The Carolina Lightnin' was an American soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina that was a member of the American Soccer League. The Lightnin' played home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Attendance at home games averaged 6,000 spectators. 20,163 fans attended the September 1981 match against the New York United in which the Lightnin' won the American Soccer League championship by a score of 2–1.
After the ASL folded, the club joined the newly formed United Soccer League as the Charlotte Gold. However, the team folded at the end of the 1984 season. Pro soccer returned to the city in the form of the Charlotte Eagles in 1993.
Honors
ASL Champions
1981
ASL Rookie of the Year
1981 Tony Suarez
ASL First Team All Star
1981 Don Tobin, Tony Suarez
Year-by-year
Coaches
Rodney Marsh 1980–1983
Bob Benson 1980–1983
Notable players
Bobby Moore (1983) Paul Child (1982) Pat Fidelia (1982–1984) Matt Kennedy (1983) Stuart Lee (1983) 25 Apps 11 Goals Scott Manning (1981–1982) Dave Philpotts (1978–83) Dave Pierce (1981–1983) 60 Apps Winning assist ASL Final 1981 Mal Roche (1981) 22 Apps 8 Goals Derek Smethurst (1982) 6 Apps Don Tobin (1981) Tony Suarez (1981–1983) 22 Apps 15 Goals Dave Power (1981–1983) Captain Hugh O'Neill (1981–1982) Winning goal ASL Final 1981 Santiago Formoso (1981, 1983)
References
Scott, David. (2007, April 20). Suarez, ex-soccer star and fan favorite, dies. The Charlotte Observer American Soccer History Archives
