The magic of the Timbers, Pilots and F.C. Portland

It happened in the winter of 1979-80, a decision that forever affected the sports landscape in Oregon.

In that winter, 31 years ago, Harry Merlo bought the Portland Timbers.

Merlo used money from timber giant Louisiana-Pacific to purchase the Timbers at a time when the franchise was ready to fold, and kept it alive for three more years.

In those three years, the team continued to make a social impact on Soccer City, USA, particularly with players who showed up from Europe and decided to make their homes here.

Among those players are a number of long-time coaches: Jimmy Conway, Brian Gant, Bernie Fagan and the late Clive Charles; who’ve helped build college and youth programs throughout the state - all of them starting immediately after the team’s demise in 1982.

Without those three years, though, all might have left to keep their careers alive, or simply not moved here at all because the team didn’t exist.

Charles, who moved to Portland from England in 1978 and played here for four seasons, left the team in 1981 to keep his career alive, but moved back a year later and began his coaching career, which ultimately turned the University of Portland into a national power and two-time NCAA women’s champion.

The connection between Charles and Merlo was instrumental in building one of the nation’s first soccer-specific stadiums, which remains a key element in recruiting for the men’s and women’s teams. It also helps promote Portland’s love for soccer that has twice brought the Women’s World Cup to the Rose City.

Although Merlo is rarely attached to the Timbers, his impact on the team and the Portland soccer community is great, most notably on the University of Portland campus.

“Without Clive,” Merlo says, “I would not have donated the money to build (Merlo Field),”

Without Charles developing friendships with other members of the Timbers, there may never have been a reason to build a stadium in the first place.

“Those years were pretty important for players who came here and helped them establish roots so they stayed,” says Catlin Gabel High coach Brian Gant, who moved to Portland from Canada in 1977 and played through 1982. “If all the players who are still here hadn’t stayed or come back … soccer might still be what it is today, but I doubt it.”

READ OREGONSPORTS JOURNAL