventh on the league's scoring list. At the end of the season, team owner Art Dixon folded the team after losing more than $500,000 over the two years he owned it.
History
Early years
F.C. Portland came into existence in 1985 and immediately joined the Western Alliance Challenge Series alongside three other independent clubs: the U.S.-based F.C. Seattle and San Jose Earthquakes, and the Canadian Victoria Riptides. The series was a home and away round-robin tournament that also included games against the Canadian Edmonton Brick Men and the Canada national team. F.C. Portland had the honor of hosting the first game of the series against Seattle, which attracted 2,906 fans at Portland's Civic Stadium.
Successful period
The team's most successful period came in 1986-1987 within the Western Soccer Alliance. In 1986, F.C. Portland finished second in the standings with a 6-6-2 record, led by forwards Brent Goulet, who scored a league-leading 9 goals with 2 assists, and Mark Miller with 7 goals and 5 assists. Goulet, who played as an amateur while attending Warner Pacific College, was selected as the season MVP in 1987 despite the team finishing fourth and missing the playoffs.
Crisis and recovery
The team experienced its lowest point in 1988, dropping to the bottom of the standings with a 1-11 record despite having the alliance's leading scorer, Scott Benedetti, with 8 goals. Ironically, goalkeeper Todd Strobeck was named to the alliance's All Star team during this difficult season.
Current period
In 1989, local businessman Art Dixon took control of F.C. Portland and renamed it the Portland Timbers. Dixon injected money and professionalism into the team, bringing former Timbers great John Bain back as a player/coach. The team dramatically improved to an 11-5 record, tying with the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks for the North Division lead, though they lost the division championship on goal differential. Kasey Keller was selected as the league's MVP that year.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
The team's domestic achievements included individual player honors rather than team championships. MVP awards were won by Brent Goulet in 1987 and Kasey Keller in 1989. Leading scorer honors went to Brent Goulet in 1986 and Scott Benedetti in 1988. Kasey Keller also earned Top Goalkeeper honors in 1989. First Team All Star selections included Todd Strobeck in 1988, and Kasey Keller, John Bain, and Scott Benedetti in 1989.
Traditional Rivals
The source material does not contain specific information about traditional rivals of the Portland Timbers during this period.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Nicknames
The source material does not provide information about specific nicknames for the Portland Timbers during this period.
Ownership and finances
Art Dixon, a local businessman and long-time Timbers fan who held season tickets from 1979 through the original team's last season in 1982, took control of the club in 1989. Dixon brought financial investment and a higher level of professionalism to the team. However, he ultimately folded the team at the end of the 1990 season after losing more than $500,000 over the two years he owned it.
Stadium
The Portland Timbers played their home games at Portland's Civic Stadium throughout their existence from 1985 to 1990. The venue hosted the first game of the Western Alliance Challenge Series in 1985, attracting 2,906 fans for the match against F.C. Seattle.