Frank Dell'Apa

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April 9, 2005 – Revolution win home-opener, Deuce hops to it with a Cuauhtemiña

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After a 3-0 win over the Columbus Crew, my Boston Globe story noted: “Though it is too early to determine trends, the Revolution have shown they plan to perform at a different level than in the past. Even on the uneven surface [yes, they played on real grass in those days] at Gillette Stadium, the Revolution seemed comfortable in controlling the pace and keeping the ball in play, eventually wearing down the Crew.”

Clint Dempsey scored the first goal on a 64th-minute header off a Jay Heaps cross. In the first half, “Dempsey nearly hopped through two defenders but was ruled out of bounds by referee Terry Vaughn. It was a move inspired by Mexican forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who calls the move a ‘Cuauhtemiña.’ [Read more…] about April 9, 2005 – Revolution win home-opener, Deuce hops to it with a Cuauhtemiña

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

April 7, 1967 – Birth of the Boston Beacons

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Boston ’s entry in the National Professional Soccer League (which became the North American Soccer League) to be called the Boston Beacons … “after consideration of thousands of suggestions from area sports fans.” [Read more…] about April 7, 1967 – Birth of the Boston Beacons

April 6, 2002 – Mamadou Diallo scores his only Revolution goal

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Diallo reveals a shirt sporting a U.S. flag and words “God Bless America” under his Revs’ jersey, winning over crowd after scoring for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001 strikes.

San Jose 2:1 Revolution at Spartan Stadium (Att.: 10,104) [Read more…] about April 6, 2002 – Mamadou Diallo scores his only Revolution goal

April 5, 1931 – Bert Patenaude scores 5 goals for Fall River Marksmen in U.S. Open Cup

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Fall River Marksmen 6:2 Chicago Bricklayers, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final at Polo Grounds, New York (Att. 12,000). Less than a year after the inaugural World Cup, Bert Patenaude continued his scoring spree as the Fall River Marksmen won the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) for the second successive time. Patenaude was 21 years old and Gonsalves 22, and they might have continued their combination, but the American Soccer League folded before the 1932 season, and the U.S. national team lacked organization.

Patenaude was 20 when he converted the first hat trick in World Cup history in 1930, still the third youngest to score a hat trick in the competition. But Patenaude was not selected for the 1934 World Cup team, and information is scarce regarding his exclusion. In March 13, 1934 editions of the Boston Globe, George M. Collins wrote:

“Over New York way the most interesting item is that Bert Patenaude, former Fall River star, has drawn a suspension from the Irish-Americans Club. Patenaude was said to be a sure starter for Rome, but his recent actions may finish his hopes in this respect.”

This was the first of a three-game series, the next two games played in Chicago, a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 Marksmen win on goals by Patenaude and a Gordon Burness penalty kick. Patenaude totaled 13 goals, Gonsalves nine in Fall River’s Cup campaign.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

April 4, 1908 – Yale 5:2 Penn

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Yale’s McNulty opened the scoring late in the opening half. Penn equalized, then took the lead on Capt. Wood’s penalty kick and a goal by Marsh. Yale recovered as Congdon, O’Sullivan, Hart and Jennings scored “in record time.”

A week later, on Saturday, April 11, 1908, Yale took a 1-0 win over Harvard in the final game of the season at Soldiers Field. Jennings converted a wind-aided goal in the early going and Yale outplayed the Crimson for most of the match, according to the Boston Globe account. [Read more…] about April 4, 1908 – Yale 5:2 Penn

April 3, 1927 – On the bus to Brooklyn

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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

April 2, 1932 – New Bedford Whalers win U.S. Open Cup

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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

April 1, 1934 – Stix, Baer & Fuller 4:2 aet Pawtucket Rangers

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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

March 31, 1917 — Fall River Rovers 2:0 Pan-Americans

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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