April 26, 1925 – Boston SC earns U.S. soccer title, trip to White House

Boston Soccer Club won the equivalent of a national championship, defeating St. Louis champion Ben Millers, 3-2. Johnny Ballantyne, Barney Battles and Tommy “Whitey” Fleming scored for Boston, Jimmy Dunn and Pee Wee Fitzgerald for the Ben Millers.

The Boston Globe story noted: “The day was too hot for good soccer.” The Millers’ Tommy White suffered a fractured leg in the first seven minutes of play (in the second half) in a collision with W. Ballantyne.

Boston was prepared to pay for talent, with internationals Mickey Hamill (Ireland/Manchester United, Manchester City), Alex McNab (Scotland/Greenock Morton) and Tommy Muirhead (Scotland/Rangers) leading the way. George M. Collins’ story Sept. 17, 1924: “Apparently the president of the Boston team believes in the slogan: ‘It pays to get the best.’“

Boston owner/president G.A.G. Wood, quoted in Alan Foulds’ Boston’s Ballparks & Arenas: “We spent a lot of money because we realized nothing was too good for the Hub.”

The team earned a trip to visit President Coolidge at the White House.

Boston also signed top local players – Battles grew up playing at Sullivan Square in Charlestown and went on to Hearts and Fleming resided for most of his life in Quincy.

Attendances were strong at the Walpole Street Grounds, according to Collins’ Jan. 5, 1925 article: “… at least 25 percent of the fans now attending the games seem to be ‘native borns.’ … English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Norwegians, Swedes, Italians, Portuguese and those from other continental countries show the keenest interest in the game.”

April 26, 1925 – Ben Millers 2:3 Boston SC. U.S. Professional Cup final at High School Field (Att.: 4,500).

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY