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Jan. 27, 2005 – Joe-Max Moore announces retirement

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The Revolution built their original team around defenders Mike Burns and Alexi Lalas for their first MLS season in 1996. But the Revolution did not have a proven scorer on the roster until Joe-Max came along midway through the first season, contributing 11 goals in 14 games. Moore struggled with injuries, but clearly believed the Revolution were building an MLS title-contending team when he returned for 2005 preseason. The site of the minicamp workout is not stated in my story (below) in 1/28/2005 editions of the Boston Globe, but I believe it was on the turf at the Gillette Bubble/Field House, which proved to be a risky surface for veteran players.

MOORE MAKES CALL: NO MORE

Revolution forward Joe-Max Moore, the team’s last remaining member from the inaugural 1996 MLS season, announced his retirement yesterday, less than two weeks after reinjuring the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a minicamp scrimmage. [Read more…] about Jan. 27, 2005 – Joe-Max Moore announces retirement

Jan. 26, 1980 – Tea Men 3×14 Atlanta Chiefs

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The New England Tea Men struggled to a 2-10 record during the North American Soccer League indoor season, playing home games at the Providence Civic Center before an average 3,249 attendances. In this match, David Byrne scored five goals and former Brown University star Fred Pereira added three. South African Pat Wasmuth and Billerica’s Peter Simonini faced 61 shots in goal for the Tea Men.

This would be the team’s final season in New England before moving to Jacksonville. Stadium dates were probably the Teas’ greatest obstacle to success. On Jan. 22, 1980, the Tea Men reached an agreement for home games to be played at Schaefer Stadium. But conflicts with the race track forced several games to be scheduled on Monday – meaning the team would often have Saturday-Monday dates for a week. Yet, their final two games drew 25,132 and 17,121 crowds five days apart in late August. The move south would not be announced until November.

TODAY IN NE SOCCER HISTORY

Jan. 25, 1942 – Eusebio da Silva Ferreira born in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique

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Eusebio had a strong New England connection, partly because of the region’s Portuguese population. Eusebio probably could have had success in the Boston area similar to Pelé’s in New York, but circumstances worked against him.

The first soccer game at Foxboro Stadium matched Eusebio’s SL Benfica against Sporting CP on June 16, 1972. Eusebio did not score the first goal at the stadium – Sporting’s Mario Mateus Marinho converted in the sixth minute – but he equalized in the 43rd minute and broke the deadlock in the 80th minute of a 2-2 draw. The match drew a 24,396 crowd and organizers were encouraged enough to schedule a rematch a week later, this time attracting more than 25,000. For perspective, the Boston Red Sox were playing a 12-game homestand from June 9-21, crowds ranging from 8,860 to 21,682.

I never quite understood why a promoter did not follow up with another Benfica-Sporting match in the area. I talked about it with former Patriots’ announcer Gil Santos, who did the PA duties for the Benfica-Sporting games in ’72, but he did not have an answer, either. [Read more…] about Jan. 25, 1942 – Eusebio da Silva Ferreira born in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique

Jan. 24, 2008 – Revolution draft Dube, Chris Tierney; lose Noonan to Norway

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Two excellent pickups for the Revolution, the day after losing Pat Noonan to Aalesund FK. Dube totaled 14 goals in 72 regular-season games, 18th on the Revolution scoring list. Tierney’s 214 regular-season matches rank him No. 4 on the team list.

But the Revolution were unable to compensate for the loss of players such as Andy Dorman and Noonan, the team’s demise accelerating. Below es excerpt from my story for The Boston Globe 1/24/2008 editions:

Noonan leaves Revolution for Europe

Pat Noonan became the second Revolution player to depart for Europe on a free transfer this winter, joining Aalesund FK in Norway yesterday. [Read more…] about Jan. 24, 2008 – Revolution draft Dube, Chris Tierney; lose Noonan to Norway

Jan. 23, 1926 – New Bedford Whalers 2×3 Boston Wonder Workers

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Jan. 23, 1926 – New Bedford Whalers 2×3 Boston Wonder Workers

Boston moved into second place in the ASL as Johnny Ballantyne, Bobby Blair, Bill Westwater score. Blair went on to total 36 goals in 33 games. Stevens and Mike McLeavy converted for the Whalers, Stevens going on to lead the league with 44 goals in 39 games. Many of the players in this match had been high-level performers in Scotland, Ballantyne causing controversy by “jumping” his contract with Partick Thistle to move to Boston in 1924. Ballantyne returned to Partick Thistle from 1929-35 and played for Queens Park Rangers in 1935.

Ballantyne’s goal in this game was “accidently” knocked in by Shaw, according to The Boston Globe account. [Read more…] about Jan. 23, 1926 – New Bedford Whalers 2×3 Boston Wonder Workers

Jan. 22, 2010 – Revolution acquire Burpo and Gibbs, lose Larentowicz

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Jan. 22, 2010 – Revolution acquire Preston Burpo and Cory Gibbs from Colorado in exchange for Jeff Larentowicz and Wells Thompson

This deal was set up after Larentowicz decided to play out his contract. And it did not work out well for the Revolution. Larentowicz had proven to be a fundamental piece of the Revolution midfield, and one of the last remaining connections to the successful teams of the recent past. But the Revolution were unwilling to meet his price. At the time, we calculated that Larentowicz would have needed to stay nine years with the Revolution to earn what he was going to make in four years by leaving. [Read more…] about Jan. 22, 2010 – Revolution acquire Burpo and Gibbs, lose Larentowicz

Jan. 21, 2005 – Revolution acquire goalkeeper Doug Warren from D.C. United

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Jan. 21, 2005 – New England Revolution acquire goalkeeper Doug Warren from D.C. United in exchange for a draft choice; sign Joe Franchino, Marshall Leonard, Steve Ralston, Matt Reis

The Revolution took care of business in the off-season and got off to their best start ever in ’05. The Revolution had perfected the art of finishing strong, but this was the first time they got off to a fast start, going unbeaten in their first 11 games. The team’s early success was extraordinary, considering it had produced only one plus-.500 season in nine years. The Revolution went on to finish 17W-7L-8D (59 pts.) but lost, 1-0, in extra time to the LA Galaxy in the final in Frisco, Texas. Shalrie Joseph was named Revolution MVP and Taylor Twellman, who led the league in scoring with 17 goals, was named MLS MVP. [Read more…] about Jan. 21, 2005 – Revolution acquire goalkeeper Doug Warren from D.C. United

Jan. 20, 2007 – Clint Dempsey makes Premier League debut

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Jan. 20, 2007 – Clint Dempsey makes Premier League debut as 83rd-minute substitute for Moritz Volz. Fulham 1×1 Tottenham

Dempsey’s stated goal was to move on from MLS to a career in Europe and, after three seasons with the Revolution, he made the move on Jan. 11, 2007. Nine days later, Dempsey was in the Cottagers’ lineup. Dempsey went on to become first U.S. player to perform in a major European final (Atletico Madrid 2×1 Fulham) May 12, 2010, set a record for a U.S. player in the Premiership with his 37th goal Dec. 5, 2011; first U.S. player to complete a hat trick in the Premier (vs. Newcastle Jan. 21, 2012). Dempsey set a Fulham record for Premier League goals with his 15th against Bolton Wanderers April 7, 2012 and finished fourth in PFWAA Player of the Year voting before transferring to Tottenham Aug. 31, 2012. His first Spurs’ goal was a game-winner in 3-2 victory at Manchester United Sept. 29, 2012.

Dempsey took a single-minded approach to making the transfer happen. [Read more…] about Jan. 20, 2007 – Clint Dempsey makes Premier League debut

Jan. 19, 2008 – Andy Dorman makes Scottish Premier League debut

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Jan. 19, 2008 – Andy Dorman makes Scottish Premier League debut. St. Mirren FC 3×1 Motherwell

The Revolution failed to meet Dorman’s salary demands, so he moved to Scotland and took his career (and bank account) to another level. Nine minutes into his first game, Dorman assisted on a Mark Corcoran goal in a 3-1 win over Motherwell.

Among Dorman’s highlights in Scotland would be a two-goal showing in a 4-0 victory over Celtic March 24, 2010. Dorman’s performances in Scotland led to a move to Crystal Palace in the League Championship, plus three appearances with Wales’ national team – in his final international, he replaced Aaron Ramsey in the 90th minute of a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland. [Read more…] about Jan. 19, 2008 – Andy Dorman makes Scottish Premier League debut

Jan. 18, 2008 – Revolution select Rob Valentino with No. 13 pick in MLS SuperDraft

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Jan. 18, 2008 – Revolution select Rob Valentino with No. 13 pick, Michael Videira in second round (18th overall) in MLS SuperDraft

Valentino went on to make three starts at right back the Revolution’s run to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, then was sent to Colorado in 2009. Valentino, 6-foot-3, was projected as a central defender, but ended up mostly filling in at outside back with the Revolution. [Read more…] about Jan. 18, 2008 – Revolution select Rob Valentino with No. 13 pick in MLS SuperDraft