Soccer City USA was born right here.

In the summer of 1975, the very first edition of the Portland Timbers NASL club captured the attention of the Rose City with a collection of unknown names that kindled a special passion with their first-year playoff run.  The expansion team rode a roller coaster of overtime thrillers all the way to the Soccer Bowl championship game.

The roster had a distinct English accent.  Manager Vic Crowe was a Welshman who had played and coached at Aston Villa.  He brought along a large group from the Midlands.  The first roster featured 10 Brits, a Scotsman and a fellow Welshman. 

The new team started slow, 3 matches, 2 losses, only 2 total goals scored.

But the spark was struck during a three-game homestand at the end of May.  Two overtime victories brought the fans out to Civic Stadium and crowds swelled over the 10,000 mark for the first time.

The Timbers could not lose at home, they won 10 straight home matches during the regular season.  The Timbers would not lose in overtime, 5-1 during the regular season.

And one of those unknown names became a goal scoring machine.  Peter Withe, a lower division player from Liverpool would lead the team in scoring with 18 goals, using his height and skill in the air to great advantage.

The Timbers ended up their first season with the most points on the table and a fan base wanting more.  Extra seating had to be brought into Civic and two crowds of over 30,000 watched the Timbers win one-goal nail biters against Seattle and St. Louis.

The great adventure ended with a 2-0 loss to Tampa Bay, also an expansion team, at Soccer Bowl 75, played in San Jose.

Peter Withe left Portland after just one season and would enjoy a lengthy career in England scoring 74 goals for Aston Villa and collecting 11 caps playing for his home country.

Many of his teammates would remain in the Rose City, even after their playing days and form the nucleus of the coaching and mentoring of young players that make Soccer City USA what it is today.

We welcome the 1975 Portland Timbers:  1-Graham Brown, 2-Ray Martin, 3-Barrie Lynch, 4-Mick Hoban, 5-Graham Day, 6-Brian Godfrey, 7-Tom McLaren, 8-Barry Powell, 9-Peter Withe, 10-Don Gardner, 11-Jimmy Kelly, 12-Willie Anderson, 13-Chris Dangerfield, 14-Tony Betts, 16-Roger Goldingay, 18-Nick Nicolas, 22-Dave Landry, Asst. Coach Leo Crowther, Head Coach Vic Crowe, and owners Don Pollock and John Gilbertson to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.