April 28, 1917 – Turning handsprings

April 28, 1917 – New Bedford Celtics 2:1 Fore River, Southern New England series

Andy Stradan gave Fore River the lead, then McDavitt and Croasdale countered for the Celtics. Stradan (also spelled Straden) went on to play for the U.S., converting a penalty kick in a 1-0 win over Estonia in the 1924 Olympics. The Fore River lineup also included center half Page, who, a year later, might have been among the first players to make a gymnastic goal commemoration.

Fore River took a 3-0 win over the Fall River Rovers “before one of the largest crowds ever seen at a soccer game in this city” at the Fore River Shipyard field in Quincy April 27, 1918, according to The Boston Globe.

“The final goal resulted from “one of the finest pieces of playing … young Paige (sic) of Fore River got in a running kick that sent the ball clean into the cage while he, unable to check his momentum, made a pretty handspring after kicking the ball.”

Page’s name is usually spelled without the “i” in game stories and lineups. I found a photo of the Fore River team with D. Page pictured in the front row, but have not found any other information about him – yet.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY