The Anaheim Splash was a U.S. indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL). It was founded in 1992 as the Los Angeles United, but was sold after the season. The new ownership moved the team to

Anaheim, California Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the 10th-most ...

and renamed it the Anaheim Splash. The team folded in 1997, along with the CISL.

Los Angeles United

In the fall of 1992,

Jerry Buss Gerald Hatten Buss (January 27, 1933 – February 18, 2013) was an American businessman, investor, chemist, and philanthropist. He was the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning 10 l ...

, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, was instrumental in the founding of the CISL. On August 19, 1992, he was awarded a franchise named Los Angeles United. The team played in the

Great Western Forum Kia Forum (formerly The Forum) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, United States, adjacent to Los Angeles. Located between West Manchester Boulevard, across Pincay Drive and Kareem Court, it is north of SoFi Stadium and ...

in Inglewood, California, which was also owned by Buss. The team went 6–22, drawing an average of less than 2,000 fans per game. At the end of the season, Buss sold the team to Ogden Facility Management.

Ownership

(1993) * Ogden Facility Management (1994–96) * The Anaheim Splash, Inc. (1996–97)

Staff

* Gary Sparks – Managing Partner (1996–97) *

Don Ebert Don "Mad Hatter" Ebert is a retired U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career with two indoor clubs, the St. Louis Steamers and the Los Angeles Lazers. Youth Ebert attended Rosary High School in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1976, Ebert and h ...

– General Manager (1996) * Tim Ryan – General Manager (1994–96) * Steve Samaha – General Manager (1997) * Tim Orchard – Co-Governor / Player Personnel Manager (1994–96) * Brad Mayne = Co-Governor (1994–96)

Year-by-year

Coach

* George Fernandez (1994–95) * Ian Fulton (1996) *

Dale Ervine Dale Ervine (born May 19, 1964 in Torrance, California) is a former U.S. soccer midfielder who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He also earned five caps with the U.S. national team between 1985 and 1993. College After graduating ...

(1997) * Mike Fox – Assistant Coach

Anaheim Splash

When Ogden Facility Management purchased Los Angeles United, they moved the team to the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and renamed the team the Anaheim Splash to capitalize on the name of the team’s arena. The team saw an immediate turn around on the field, going 20–8 and losing to the Las Vegas Dustdevils in the playoff semifinals. In 1995, the CISL rearranged the teams, moving Anaheim to the Southern Division. Anaheim again won the division title before losing in the semifinals, this time to the Sacramento Knights. In 1996, the league began losing teams, leading to another readjustment of the teams, with the Splash returning to the Western Division, placing second in the division, but losing to the quarterfinals. In 1997, the Splash again finished second in the division, but lost in the second round to the Sacramento Knights. The CISL and Anaheim Splash both folded on December 23, 1997. During its four seasons in Anaheim, the Splash averaged 6,393 per game. The Splash also averaged 6,822 per game in the playoffs.

Year-by-year

Honor

Coach of the Year * 1994: George Fernandez Defender of the Year * 1994: Ralph Black Goalkeeper of the Year * 1995: Jorge Valenzuela First Team All Star * 1994: Ralph Black * 1995:

Sean Bowers Sean Patrick Bowers (born August 12, 1968) is a retired U.S. soccer defender. He spent most of his career playing indoor soccer, earning the 1992 NPSL Rookie of the Year, four-time Defender of the Year and a six-time first team All Star in fou ...

Radio broadcasts

Joe Tutino called Splash games on KPLS radio in the 1994 and '95 seasons. Tutino, who was then a production assistant and update reader on " XTRA Sports 690," has gone on to a long career as the

Los Angeles Galaxy LA Galaxy, also known as the Los Angeles Galaxy, are an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Galaxy competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), as a member of the Western Conference. The club began pla ...

's English-language announcer.

External links

CISL yearly standings

{{Orange County Sports Continental Indoor Soccer League teams Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States Association football clubs established in 1992 Association football clubs disestablished in 1997 1997 disestablishments in California Soccer clubs in California