Sept. 29, 1928 – Boston Wonder Workers 1:0 Providence Clamdiggers, Walpole St. Grounds

Werner “Scotty” Nilsen headed a Tommy Fleming cross past Joe Kennaway in the 16^th minute for the Boston Wonder Workers.

Nilsen, who played for the U.S. in the 1934 World Cup, was with the Norwegian-Americans in Boston before joining the Wonder Workers in 1926, according to Colin Jose’s American Soccer League 1921-31/The Golden Years of American Soccer. Nilsen scored 43 goals in 53 matches, tied with Janos Nehadoma for the ASL scoring lead. This was Nilsen’s fourth goal of the season, trailing Swede Nils Nygren (six goals) for the team scoring lead as Boston (2W-4L-1T, 5 points) got off to a slow start. Nygren finished with 11 goals in 29 appearances.

Fleming, 38, was in his final season of a professional career that began in Scotland. Fleming moved to the U.S. at age 17, playing for Fore River Shipbuilding (he returned to coach Quincy High School to the New England high school championship in 1931), and going on to star for Bethlehem Steel and J&P Coats. Fleming won four National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) titles with Bethlehem Steel, led the team (playing as Philadelphia FC) to the first ASL championship in 1921-22, was J&P Coats’ leading scorer as it won the 1922-23 ASL title and starred for Boston as the Wonder Workers won the 1927-28 ASL championship.

Kennaway, born in Montreal in 1905, went on to win two Scottish championships and two Scottish Cups with Celtic FC, returning to coach Brown University from 1946-59.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY