Dec. 25, 1926 – J&P Coats 0:0 Fall River Marksmen at Lonsdale-Av. Grounds, Pawtucket, R.I. (Att.: 4,000)

“Players and mounted policemen escorted Referee George Lambie of Newton off the field … A sudden attack of snowballs followed (Lambie’s) decision, ruling against the goal scored by Johnny Harvey in the last 50 seconds of play. The midget right winger lodged the ball in the net during a lively scrimmage in front of the Fall River netting. The referee claimed Bobby Curtis, who slipped and fell in the mire, was off-side.”

J&P Coats, in the midst of a 15-game (0W-7L-8D) winless streak, finished in ninth place, totaling 48 goals, last in the league. Harvey, a Scottish wing forward, played most of his ASL career with J&P Coats, converting 56 goals in 302 ASL games from 1923-31.

The Marksmen finished in third place in the 1926-27 ASL standings and won the 1927 National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup).

Christmas Day soccer games were conducted regularly in New England from about 1890 through at least the mid-1930s.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY