Charlotte FC debuted its Heritage Kit on Wednesday night, paying tribute to the Carolina Lightnin’ as the perfect backdrop to a 2-1 victory over DC United.
The Crown gathered former players, executives and others connected with the club from the 1980’s as a call to the past, and acknowlegment of North Carolina Soccer history.
The Carolina Lightnin’ debuted in the nascent American Soccer League in 1981, taking the league, literally and figuartively by storm. With a group of journeyman players along with some homegrown talent, the Lightnin’ won the ’81 ASL Championship in front of a sellout crowd at American Legion Memorial Stadium.
However, that’s only part of the story.
Owner Bob Benson brought forth his marketing genius to create an atmosphere similar to that of the Bill Veeck Chicago White Sox of the 1970’s. Instead of “Disco Demolition Night”, Benson engineered multiple car giveaways, a plane giveaway and postgame Beach Boys Concert among the in-stadium attractions.
The man tasked with coaching this bolt of “Lightnin’” was England International Rodney Marsh, who while in attendance for the Charlotte FC Lightnin’ Tribute, sat down with Will Palaszczuk & Anna Witte for an exclusive interview.