Lewis Cup final at Mark’s Stadium, N. Tiverton, R.I. According to the Boston Globe: “Boston’s professional soccer team smashed all kinds of records … in the final game in the American League Cup Series, trimming Fall River’s crack eleven, 2 to 1, before the largest crowd that ever watched a soccer game in this country. There were 17,000 fans in Marks’ Stadium … every seat was occupied and every resting place on the fences was filled … ‘’ [Read more…] about March 29, 1925 – Fall River Marksmen 1:2 Boston Wonder Workers (Att. 17,000)
Boston Globe
March 28, 1908 – Haverford Wins, 1 to 0, at Soccer Football
Harvard played its first official intercollegiate match three years earlier, losing, 1-0, to Haverford at Soldiers Field on April 1, 1905. At the turn of the century, “association football” (soccer) and American football were both being played in New England. Games were referred to as “football”/”foot ball,” which could have meant soccer or American football; in 1905, “soccer football” was used to distinguish the codes. Soccer seemed to be favored by The Boston Globe, judging by this editorial in Oct. 5 1888 editions about “foot ball” (in this case, soccer):
“Now, we have loved foot ball from of old. It is a beautiful, exciting game and is one of the few games now popular which combine a vigorous use of the muscles with good judgment and activity … Now and then we hear of a man getting hurt in the ‘rush,’ but, as far as brutality is concerned, foot ball is as free from the charge as is base ball or lawn tennis or bicycling. … Every healthy boy who goes to school loves foot ball. The lads with the hollow cheeks and small necks and narrow shoulders may prefer croquet and cigarettes to exercise, but every college graduate who has made his mark in the world and paid for his schooling by extra ability has been a lover of sport, and as a true sportsman, must have had a liking for foot ball. … the only way an active, healthy citizen should ‘kick’ at foot ball is at the ball on the open field and not at the game. We are glad the season is at hand and hope the interest will grow every year.”
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
March 17, 1923 – ASL games, indoor soccer at Commonwealth Armory
J&P Coats 3:1 Fall River Marksmen in Pawtucket, R.I.
J&P’s Tommy Fleming two goals, Gilmore one in fifth victory of 14-match winning streak. The Threadmen would also advance to National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final. Duncan Dalrymple scores the only goal of his ASL career for Fall River.
Abbot Worsteds 5:4 Fore River at Commonwealth Armory
Dundas scored twice, his first in the second minute of “a game of thrills,” for the Forge Villagers, according to the Boston Globe account. Abbot Worsted reached the National Challenge Cup quarterfinals in 1923 and semifinals in 1922 and ’25, coached by Jack Kershaw, who would go on to coach Harvard University’s soccer team.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
March 9, 1924 – Soccer Fans Spent About $100,000 Going to that Game Yesterday
That was the headline the day after Fall River defeated Bethlehem Steel. 2-0, in the National Challenge Cup Eastern final at Dexter Park in Brooklyn on March 9, 1924.
The Boston Globe story estimated 5,000 supporters had traveled from Fall River “and other Massachusetts towns,” a trip estimated to cost about $25 – teams and fans usually traveled by boat.
The match drew “a record crowd,” to Dexter Park, which had a 25,000 capacity. Attendance figures were not listed in the game story, but each club received about $2,500 in gate receipts. Later estimates were a 20,000 crowd.
The Marksmen’s direct play was effective because the field was muddy and “in deplorable condition.” Johnny Reid headed in a Dougie Campbell cross and Campbell finished a Frank McKenna free kick. Alec Lorimer (Fall River) and Tommy Maxwell (Bethlehem) were ejected.
Fall River owner Sam Mark, asked by the Globe’s George M. Collins about the upcoming final, responded: “Believe me, boy, there is no bigger game than this one for me. Beating Bethlehem Steel was our objective and we did it.”
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
March 7, 1925 – WTAB will broadcast the Cup semifinal between Fall River and New Bedford
The Boston Globe reported a record crowd of about 18,000 was expected for the match and, in a separate story, noted on March 7, 1925 the announcement: “The Fall River Herald broadcasting station, WTAB, on 266 meters, will broadcast the American League soccer football Cup semifinal between Fall River and New Bedford at Providence tomorrow (Saturday) at 2.” [Read more…] about March 7, 1925 – WTAB will broadcast the Cup semifinal between Fall River and New Bedford
Feb. 7, 1925 — “Will there be another 14,000 crowd this time?”
That was the question in The Boston Globe story after J&P Coats qualified for a showdown with the Fall River Marksmen in the U.S. Open Cup. J&P Coats had blanked the Newark Skeeters, 5-0, as Johnny Harvey scored three goals in Pawtucket, R.I., in a Feb. 7 match.
The next day, the ASL’s top teams, the Fall River Marksmen and Bethlehem Steel played to a 2-2 draw before a 10,000 crowd at Mark’s Stadium in North Tiverton, R.I. Archie Stark scored one of his 67 regular-season goals for Bethlehem. Stark would go on to convert four goals as the U.S. took a 6-1 win over Canada in an international friendly in Brooklyn in November. The Marksmen went on to record a 19W-0L-3D record at home, totaling 66 points in 44 games, and edging Bethlehem by 3 points for first place. The Globe’s George M. Collins wrote. “The soccer men who are crying ‘Do not play any American League games in January and February’ should have been at Tiverton, R.I. …”
TODAY IN NE SOCCER HISTORY