March 15, 1924 – OLYMPIC TRYOUT AT SULLIVAN SQ POSTPONED

“On account of ice and snow,” according to The Boston Globe report, likely penned by George M. Collins, who would become the manager of the U.S. team in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Clan Robertson of Dorchester and the Worcester Rangers were set to meet in the game. Also postponed was the Quincy Olympics v. Readville Carshops match at Merrymount Park. In a March 17, 1924 article entitled UNITED STATES SOCCER TEAM SHOULD MAKE A GOOD SHOWING, The Globe’s Collins expressed optimism in the U.S. chances at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

“While it is the ‘beautiful game’ with all the very pleasing and intricate plays that the Scots, English and Irish, and now the Welsh, play, Continental Europe and this country are depending a lot on speed and goal scoring. Recent arrivals from the other side say that we do not play soccer here. We do not employ the fine points of the game, we rely solely on the ‘kick and rush game.’

The U.S. took a 1-0 win over Estonia in the Olympic opener May 25 and lost, 3-0, to eventual champion Uruguay May 29. Former Fore River Shipyard (Quincy) star Andy Straden scored the only goal on a penalty kick against Estonia. The U.S. team was coached by Brockton’s George Burford and Collins was the manager.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY