Milwaukee Rampage
Full name | Milwaukee Rampage |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Rampage |
Founded | 1993 |
Dissolved | 2002 (as a professional franchise) |
Stadium |
Uihlein Soccer Park Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Capacity | 7,000 |
League | A-League |
The Milwaukee Rampage is an amateur American soccer team, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which formerly played in the A-League.
History
Founded in 1993, the Rampage played its first game on June 24, 1993 against Siarka Tarnobrzeg. Head coach Boro Sucevic fielded a team which included Kris Kelderman, Joey Kirk and Steve Provan. The Rampage played another six exhibition games that summer.[1] The team entered the 1994 United States Interregional Soccer League where it fell to the Minnesota Thunder in the Midwest Division final. This set up a rivalry between the two teams which continued until the Rampage's demise in 2002. In 1995, the USISL split into an upper and lower league. The Rampage joined the higher, professional league. That year, Milwaukee again fell to the Thunder in the Midwest Division final. In 1996, the USISL added a third league, the 1996 USISL Select League. The Rampage again fell to the Thunder, this time in the first round of the playoffs. In 1996, the Select League, along with the competing A-League, both received Division 2 status from FIFA. This led to a merger between the two leagues to form the 1997 A-League under the umbrella of the USISL. Milwaukee joined this combined league. This time the Thunder did not stand in its way as the Rampage went to the league championship, defeating the Carolina Dynamo in penalty kicks. The team won the championship once more, in 2002. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems. Upon their collapse, the Rampage were replaced in the A-league by the Milwaukee Wave United. The Milwaukee Rampage still exists as an amateur soccer club in Milwaukee.[2]
Working various pressbox duties throughout the Rampage's nine years (including operating the scoreboard, working the sound system and as back-up to the public address announcer) was Michael James.
General Managers
- Pat Clemens - 1994
- Jim Harwood - 1994-2002
Coaches
- Boro Sucevic (1993-1994, 2000–2002)
- Carlos Cordoba (1995, 1999)
- Bob Gansler (1996–1998)
Year-by-year
Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup | Avg. Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | Exhibition schedule | |||||
1994 | 3 | USISL | 2nd, Midwest | Divisional Finals | Did not enter | |
1995 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 1st, Midwest West | Sizzling Nine | Did not qualify | |
1996 | 3 | USISL Select League | 1st, Central | 2nd Round | Did not qualify | 3,053 |
1997 | 2 | USISL A-League | 4th, Central | Champion | Did not qualify | 3,165 |
1998 | 2 | USISL A-League | 3rd, Central | Conference Quarterfinals | 2nd Round | 3,176 |
1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 5th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3,219 |
2000 | 2 | USL A-League | 2nd, Central | Conference Finals | Did not qualify | 3,654 |
2001 | 2 | USL A-League | 3rd, Western | Semifinals | 3rd Round | 2,682 |
2002 | 2 | USL A-League | 1st, Central | Champion | Quarterfinals | 2,058 |