In the midst of a “Soccer War,” the top professional teams were divided between the American Soccer League and Atlantic Coast League. The ASL had been concentrated in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and two New England states (Massachusetts and Rhode Island). Connecticut’s Bridgeport Hungaria represented a chance to expand. [Read more…] about Feb. 23, 1930 – Fall River Marksmen 6:1 Bridgeport Hungaria, Atlantic Coast League
This was a rematch for several players of the 1930 World Cup semifinals, Argentina defeating the U.S., 6-1, in Montevideo. Velez Sarsfield had a 20W-1L-4D record on tour of Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Peru and the U.S., using several players on loan, such as Bernabé Ferreyra, Fernando Paternoster and Francisco Varallo. Ferreyra was likely the Velez goal-scorer against Fall River.
Goals: Gonsalves 3, Patenaude 2; Ferreira 2.
Note: Fall River syndicate buys Providence franchise, announces plans to move team to Mark’s Stadium (Fall River Marksmen owner Sam Mark had moved the Marksmen to New York).
Feb. 22, 1919 – Fore River 0:0 [aet] Paterson FC, USFA Cup (U.S. Open Cup) quarterfinals at Fore River field
Notes: Kershaw missed second-half PK. (One 30-minute OT. Also, 5-minute halftime)
Feb. 22, 1925 – Brooklyn Wanderers 1:0 Fall River (Att.: 6,000)
Goal: Johnny Nelson
Providence 2:2 New York Giants at Kinsley Park
Goals: Florie (PK), Blair; Duggan, Phips
Indiana Flooring 4:0 New Bedford Whalers at New York Oval (Att.: 3,000)
Goals: Carlson 2, Herd, Walker
Bunker Hill Celtics 3:2 Charlestown
Boston & District League game “before a big crowd at Sullivan Sq.”
Rochester 2:5 [aet] Whittal’s (Worcester, Mass.), USFA Cup (U.S. Open Cup) first round match
Fore River 5:0 Lynn Gas & Electric, exhibition game
Feb. 22, 1930 – Fall River Marksmen 5:2 New Bedford, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) quarterfinals at Sam Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 7,000)
“The outstanding player was (New Bedford’s) Billy Harper, former player-manager of the Boston pro team, whose display of goalkeeping has never been excelled hereabouts.” Goals: Gonsalves, Patenaude 3, McAuley; Pete Welcome, Nick Stewart.
Feb. 22, 1932 – Boston Red Sox announce New Bedford Whalers’ goalkeeper Johnny Reder receiving tryout
Feb. 22, 1941 – ASL All-Stars 2:2 North Mass. & New Hampshire State All-Stars, Infantile Paralysis Fund benefit game at Lusitania Recreation Stadium, Cambridge
Feb. 22, 2006 – Revolution 0:0 LD Alajuelense
CONCACAF Champions Cup at National Stadium, Hamilton, Bermuda
Feb. 22, 2010 – Revolution sign midfielder Joseph Niouky
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
The Boston Wonder Workers scored the first three goals and held a 3-1 halftime lead in a National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) replay. Johnny Ballantyne ejected for second successive game (both matches were held at Mark’s Stadium) – “restored to good standing by the cup committee” for Boston’s quarterfinal match v. J&P Coats.
Goals: Harold Brittan, McPherson (PK); Fleming, McNab, Ballantyne.
Feb. 21, 1919 – Billy Ridge reception at the Riverside Club of Brighton
Ridge, former goalkeeper for Riverdale “when they were about the best team in the local league … (Ridge) lately returned from the front.”
Feb. 21, 1925 – Boston Wonder Workers 3:1 New York National Giants at Walpole St. Grounds
Feb. 21, 1932 – New York Giants 2:5 New Bedford Whalers, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) semifinals at Polo Grounds (Att.: 6,000)
Whalers go on to win 1932 U.S. Open Cup
Feb. 21, 1951 – Harold Brittan, George M. Collins, Thomas Swords named to National Soccer Hall of Fame
Feb. 21, 1991 – Bermuda 1:0 U.S. at National Stadium (Att.: 12,000)
John DeBrito U.S. debut
Feb. 21, 2001 – CD Saprissa 2:2 Revolution, preseason match at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa
Wolde Harris scores last-second tying goal after being knocked off the field through a lockerroom door, then returning; Harris also scored on a first-half PK.
