Sept. 17, 1921 – American Soccer League inaugural games

Colin Jose’s American Soccer League 1921-31/The Golden Years of American Soccer termed this season: “Year One – 1921-22 – A Quiet Beginning.”

Philadelphia Field Club (17W-3L-4D, 38 points) won the first ASL title, ahead of New York FC (14-5-5, 33 points). J&P Coats (9-9-5, 23) finished fifth, Fall River (5-18-1, 11) sixth and Holyoke (2-17-3, 9) seventh in the seven-team league.

Sept. 17, 1921 – Fall River United 2:3 Holyoke Falco

Holyoke Falco scored an upset, but would not win another ASL game until being awarded a forfeit victory over Fall River in its final scheduled home match on May 14, 1922. All the goals were scored in the first half, according to The Boston Globe report, Downie converting the winner. J. Downie led Holyoke with seven goals in 20 games. Downie also scored four goals in three U.S. Open Cup matches as Falco defeated St. Georges (5-2) and J&P Coats (4-2) before being eliminated by Abbot Worsted (3-1). E. Logan and J. Brown also converted for Holyoke and Paddy Butler and Hugh Weir scored for Fall River.

Sept. 17, 1921 – J&P Coats 0:3 Philadelphia Field Club

Dugald “Dougie” Campbell scored all the goals for Philadelphia, which was the Bethlehem Steel Co. club. Philadelphia’s Harold Brittan won the scoring title with 24 goals and teammate Tommy “Whitey” Fleming added 15 goals. Brittan and Campbell went on to win three ASL titles with the Fall River Marksmen and Fleming moved to J&P Coats, winning the 1923 ASL title, then the Boston Wonder Workers.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY