April 26, 1925 – Boston Wonder Workers earn U.S. soccer title, trip to White House

Boston Soccer Club won the equivalent of a national championship, defeating St. Louis champion Ben Millers, 3-2.

The Boston Globe : “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.

Boston (soon to earn the nickname, “Wonder Workers”) was prepared to pay for talent, with internationals Mickey Hamill (Ireland/Manchester United, Manchester City), Alex McNab (Scotland/Greenock Morton) and Tommy Muirhead (Scotland/Rangers) leading the way. George M. Collins’ story Sept. 17, 1924: “Apparently the president of the Boston team believes in the slogan: ‘It pays to get the best.’“

Boston owner/president G.A.G. Wood, quoted in Alan Foulds’ Boston’s Ballparks & Arenas: “We spent a lot of money because we realized nothing was too good for the Hub.”

The team earned a trip to visit President Coolidge at the White House on April 3, 1925.

Boston also signed top local players – Battles grew up playing at Sullivan Square in Charlestown and went on to Hearts; Fleming resided for most of his life in Quincy.

Attendances were strong at the Walpole Street Grounds, according to Collins’ Jan. 5, 1925 article: “… at least 25 percent of the fans now attending the games seem to be ‘native borns.’ … English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Norwegians, Swedes, Italians, Portuguese and those from other continental countries show the keenest interest in the game.”

April 26, 1925 – Ben Millers 2:3 Boston SC, U.S. Professional Cup final, High School Field (Att.: 4,500)

Goals: Jimmy Dunn, Pee Wee Fitzgerald; Johnny Ballantyne, Barney Battles, Tommy “Whitey” Fleming.

NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY