New Charlotte FC kits honor history of ‘Carolina Lightnin’

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CAROLINA SPORTS LIVE) — Before there was Charlotte FC, there was another professional soccer team that called the Queen City home — The Carolina Lightnin’- An American League soccer team that was established in 1981, with Rodney Marsh leading the charge.

The Lightin’ made a statement in its first season by winning the ASL Championship and also playing a match inside Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Yes, you heard that right. They played on the infield of a NASCAR track.

“Well, it all started with a great man, Humpy Wheeler Jr., who was a constant promoter, he was a visionary, unbelievably creative on all things NASCAR,” said Ed Young.

Wheeler had a love for soccer and wanted to promote the sport at the 1981 World 600 Race, now known as the Coke 600.

“He saw the Carolina Lightin’, which was the first really professional major league team in the Carolinas, as an opportunity, and he wanted to test the waters here with NASCAR — here at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” Young said.

He still remembers every detail of the match.

“The field was a little bit narrow for a regulation soccer field, but we made it work because that wasn’t necessarily the main reason we were here. It was to promote soccer and for Humpy and NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway to test out a potential new market.”

The Carolina Lightnin’s history is now being honored by Charlotte FC as its third archive kit. When Young saw it for the first time, there was only one thing he could say — wow.

Baby blue and bold yellow make up the kit, with a collar and the slogan ‘I’ve been struck’. After the team’s goalie was affected by a lightning strike during one of the matches.

“We were playing Memorial Stadium — a bad storm came over and knocked out all the power, the lights. All the players had come over except for our goalkeeper. He was lying in the field. And they said, “What happened?” He said, “I don’t know, but I feel very tingly,” and we’re pretty sure a lightning bolt had hit pretty close to him,” Young recalls.

“We’re very honored that Charlotte FC is recognizing the team that maybe started soccer at least professionally in the Carolinas, and it’s been a wonderful partnership that we’ve had with Charlotte FC. They’re a great organization, they’re doing great things for soccer. And so, we’re happy,” Young said.