May 30, 1931 – New York Yankees 4:3 Glasgow Celtic at Fenway Park (Att.: 8,000)

Billy Gonsalves scored three goals for the Yankees, who began the season as the Fall River Marksmen, in an upset win over Celtic FC. In fact, the Boston Globe advance story called the team the “Fall River Yankees.”

“Billy Gonsalves, who learned his soccer on the sandlots of East Cambridge and then was grabbed by the old Boston team, was the big works in the game. All he did was score three of the Yankees’ goals and manipulate the ball in such a manner that he completely mystified the famous Celtics at times.”

Gonsalves scored on a sixth-minute free kick (Celtic did not set up a defensive wall), and Bert Patenaude converted at about the 15^th minute, then Gonsalves’ low shot gave the Yankees a 3-0 lead. Jimmy McGrory and Alex Thomson cut the deficit, then Gonsalves sent a penalty kick off the post as the half ended with the Yankees leading, 3-2.

Peter Scarff headed in the equalizer off a lobbed Peter Wilson free kick. Then Gonsalves “showed up the Celtics’ (sic) defense when he rounded three of them and scored the winning goal … with a drive which [John] Thomson again got his hands on but could not stop its progress into the net.”

No mention in the game story of the weather, but temperatures in the 90s and Memorial Day weekend activities likely kept attendance down. This was the “second hottest May 30” since the Boston Weather Bureau began recording conditions and “crowds were seeking relief from the heat … roads to the country and seashore were jammed with traffic and the city was deserted.”

Celtic, the reigning Scottish Cup winners, compiled an 8W-3L-1D record on this tour, but struggled against New England teams. Celtic went 8-0-1 (39-10 goal differential) outside New England, losing all three matches in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Fall River FC blanked Celtic, 1-0, on May 31 and the Pawtucket Rangers took a 3-1 win over Celtic June 6, 1931. Celtic recovered for a 5-0 victory over the Brooklyn Wanderers, losing McGrory to a broken jaw after scoring twice, at Ebbets Field June 7, 1931.

The New England section of the tour turned out to be a showcase for Joe Kennaway and Gonsalves, who both impressed Celtic manager Willie Maley.

Kennaway earned the shutout for Fall River and a story in the Globe noted he had been offered a contract by an English club after the game. Six months later, Kennaway made his debut in the Celtic net, and he remained the club’s starter from 1931-39. Gonsalves, who had refused contract offers from Brazilian clubs such as Botafogo after the 1930 World Cup, turned down Celtic. After the 1934 World Cup, Gonsalves turned down offers from several Italian Serie A clubs.

May 31, 1931 – Fall River FC 1:0 Glasgow Celtic at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 7,000)

June 6, 1931 – Pawtucket Rangers 3:1 Glasgow Celtic at Providence Cycledrome (Att.: 5,000)

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY