March 7, 1925 – WTAB will broadcast the Cup semifinal between Fall River and New Bedford

The Boston Globe reported a record crowd of about 18,000 was expected for the match and, in a separate story, noted on March 7, 1925 the announcement: “The Fall River Herald broadcasting station, WTAB, on 266 meters, will broadcast the American League soccer football Cup semifinal between Fall River and New Bedford at Providence tomorrow (Saturday) at 2.”

The game was played at Kinsley Park (the Globe story read “Kingsley Park”) in Providence.

The headline in the following day’s editions of the Globe:

STAND BUCKLES AT SOCCER GAME

About 75 Fall With It, One Seriously Hurt

Fall River Team Shuts Out New Bedford in Semifinal

Crowd of 15000, More Than 5000 Turned Away

Fall River took a 3-0 victory over New Bedford in the New England semifinals of the American Soccer League cup competition “before the largest crowd ever assembled at a soccer match in this country.

“More than 15,000 persons were crowded into Kingsley Park and when the police ordered the gates closed more than 5000 were turned away.

“A section of a temporary stand collapsed early in the day, throwing between 50 and 75 men to the ground.

“Charles A. White of 269 Ray St., Fall River, was seriously hurt and taken to the Rhode Island Hospital where several stitches were taken in his left leg.”

The first goal “came like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, just at the kick-off.” Brittan took a pass from Fryer and eluded the entire backfield to score in “one minute and a half.”

Harold Brittan, a former Chelsea FC center forward, finished third in the ASL in scoring with 32 goals in 34 games. Fred Morley (86^th minute) and Dougie Campbell also scored for the Marksmen. Brittan owned a “very successful auto dealership” in Fall River, according to Colin Jose.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY