According to The Boston Globe: “The soccer men who are crying, ‘Do not play any American League games in January and February,’ should have been at Tiverton, R.I., … when the Fall River and Bethlehem Steel teams stepped on the field to battle … Long before game time the throng of fans who attended – more than 10,000 – was wending its way into Marks Stadium.” [Read more…] about Feb. 8, 1925 – Fall River Marksmen 2:2 Bethlehem Steel at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 10,000)
Bert Patenaude hat trick for New York Giants, Jim Brown scored for Newark Americans in a National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) match. Patenaude, born in Fall River in 1909, was 20 years old when he led the U.S. in scoring in the 1930 World Cup (first hat trick in the competition) and Brown was 21 (he scored in the semifinals). Neither Patenaude (playing in Philadelphia) nor Brown (Manchester United) were selected for the 1934 World Cup. [Read more…] about Feb. 7, 1932 – New York Giants 6:1 Newark Americans, National Challenge Cup Eastern semifinals, Polo Grounds (Att.: 3,000)
Boston Wonder Workers president George A.G. Wood “says it is the wish of the present directorate of the Boston club to add three new members from among the fans,’’ according to The Boston Globe. Said Wood: “We want this soccer team to become a Boston institution, run by local men for the benefit of sport fans in this city.” [Read more…] about Feb. 6, 1925 – Boston Wonder Workers make a pitch
U.S. Open Cup (National Challenge Cup) second-round matches were scheduled for Feb. 15 and 16, the announcement made following a meeting at the Hotel Cornish Arms in New York. The Marksmen went on to win the 1930 U.S. Open Cup. [Read more…] about Feb. 5, 1930 – Fall River Marksmen awarded home field v. Whalers in National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup)
The New England Revolution dealt a draft pick to D.C. United for Raul Diaz Arce and acquired a draft pick from the NY/NJ MetroStars in exchange for Alexi Lalas.
Nationals win Lewis Cup in third game of series at Hawthorne Field, Brooklyn. Note: All of the starters in this game were foreign-born, many having performed professionally in England and Scotland. But U.S.-born players were beginning to emerge on the professional scene, New Bedford’s Arnie Oliver coming on as a second half substitute. Oliver, 21, would be named to the U.S. national team for the 1930 World Cup. Fall River’s Bert Patenaude, 20, would complete the World Cup’s first hat trick, Billy Gonsalves starring and Providence’s Tommy Florie captaining the U.S. team. [Read more…] about Feb. 3, 1929 – New York Nationals 4:2 [8:6 aggregate] New Bedford Whalers (Att.: 4,000)
The Shawsheen Indians were reigning National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) champions, having won the title less than a year earlier. [Read more…] about Feb. 2, 1926 – American Woolen Co. (sponsor of Shawsheen Indians) president William Madison Wood, 68, commits suicide
Jimmy Montgomerie, who played 303 ASL games (297 for the Whalers), scoring 45 goals, presented with “a loving cup and purse of gold.” Montgomerie, a center half, continued to perform for the Whalers after the ASL folded in 1931. The Boston Globe account of the match notes Montgomerie “has taken part in 317 games.” [Read more…] about Feb. 1, 1930 – New Bedford 2:2 Fall River, captain James Montgomerie testimonial
The Boston team was set to play in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), which was not sanctioned by the USSFA, at Fenway Park. Directors included former Celtics’ coach Red Auerbach and Red Sox executive vice president Dick O’Connell. [Read more…] about Jan. 31, 1967 – Boston awarded NPSL franchise
A National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) semifinal match between Bethlehem Steel and the Fall River Marksmen ended up being contested before a crowd of 20,000 at Dexter Park in Brooklyn on March 9, 1924. [Read more…] about Jan. 30, 1924 – Bethlehem Steel ‘Declines to Play at Fall River’