W. Nilsen opened the scoring with “a beauty that beat Taylor all the way,” according to The Boston Globe. Whyte equalized and Waddell broke the deadlock with a penalty kick. Norwegian American outside left F. Nilsen “had an argument” with Garrigan, the referee, and was ejected. [Read more…] about Oct. 19, 1924 – Charlestown 2:1 Norwegian Americans at Sullivan Sq. Grounds (Att.: 5,000)
Andy Stevens completed a hat trick and Tommy “Whitey” Fleming added a goal as Boston took a 4-0 halftime lead. Harold Brittain scored for Fall River, then took over the ASL scoring lead with a four-goal performance in a 5-0 victory over Newark the next day, according to The Boston Globe. This was Boston’s first season in the American Soccer League, and the team was not being called the Wonder Workers, yet. Fall River, the reigning U.S. Open Cup champions, were called “Sam Mark’s team” but not yet called the Marksmen. [Read more…] about Oct. 4, 1924 – Boston SC 4:1 Fall River at Walpole Street Grounds (Att.: 5,000)
Werner “Scotty” Nilsen headed a Tommy Fleming cross past Joe Kennaway in the 16th minute for the Boston Wonder Workers. [Read more…] about Sept. 29, 1928 – Boston Wonder Workers 1:0 Providence Clamdiggers, Walpole St. Grounds
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
Jorge Piotti’s 89th-minute goal broke the deadlock as the Boston Tigers defeated the defending ASL champion Ukrainians. [Read more…] about Sept. 26, 1965 – Philadelphia Ukrainians 1:2 Boston Tigers, ASL game (Att.: 5,000)
Fall River’s John Souza scored the second goal as the U.S. took a 4-0 lead over the Cubans, virtually clinching a berth in the 1950 World Cup. The U.S. scorers were Walter Bahr (16th), Souza (23rd), Matevich (30th and 35th) and Frank “Pee Wee” Wallace (48th). The U.S. lineup also included Manuel Martin, Souza’s Ponta Delgada teammate. [Read more…] about Sept. 21, 1949 – U.S. 5:2 Cuba, World Cup qualifying at Estadio de los Deportes, Mexico City (Att.: 5,000)
The New Bedford Whalers defeated the Americans despite a Bert Patenaude hat trick for Newark, both teams defying an ASL vote to boycott the cup. This was apparently a continuation of a controversy arising over ASL teams entering what is now called the U.S. Open Cup, leading to the Soccer War of 1928. [Read more…] about Sept. 20, 1930 – New Bedford Whalers 5:3 Newark Americans, National Challenge Cup
The Fall River FC Marksmen lived up to their reputation as one of the top teams in the U.S. with a victory over Sparta Prague, which had a 12W-2L-3D record on a tour covering Sept. 6-Nov. 3, 1926. Before the match, the Boston Globe’s George M. Collins wrote: [Read more…] about Sept. 19, 1926 – Fall River FC 3:2 Sparta Prague/ Fall River FC 4:0 Springfield FC, ASL game at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 6,139)
Colin Jose’s American Soccer League 1921-31/The Golden Years of American Soccer termed this season: “Year One – 1921-22 – A Quiet Beginning.” [Read more…] about Sept. 17, 1921 – American Soccer League inaugural games
Boston SC had recruited several top British players, including player-manager Tommy Muirhead from Rangers, for its inaugural season. [Read more…] about Sept. 13, 1924 – Boston SC 2:1 Providence Clamdiggers, ASL opener at Walpole Street Grounds