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
The German SC (Castle Shannon, Pa.) team included Aldo “Buff” Donelli, the U.S. national team’s star striker during the 1934 World Cup, who would go on to play and coach the Pittsburgh Steelers, also coaching Boston University and Columbia football teams. Castle Shannon fell to eventual champion Sparta Garden City in the semifinals. South Sides (St. Louis) Alex McNab played for six successive National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) champions, starting with Fall River in 1930. [Read more…] about Feb. 20, 1938 – South Sides (St. Louis) 2:4 German SC, U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals
Hugh Lorimer, listed as having served in the British Army, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, during World War I, played outside right for Spurs from 1919-21 and Dundee FC before performing in the ASL for Boston and J&P Coats.
Feb. 19, 1930 – Thornton Vics’ William Barone loses lawsuit
Providence Superior Court jury verdict in favor of the Providence Soccer Football Club, Inc., after four minutes of deliberation. Barone “sought to recover $190 claimed to be due under a contract with the club … he failed to comply with the terms of the contract in regard to reporting for practice and playing.”
Feb. 19, 2014 – Revolution acquire Teal Bunbury from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for draft pick and allocation money
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
“It was the first soccer game played here in almost three months, owing to unfavorable weather conditions.” The Rovers would go on to eliminate the Pan-Americans in the third round of the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup), 3-1, on March 23, 1918. The Rovers, reigning Cup champions, went on to a finals rematch, falling to Bethlehem Steel. The Rovers were led by Tommy Swords, who captained the U.S. in its first FIFA-affiliated international in 1916.
Feb. 18, 2002 – Ponte Preta 0:1 Revolution at Lix da Cunha, Brazil [Read more…] about Feb. 18, 1918 – Fall River Rovers 1:0 Pan-Americans, exhibition
Orrie Banach, a Germany-born Ukrainian, grew up in Chicago and had played for Toronto Roma, then the Boston Tigers, before joining the Boston Beacons in the NASL. Banach earned four caps for the U.S. national team, all in World Cup qualifiers.
Feb. 17, 1923 – Clan Sutherland 4:2 Methuen at Commonwealth Armory
“Biggest Crowd of the (Indoor) Season”
Feb. 17, 1929 – Brooklyn Wanderers 4:4 Boston Wonder Workers at Hawthorne Field
Goals: Nehadoma 3, Lyell; Nilsen 3, H.B. Burness
Fall River 0:0 J&P Coats
New York Nationals 4:5 Providence Clam Diggers
Feb. 17, 1999 – AC Prato 1:1 Revolution, preseason game
Feb. 17, 2006 –Bermuda U20 1:8 Revolution
Clint Dempsey scores five goals in preseason game.
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Freddie Wall scores twice as Philadelphia FC hands Providence Clam Diggers their only home defeat of second half of ASL season. Wall, born in Fall River, finished seventh in the ASL with 22 goals in 25 games, playing for the Newark Skeeters and Philadelphia, that season. Wall, born in Fall River, Mass., also played for local clubs such as Lusitania Recreation in East Cambridge and was part of a generation that included proven goal-scorers on the international stage, such as Barney Battles, Davey Brown, Jim Brown, Buff Donelli, Tommy Florie, Billy Gonsalves, Arnie Oliver, Bert Patenaude, Archie Stark, et al.
According to The Boston Globe: “The Phils’ center-forward almost won the game single-handed when he scored two goals and passed to Wardrop a third.” For the deciding goal, Wall outmaneuvered Joe Kennaway, who would go on to be Celtic FC’s starting goalkeeper from 1931-39.
Bethlehem Steel 5×1 Walsh Chevrolet, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup)
The same day, “18-year-old goalie” Johnny Reder of Fall River “was sensational” playing for Walsh Chevrolet. Reder, born in Lublin, Poland, Sept. 24, 1909, according to Colin Jose’s “American Soccer League 1921-1931,” went on to a two-sport professional career, playing for three ASL teams and as a first baseman/third baseman for the Boston Red Sox. Reder also was named MVP of the NY-Penn League while playing for the Williamsport Grays in 1935.
J&P Coats 3:1 Boston Wonder Workers
New Bedford Whalers 5:3 New York Nationals
Feb. 16, 1924 – Armenian-Americans “13th team of ‘nationalities’ to join district leagues in Boston area
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Kristine Lilly inducted into National Soccer Hall of Fame, along with Bob Bradley and Brian McBride.
[Read more…] about Feb. 14, 2014 – Kristine Lilly inducted into National Soccer Hall of Fame
Ponta Delgada captured this first-round National Open Cup (U.S. Open Cup) series after three games, totaling 6 hours, 34 minutes of playing time. [Read more…] about Feb. 13, 1938 – Ponta Delgada 2:1 (7:6 aggregate) Lusitania Recreation SC at Bigberry Stadium (Att.: 3,000)