They made it to the championship game for the 2nd time in 3 years, but lost in the final, 1–0 to the New York Apollo, who had the league's best record at 18-5-1. Roster 1979 Season The Skyhawks lost much of their scoring punch with the departures of Jimmy Hinch and Jim Rolland. Despite it all, the Skyhawks managed to place 3rd in the West with a 13-11-4 record. But the season ended with a first round playoff loss to Sacramento by a score of 3–2, in what proved to be the final Skyhawk game ever. The Skyhawks also played a friendly that season in Los Angeles Jackie Robinson Stadium against the 1980 US Men's Olympic Team in March losing the match 2–1. Due to financial difficulties, the team folded at the end of the 1979 season. Roster Honours Champions 1976 MVP 1976: Jimmy Hinch 1978: Jimmy Rolland Leading Scorer 1976: Jimmy Hinch 1978: Jimmy Rolland Leading Goalkeeper 1976: Brian Parkinson Coach of the Year 1976: Ron Newman First Team All Star 1977: Jimmy Hinch Year-by-year Management Jack Young, General Manager & Owner (1976-1977) Robert Nordskog, Owner (1978-1979) Coaches 1976 Ron Newman (Head coach) 1978 Max Wosniak (Head coach) 1978 Doug McMillan (Head coach) 1979 Geoff Davies (Head coach) Skyhawk Trivia and Notes Colors: Black and Gold. The home uniforms featured gold jerseys with black shorts and gold socks, while the away uniforms were black jersey with black shorts and black socks. First game: April 17, 1976 at Birmingham Stadium. Score: Sacramento 0 Skyhawks 0 Attendance: 4,108 First goal: April 24, 1976, scored by Leif Werneid in a 1–1 tie vs. Oakland in the second game of the season. Ron Newman is the only man to coach an NASL champion (Dallas Tornado), ASL champion (L.A. Skyhawks) and MISL champion (San Diego Sockers). He also coached the Kansas City Wizards to a division title in the MLS. Skyhawk alum Marine Cano currently runs "Mr. Soccer" Soccer camps in southern California. In addition, he has been a highly successful college women's soccer coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills and UC Irvine. The Skyhawks played a friendly in March 1979 against the 1980 US Olympic team at Jackie Robinson stadium losing the match 2–1. Jimmy Rolland scored the only goal for the Skyhawks before his departure to the California Sunshine. References Defunct soccer clubs in California American Soccer League (1933–1983) teams 1976 establishments