May 18, 1925 – American Soccer League accepted as full member of United States FA

George M. Collins “declares” the USFA would “have to accept all professional [leagues] on equal footing,” during the 12^th annual meeting of the group at the Astor Hotel in New York. (Associated Press)

Collins, representing the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Association, was referring to recognition for two professional leagues – the ASL and the St. Louis Soccer League.

The meeting was held a few months after a dispute between the ASL and the USFA that anticipated the problems that would lead to the later demise of the ASL. During the 1924-25 season, some ASL teams objected to being required to play National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) early-round matches, and about gate receipts percentages. The federation gave in to the demands after the 1925 cup final.

In 1929, though, the groups failed to reach a compromise. The hope of some ASL teams was to conduct cup matches after the season – a proposal made by Horace Stoneham, owner of the New York Giants baseball team and the New York Nationals soccer team. Ironically, Stoneham’s Nationals were the reigning U.S. Open Cup champions and the New York soccer Giants were among three ASL teams who opposed his proposal. By the time the conflict was settled, the Wall Street crash had further disrupted the league and, by 1931, the ASL ceased operations.

Also selected during the meeting were the president of U.S. Referee’s Association (George Lambie of Newton, Mass.), vice president (Joseph Booth of New Haven, Conn.) and secretary (W.R. Welch of Cambridge).

May 18, 1949 – New England All-Stars 2:1 Belfast Celtic at Fall River, Mass.

Goals: Millington, Almeida; Walker

May 18, 2013 – Houston Dynamo 0:2 Revolution (Att.: 22,039)

Goals: Fagundez, Agudelo. Red cards: Boswell; Imbongo.

NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY