The Boston Wonder Workers attracted a strong following from 1924-28, their demise coinciding with administrative problems and “Soccer Wars” involving scheduling conflicts with the American Soccer League and National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup). Supporters often traveled by ship to games in New York and Pennsylvania, but the Boston Soccer Social Club was apparently scheduling busses from South Station, as well. [Read more…] about April 3, 1927 – On the bus to Brooklyn
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
The Pawtucket Rangers fell behind to an eighth-minute Alex McNab goal, then equalized on McAuley’s first-half penalty kick in a first leg U.S. Open Cup match before a 7,122 crowd. Billy Gonsalves, who had starred for the Boston Wonder Workers and Fall River Marksmen, gave Stix, Baer & Fuller the extra time lead, McIntyre equalized, then the final two goals were scored in the final five minutes. Werner “Scotty” Nilsen converted the go-ahead goal off a McNab cross and Flavin the final goal with goalkeeper Conroy screened. [Read more…] about April 1, 1934 – Stix, Baer & Fuller 4:2 aet Pawtucket Rangers
Goals from Underwood and Swords give Fall River Rovers a 2-0 win over the Pan-Americans before a 2,000 crowd. Less than two months later, the Rovers would go on to become the first New England team to win the U.S. Open Cup. Thomas Swords, a Fall River native who had captained the U.S. national team in its first game on a tour to Sweden in 1916, scored the deciding goal in a 1-0 victory over Bethlehem Steel for the U.S. Open Cup title in Pawtucket, R.I., on May 5, 1917.
Also on March 31, 1917: United Shoe MAA 10:0 Haverhill at McKay Street Grounds in Beverly (Alex Black 7 goals, Hollings 3); New Bedford 2:1 Compton (New Bedford maintained Southern New England League lead as Shaw scored twice).
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Goals from Underwood and Swords give Fall River Rovers a 2-0 win over the Pan-Americans before a 2,000 crowd. Less than two months later, the Rovers would go on to become the first New England team to win the U.S. Open Cup. Thomas Swords, a Fall River native who had captained the U.S. national team in its first game on a tour to Sweden in 1916, scored the deciding goal in a 1-0 victory over Bethlehem Steel for the U.S. Open Cup title in Pawtucket, R.I., on May 5, 1917.
Also on March 31, 1917: United Shoe MAA 10:0 Haverhill at McKay Street Grounds in Beverly (Alex Black 7 goals, Hollings 3); New Bedford 2:1 Compton (New Bedford maintained Southern New England League lead as Shaw scored twice).
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Fall River knew how to celebrate a championship in the 1920s. The Fall River Marksmen won the double (American Soccer League and U.S. Open Cup), taking the first of their four Open Cup titles with a 4-2 win over Vesper Buick in St. Louis on March 30, 1924, then returning by train to a “raging snowstorm” and a “rousing reception” two days later.
“Despite the raging snowstorm … was accorded a rousing reception when it arrived home tonight, thousands of fans besieging the local railroad station and lining the streets. … [Read more…] about March 30, 1924 – Snowing on their parade; Fall River Marksmen win 1st of 4 US Open Cup titles
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)
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
The final game of the Revolution’s 2004 preseason campaign started badly. Jose “Pepe” Cancela and the Shellshockers’ Andrew Barron were red-carded by Bay State referee Erich Simmons following an 11th-minute altercation, and the Revolution fell behind, 1-0, after a 45th-minute penalty kick. Then, Carlos Llamosa sustained a season-ending knee injury late in the second half.
There was one major bright spot for the Revolution, though. Andy Dorman, a 79th-minute substitute for Clint Dempsey, scored in his first appearance, arriving late to camp after concluding studies at Boston University. Dorman went on to become a valuable addition to the Revolution midfield before departing on a free transfer to St. Mirren after the 2007 season. Chris Aduama photo
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After falling, 4-0, to LD Alajuelense in the first leg at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto March 23, the Revolution became the “visiting” team three days later. Jay Heaps had been red-carded in the first leg, and was replaced at right back by Shalrie Joseph, making his Revolution debut. Taylor Twellman’s 18th-minute penalty kick got the Revolution started, Wolde Harris (53rd) and Pat Noonan (55th) cutting the aggregate deficit to 4-3. Alajuelense had altered the starting lineup, and likely entered the match overconfident, but made a key substitution as leading scorer Rolando Fonseca replaced Carlos Hernandez in the 52nd minute. Alajuelense earned a penalty kick on a Joseph 63rd-minute foul, Joseph and Daniel Hernandez (dissent) ejected during the sequence. Fonseca converted the penalty kick in the 65th minute and Alajuelense, playing with a two-man advantage, held on for a 5-3 aggregate victory.
The Revolution had virtually conceded the series by giving up home field advantage, but appeared to be on the verge of an upset before Salvadoran referee Rodolfo Sibrian’s call leading to Fonseca’s penalty kick. La Nacion assigned “7s” to both Guatemala’s Carlos Batres in the opening leg and Sibrian, who attended Boston College, in the return leg in the ratings.
Alajuelense’s squad included several Costa Rican national team members, including goalkeeper Alvaro Mesen and defender Luis Marin, who did not play in the second game; plus Alejandro Alpizar (who scored a 92nd-minute goal in the first leg), Steven Bryce, ex-LA Galaxy defender Pablo Chinchilla, Wilmer Lopez, ex-Columbus Crew forward Erick Scott, Fonseca and Hernandez. La Nacion’s highest-rated players were Fonseca and Harris, both receiving “8s” in the return leg. Chris Aduama photo
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY