Lusitania Recreation, an amateur club competing in the Massachusetts State League, had offered to replace Boston in the Atlantic Coast Soccer League. Providence had been scheduled to visit Boston in an ACSL game, but the Wonder Workers disbanded in a dispute over the rights to Dave McEachran. “Manager Sam Fletcher of the Providence team brought along his regular eleven, and it was well he had [Joe] Kennaway in goal, otherwise the Portuguese boys would have warmed things up for them.” [Read more…] about Nov. 28, 1929 – Lusitania Recreation 0:1 Providence Clamdiggers, Blake Field, East Cambridge, Mass.
Joe Kennaway
May 31, 1931 – Fall River FC 1:0 Glasgow Celtic at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 7,000)
This match proved to be a showcase for Fall River’s Joe Kennaway, who became Celtic FC’s starting goalkeeper from 1931-39, after John Thomson, 22, sustained a fatal injury in a game against Rangers. [Read more…] about May 31, 1931 – Fall River FC 1:0 Glasgow Celtic at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 7,000)
April 24, 1920 – Robins Dry Dock 2:0 Fore River, American Cup semifinals at Pawtucket, R.I. (Att.: 8,000)
“The Robins Dry Dock soccer team of Brooklyn got sweet revenge on the Fore River team of Quincy …” Fore River had defeated Robins in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) semifinals on April 10, 1920. That would be Robins Dry Dock’s only loss of the 1915-16 season — Robins went on to defeat Bethlehem Steel in the American Cup final on May 2, 1920. (The Boston Globe) [Read more…] about April 24, 1920 – Robins Dry Dock 2:0 Fore River, American Cup semifinals at Pawtucket, R.I. (Att.: 8,000)
Feb. 15, 1931 – Fall River FC 2:3 ASL All Stars at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 700)
Bert Patenaude scores both Fall River goals past Kennaway. Scheduled opponent, Velez Sarsfield, delayed by “railway mishap in Texas … en route to the East.” Velez, a team that included players from Argentina’s 1930 World Cup team that defeated the U.S., 6-1, in the semifinals, arrived for a Feb. 22, 1931 match. Both goalkeepers — Joe Kennaway (Celtic FC) and Johnny Reder (first baseman for the Boston Red Sox) — would change teams in 1932. Jeremiah Best scored twice and Watson one goal for the All-Stars.
Feb. 15, 1925 – Fall River 3:0 J&P Coats. Lewis Cup game at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 12,000)
“… all hopes of a record-breaking crowd for a soccer game in this country were dashed with the heavy rain that fell just before game time in Tiverton.”
According to The Boston Globe: “Boston’s 2-0 victory (over the New York Giants) means three teams out of the four remaining in this professional Cup series, making clearer the argument that New England teams are the game’s best supports (sic) from both a playing and financial point of view.”
New York Giants 0:2 Boston Wonder Workers, Lewis Cup match (Att.: 1,500)
Goals: Stevens, Fleming. Note: Battles hits bar early
Feb. 15, 2011 – Revolution sign Argentinian defender Franco Coria
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Jan. 2, 1939 – Joe Kennaway in goal for Old Firm Derby. Rangers 2:1 Celtic
James (Joe) Kennaway went from the New Bedford Whalers to become Celtic FC’s starting goalkeeper from 1931-39. Kennaway, who earned caps for Canada and Scotland, succeeded Sam Fletcher as Brown University soccer coach on Nov. 1, 1946. [Read more…] about Jan. 2, 1939 – Joe Kennaway in goal for Old Firm Derby. Rangers 2:1 Celtic
May 30, 1931 – New York Yankees 4:3 Glasgow Celtic at Fenway Park (Att.: 8,000)
Billy Gonsalves scored three goals for the Yankees, who began the season as the Fall River Marksmen, in an upset win over Celtic FC. In fact, the Boston Globe advance story called the team the “Fall River Yankees.”
“Billy Gonsalves, who learned his soccer on the sandlots of East Cambridge and then was grabbed by the old Boston team, was the big works in the game. All he did was score three of the Yankees’ goals and manipulate the ball in such a manner that he completely mystified the famous Celtics at times.” [Read more…] about May 30, 1931 – New York Yankees 4:3 Glasgow Celtic at Fenway Park (Att.: 8,000)
April 15, 1933 – Joe Kennaway becomes first foreigner to earn Scottish Cup winners’ medal. Celtic 1:0 Motherwell (Att.: 102,339)
Jimmy McGrory scored off a deflection as Celtic FC won the 55th edition of the Scottish Cup (Celtic’s 14th championship). Kennaway made his international debut as a 21-year-old with Canada in 1926, then attracted Celtic’s attention in a friendly match; Fall River took a 1-0 win over Celtic May 31, 1931 (Celtic’s goalkeeper was John Thomsen, who would die following a clash with Rangers’ Sam English less than five months). Kennaway replaced Thomsen and became Celtic’s starting goalkeeper from 1931-39, then coached Brown University from 1946-59. [Read more…] about April 15, 1933 – Joe Kennaway becomes first foreigner to earn Scottish Cup winners’ medal. Celtic 1:0 Motherwell (Att.: 102,339)
Feb. 12, 1928 – The story of Barney Battles
On this day in 1928, the Providence Clamdiggers and Boston Wonder Workers played to a 0-0 draw. In the first half, former Chelsea FC center forward Bill Finlayson hit the post and Boston’s Bobby Blair, the American Soccer League’s second-leading scorer (38 goals) the previous season, missed an open net . The Boston Globe story notes Providence goalkeeper Joe Kennaway, who would go on to play for Celtic FC, “fell prone in the mud,” but Blair “hurried his boot and as a result shot clear over the bar.” Blair “rocked the upright with a fine drive” late in the game. In the final two minutes, Boston’s Johnny Ballantyne (Partick Thistle, Queen’s Park Rangers) and Providence’s Jimmy Bardell were ejected for fighting. [Read more…] about Feb. 12, 1928 – The story of Barney Battles
Feb. 9, 1929 – ‘Biggest crowd, best soccer of the season’
Bobby Blair scored twice as J&P Coats took a 3-0 win over the Providence Gold Bugs, remaining unbeaten in the second half of the ASL season in “a contest which brought about the biggest crowd and best soccer of the current season,” according to 2/10/29 editions of the Boston Globe. Providence’s Joe Kennaway would go on to become Celtic FC goalkeeper from 1931-39.
On the same day, the Boston Wonder Workers were upset, 4-3, by Jersey City at the Walpole Street Grounds. The visitors from Skeeterville “inject(ed) Jimmy Douglas, Olympic goalie of 1924 into their lineup” and “deserved to win,” according to the Globe account. “The field was heavy, in fact it was ankle deep in mud …” [Read more…] about Feb. 9, 1929 – ‘Biggest crowd, best soccer of the season’