Sept. 27, 1928 – Soccer War declared

Bethlehem Steel, the New York Giants and Newark Skeeters defied an ASL vote to boycott the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) and were suspended from the league, kicking off a “Soccer War.”

According to The Boston Globe: “The seven remaining ASL delegates voted unanimously to uphold president Bill Cunningham’s decision to suspend Bethlehem, the New York Giants and Newark.” That included all five New England teams, represented by Sam Mark (Fall River), Dave Pomfret (New Bedford), Alec Cooper (J&P Coats), Bob MacDonald (Boston) and Sam Fletcher (Providence); plus E.J. Viberg (New York Nationals) and Nat Agar (Brooklyn Wanderers).

New York Nationals owner Horace Stoneham (who also owned baseball’s New York Giants) had been the strongest opponent of scheduling Challenge Cup matches during the ASL season. Ironically, Stoneham’s Nationals were the defending Cup champions. Stoneham’s idea was for the ASL to operate outside the constraints of the U.S. Football Association (now U.S. Soccer), which organized the Challenge Cup. The “Soccer War” lasted for more than a year, contributing to the downfall of the ASL.

Roger Allaway’s story for SASH: http://www.ussoccerhistory.org/what-was-the-soccer-war/

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY