June 10, 1924 – AMERICAN SOCCER TEAM HAD A WONDERFUL TIME IN POLAND

News did not travel fast in those days, George M. Collins’ report (by mail) of the U.S. national team’s 3-2 win over Poland appearing in July 3, 1924 editions of The Boston Globe.

This was the seventh official international match for the U.S. national team (4W-2L-1T), according to the Society for American Soccer History. Brockton’s Herbert “Birdie” Wells’ third-minute goal gave the U.S. the lead and Fleisher Yarn’s Andy Stradan (formerly of Fore River) converted in the 30^th and 47^th minutes.

Collins is identified as “Globe Soccer Editor and Manager of the United States Olympic Soccer Team.” (Collins was a tough act to follow).

The U.S. contingent also included Brockton’s George Burford (coach) and Fred “Teddy” O’Connor (Lynn GE).

The U.S. then lost, 3-1, to Ireland in Dublin June 14, 1924. The trip, which began with two matches in the Paris Olympics, had been successful in many ways, according to Collins. But the U.S. did not play another international match for more than a year and did not return to Europe until the 1928 Olympics.

June 10, 1924 – Poland 2:3 U.S. in Warsaw (Att.: 8,000)

POLAND: Stefan Domanski, Kazimierz Kaczor, Marian Markiewicz, Zdzislaw Styczen, Waclaw Kuchar, Antoni Amirowicz, Józef Adamek, Stanislaw Czulak, Zbigniew Chruscinski, Wladyslaw Kowalski (Juliusz Miller 81′), Miecyslaw Balcer

U.S.: Jimmy Douglas, James Mulholland, Fred O’Connor, William Demko, Ray Hornberger, Carl Johnson, Irving Davis, Herb Wells, Andy Stradan, Burke Jones, Ed Hart

Goals: Wells 3’, Czulak 6′, Stradan 30’, 47’; Chruscinski 32′.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY