May 9, 1975 – Boston Minutemen 0:2 Rochester Lancers at Nickerson Field (Att.: 6,800)

Boston Minutemen home-opener, scoreless streak stretches to 358 consecutive minutes over two seasons.

May 9, 1920 – Ben Miller FC 2:1 Fore River FC, National Challenge Cup final at Federal League Baseball Park/Handlan’s Park (Att.: 12,000)

Jack Kershaw, who had been expected to be a reserve, because of an ankle injury, scored eight minutes before halftime for Fore River. Marre and Dunn countered in the second half.

Fore River hoped to capitalize on tactical savvy and technique, plus the fact the St. Louis teams “are used to playing only 60-minute games,” according to The Boston Globe. “It will be a test of the American style of soccer (St. Louis) against the more studied British (New England) idea of play.”

Kershaw, like many of Fore River players, began playing in Britain. Kershaw coached the Harvard University team in 1927 and ’28.

Fore River Shipyard fielded soccer teams starting in the early 1900s. The team’s field is still in use, complete with clubhouse, in the Quincy Point section. The “Shipbuilders” competed in the Southern New England Soccer League, winning the SNESL in the 1915-16; 1918-19; and 1920-21 seasons. Fore River reached the quarterfinals of the 1919 U.S. Open Cup and the final of the 1920-21 American Cup. Fore River eliminated Robins Dry Dock of Brooklyn in the 1920 U.S. Open Cup semifinals and lost to Robins (5-2) in the 1921 American Cup final in Harrison, N.J.

The SNESL disbanded after the 1921 season, as some teams joined the original ASL. Fore River continued to produce strong teams, Jackie Lyons going on to play for the U.S. in the 1928 Olympics.

NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY