The Tulsa Tornados were a professional soccer team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played for one season (1985) in the USL. The 1985 season only lasted six games as the league folded halfway through.

Established by David Fraser during the spring of 1985, the team's ownership transferred to a group led by Jimbo Elrod and Sammie Jo Cole after Fraser failed to pay the players during the pre-season USL Cup. Brian Harvey had originally coached the team but resigned after the team's financial weaknesses became apparent.[1] John Dolinsky then coached the team for its last few games. The team failed to show up for a game versus Dallas, and the match was subsequently forfeited; the coach said he and the players opted not to play having missed a paycheck, while the team president cited Dallas's alleged inability to travel and bad weather.[2] Elrod backed off his investment plan, which likely would have moved the team to Oklahoma City, when the league suspended operations.[3]

1985 League Cup standings

Place 1985 League Cup GP W T L GF GA % Avg. Att.[4]
1 South Florida Sun 6 4 0 2 9 8 .667 2,195
2 Dallas Americans 6 3 0 3 12 9 .500 2,400
3 Tulsa Tornados 6 3 0 3 7 7 .500 500
4 El Paso/Juarez Gamecocks 6 2 0 4 10 15 .333 1,430

Team scoring leader

USL Rank Scorer GP Goals Assists Points
6 Zequinha 4 1 2 3

Team goalkeeping stats

USL Rank Player GP W–L Min SH SV SO GA GAA
1 Delroy Allen 5 3–2 434 60 17 0 6 1.24

1985 Roster

References

  1. ↑ Taylor, Phil (June 14, 1985). "Struggling Tulsa gets financial boost". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 11F. Retrieved December 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "English clubs banned". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. June 7, 1985. p. 14D. Retrieved December 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Elrod Withdraws Offer For Tornado's". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Associated Press. June 28, 1985. p. 35. Retrieved December 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ LaBelle, Fran (June 27, 1985). "Spokesman for former USL team says league not good for soccer". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. pp. 1C, 7C. Retrieved December 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Sun drops out of first place". Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. June 3, 1985. p. 7D. Retrieved December 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 Beard, Randy (July 4, 1985). "One-game season is keeping Rowdies franchise alive". St. Petersburg Evening Independent. p. 3C.
  7. ↑ "Jimbo Elrod Invests in Tulsa Tornado's". The Daily Oklahoman. June 14, 1985.
  8. ↑ Denes, Laszlo (May 24, 1985). "South Florida Sun To Open Title Defense". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. D5. Retrieved December 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.


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