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Frank Dell'Apa

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Manchester United

June 4, 2011 – U.S. 0:4 Spain (Att.: 64,421). Biggest U.S. loss, and their biggest crowd, in Foxborough

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A wide gulf in talent and tactical acumen resulted in an embarrassing defeat for the U.S. national team against Spain. Santi Cazorla (28’, 41’) and Alvaro Negredo (32’) provided a 3-0 halftime lead and El Niño Torres added a 73rd-minute goal for the Spaniards, who had played once before in Foxborough, sustaining a 2-1 extra time loss to Italy in the World Cup quarterfinals at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 53,400) July 9, 1994. [Read more…] about June 4, 2011 – U.S. 0:4 Spain (Att.: 64,421). Biggest U.S. loss, and their biggest crowd, in Foxborough

May 17, 1950 – Manchester United’s first New England appearance

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The New England All-Stars essentially consisted of the Ponta Delgada SC team, including Ed Souza and John Souza, who would go on to play for the U.S. in the World Cup a few weeks later. In this game, Manchester United went ahead on a 14th-minute Tom Bogan goal. Ed Souza missed a 79th-minute penalty kick with a chance to equalize. In the final minutes, Johnnie Downie scored off a pass from inside left Charlie Mitten, considered the match’s top performer. Mitten went on to sign with Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia, earning a ban from British football and the nickname “The Bogota Bandit.” The only Manchester United player who competed in this game to go on to the ’50 World Cup was Henry Cockburn, who was not in the England lineup against the U.S. [Read more…] about May 17, 1950 – Manchester United’s first New England appearance

April 26, 1925 – Boston SC earns U.S. soccer title, trip to White House

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Boston Soccer Club won the equivalent of a national championship, defeating St. Louis champion Ben Millers, 3-2. Johnny Ballantyne, Barney Battles and Tommy “Whitey” Fleming scored for Boston, Jimmy Dunn and Pee Wee Fitzgerald for the Ben Millers.

The Boston Globe story noted: “The day was too hot for good soccer.” The Millers’ Tommy White suffered a fractured leg in the first seven minutes of play (in the second half) in a collision with W. Ballantyne. [Read more…] about April 26, 1925 – Boston SC earns U.S. soccer title, trip to White House

April 8, 1978 – New England Tea Men set for debut

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The day before the New England Tea Men’s inaugural home game at Schaefer Stadium, the Boston Globe noted: “The football field lines have been erased. The soccer field has been laid out – 110 yards long and 65 yards wide – and the eight-foot high, 24-foot wide goal posts (sic) are in position. Next to seeing what the potential is in this hastily assembled 17-man English-dominated roster, the second question is: Who’s going to show up?”

On April 9, 1978, the Tea Men lost, 2-1, to the Tampa Bay Rowdies before an 11,360 crowd that included “1,000 Lipton Tea employees bussed in from New Jersey.’’ Both Tampa Bay goals were chipped over Kevin Keelan, Jim Fleeting heading in from Rodney Marsh, then Dave Robb breaking a 1-1 deadlock in the 87th minute. The Tea Men’s Roger Gibbins finished a header after Lawrie Abrahams headed on a Dennis Wit corner in the 86th minute.

The Tea Men had to put things together quickly – they had been awarded a NASL franchise three months previously. Noel Cantwell and assistant coach Dennis Viollet (whose 32 goals in 36 games in the 1959-60 season remains a Manchester United record — documentary film “A United Man” recently released) guided the Tea Men to a 19-11 record and a first-round playoff appearance.

Two American citizens were required to start for the Tea Men: Dave D’Errico at left back and Harvard assistant coach Kevin Welsh at left wing. The Tea Men also signed former Brown University star Ben Brewster, who was coaching Boston College, three days before the match. Mike Flanagan made his NASL debut as a late replacement for Ringo Cantillo, then went on to be named the league’s MVP, scoring 30 goals in 28 games.

In 2003, Fleeting’s daughter, Julie, would score for the San Diego Flash in a 1-1 draw with the Boston Breakers in a WUSA match – making the Fleetings the only father-daughter combination to convert goals at the professional level in Foxborough.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

Feb. 23, 1925 – Boston 1×2 Shawsheen

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This was considered a major upset, since Boston had contracted several top British star players to play in the American Soccer League. According to the Boston Globe story, Carrie and Blyth scored for Shawsheen, Hamill for Boston, and Shawsheen’s Murdoch saved a McIntyre penalty kick at the Walpole-st Grounds. [Read more…] about Feb. 23, 1925 – Boston 1×2 Shawsheen