The U.S. team for 1934 World Cup had a strong New England influence, including Eddie Czerkiewicz, Walter Dick, Tommy Florie, Joe Martinelli (Pawtucket Rangers); Billy Gonsalves and Werner “Scotty” Nilsen (Stix, Baer & Fuller); Tom Lynch (Brooklyn Celtics). Also listed was A. Donelli (Curry FC, Pittsburgh). [Read more…] about April 11, 1934 – U.S. Soccer Squad of 18 Selected – for World Cup
Fall River Marksmen 6:2 Chicago Bricklayers, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final at Polo Grounds, New York (Att. 12,000). Less than a year after the inaugural World Cup, Bert Patenaude continued his scoring spree as the Fall River Marksmen won the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) for the second successive time. Patenaude was 21 years old and Gonsalves 22, and they might have continued their combination, but the American Soccer League folded before the 1932 season, and the U.S. national team lacked organization.
Patenaude was 20 when he converted the first hat trick in World Cup history in 1930, still the third youngest to score a hat trick in the competition. But Patenaude was not selected for the 1934 World Cup team, and information is scarce regarding his exclusion. In March 13, 1934 editions of the Boston Globe, George M. Collins wrote:
“Over New York way the most interesting item is that Bert Patenaude, former Fall River star, has drawn a suspension from the Irish-Americans Club. Patenaude was said to be a sure starter for Rome, but his recent actions may finish his hopes in this respect.”
This was the first of a three-game series, the next two games played in Chicago, a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 Marksmen win on goals by Patenaude and a Gordon Burness penalty kick. Patenaude totaled 13 goals, Gonsalves nine in Fall River’s Cup campaign.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Stix, Baer & Fuller 2:5 (5:8) New Bedford, National Challenge Cup final at Sportsman’s Park. Billy Gonsalves scored twice, including the aggregate go-ahead goal on a free kick 18 minutes into the second half, according to an Associated Press report. (Other sources credit Gonsalves with one goal in the game – and a record 14 goals in U.S. Open Cup finals; Gonsalves could actually have totaled 15 goals). The New Bedford team was essentially the Fall River Marksmen, who had won the 1930 and ’31 Challenge Cup titles, owner Sam Mark moving the franchise for the 1932 season (difficult to understand why Mark moved to New Bedford, as he controlled Mark’s Stadium near Fall River).
The record for U.S. Open Cup titles is five (Bethlehem Steel and Los Angeles Maccabi), but Gonsalves holds the individual title with eight victories (playing for five teams). This was the third of six successive U.S. Open Cup championships for Gonsalves, who was 23 years old at the time. [Read more…] about April 2, 1932 – New Bedford Whalers win U.S. Open Cup
Foxboro Stadium made a strong impression by attracting a 51,273 crowd for a U.S. v Ireland friendly (1-1) June 1, 1991, but the region was not considered an ideal venue by either FIFA or the U.S. Soccer Federation. But the Kraft family made a strong commitment to securing a bid, directing stadium manager Brian O’Donovan to make the World Cup a priority soon after purchasing the facility, and installing a grass field. FIFA proposed a 12-stadium World Cup, hoping to spread the event to an optimum number of venues, but ended up paring down, partly because some facilities were unavailable. Officials at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium could not accommodate the World Cup because of Major League Baseball scheduling conflicts (FIFA required a two-week-plus exclusive use minimum). Foxboro Stadium opened its doors to FIFA, and was able to attract six matches: four group games, plus a second-rounder and a quarterfinal. [Read more…] about March 23, 1992 – Boston/Foxborough named among 9 venues for 1994 World Cup
The New England Revolution played to a 1-1 draw with the Miami Fusion at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Diego Serna (61st minute) scored first, the Revolution’s Imad Baba (80th) equalizing. Clavijo would guide the Revolution to their first .500 season and first playoff victory that year, and to the 2001 U.S. Open Cup final. [Read more…] about March 18, 2000 – Fernando Clavijo’s first game as New England Revolution coach
This U.S. Open Cup match at the Polo Grounds “was one of the greatest games ever seen here,” according to the Boston Globe report. Attendance announced at 15,000, including 3,000 arriving from New England (the New York Giants averaged less than 12,000 attendance in both the 1929 and ’30 seasons at the Polo Grounds).
A replay was set at New Bedford next Sunday “by the committee of the National Cup.” Bethlehem Steel scored on an R. McAuley own goal after 12 minutes of the second half. “Stark had almost connected with Dick’s great center and McAuley’s lunge at the ball caused the deflection.” At 27 minutes, Alex McNab deadlocked. [Read more…] about March 16, 1930 – Fall River 1:1 aet Bethlehem Steel, National Challenge Cup at Polo Grounds ‘One of the greatest games’