Frank Dell'Apa

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Feb. 10, 2002 – Revolution select Taylor Twellman No. 2, Shalrie Joseph in 2nd round of MLS SuperDraft

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Still difficult to fathom how Dallas could have passed up Twellman with the MLS’ first pick, though No. 1 pick Chris Gbandi (currently Northeastern’s head coach) always impressed me as an outside back. Revolution coach Fernando Clavijo needed only a few minutes to decide what he would do if Twellman was available, as described in excerpts of my story in the 1/12/2002 editions of the Boston Globe below.

Twellman went on to score 101 goals in 174 regular-season games, his .581 scoring rate best among MLS’ top 10 career scorers. Raul Diaz Arce is No. 2 on the Revolution scoring rate list (.556), Joe-Max Moore No. 3 (.459). Twellman converted another 10 goals in 21 playoff games and totaled 119 goals in 211 appearances in all competitions for the Revolution. [Read more…] about Feb. 10, 2002 – Revolution select Taylor Twellman No. 2, Shalrie Joseph in 2nd round of MLS SuperDraft

Feb. 9, 1929 – ‘Biggest crowd, best soccer of the season’

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Bobby Blair scored twice as J&P Coats took a 3-0 win over the Providence Gold Bugs, remaining unbeaten in the second half of the ASL season in “a contest which brought about the biggest crowd and best soccer of the current season,” according to 2/10/29 editions of the Boston Globe. Providence’s Joe Kennaway would go on to become Celtic FC goalkeeper from 1931-39.

On the same day, the Boston Wonder Workers were upset, 4-3, by Jersey City at the Walpole Street Grounds. The visitors from Skeeterville “inject(ed) Jimmy Douglas, Olympic goalie of 1924 into their lineup” and “deserved to win,” according to the Globe account. “The field was heavy, in fact it was ankle deep in mud …” [Read more…] about Feb. 9, 1929 – ‘Biggest crowd, best soccer of the season’

Feb. 8, 2000 – John Harkes reports to Revolution camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

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Former U.S. national team captain John Harkes played an important role as the New England Revolution compiled their first .500 record for an MLS regular season in 2000. But after the Revolution got off to a six-game losing streak in 2001, Harkes departed for Columbus. Harkes finished with two goals in 55 appearances for the Revolution.

The Revolution team that began the 2000 season included several players who went on to become coaches, Leonel Alvarez (Colombia) and Mauricio Wright (Costa Rica) winning championships. Harkes made his coaching debut with FC Cincinnati last year, guiding the team to third place in the Eastern Conference. [Read more…] about Feb. 8, 2000 – John Harkes reports to Revolution camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Feb. 7, 1925 — “Will there be another 14,000 crowd this time?”

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That was the question in The Boston Globe story after J&P Coats qualified for a showdown with the Fall River Marksmen in the U.S. Open Cup. J&P Coats had blanked the Newark Skeeters, 5-0, as Johnny Harvey scored three goals in Pawtucket, R.I., in a Feb. 7 match.

The next day, the ASL’s top teams, the Fall River Marksmen and Bethlehem Steel played to a 2-2 draw before a 10,000 crowd at Mark’s Stadium in North Tiverton, R.I. Archie Stark scored one of his 67 regular-season goals for Bethlehem. Stark would go on to convert four goals as the U.S. took a 6-1 win over Canada in an international friendly in Brooklyn in November. The Marksmen went on to record a 19W-0L-3D record at home, totaling 66 points in 44 games, and edging Bethlehem by 3 points for first place. The Globe’s George M. Collins wrote. “The soccer men who are crying ‘Do not play any American League games in January and February’ should have been at Tiverton, R.I. …”

TODAY IN NE SOCCER HISTORY

Feb. 6, 2000 – Revolution select Rusty Pierce in MLS draft, acquire Wolde Harris

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Rusty Pierce played an important part in the New England Revolution’s transformative years, providing a spirited presence on the back line, and becoming a crowd favorite. Pierce brought a passionate approach to the field. I used to try to keep track of practice skirmishes between players, and Pierce was involved in many of them, both with teammates and opposition. Pierce concluded his time with the Revolution fourth on the career all competitions appearances list with 113 in 2004.

[Read more…] about Feb. 6, 2000 – Revolution select Rusty Pierce in MLS draft, acquire Wolde Harris

Feb. 5, 1928 – Providence Clamdiggers 3×1 J&P Coats

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Soccer was thriving and the U.S. was producing goal-scorers during the 1927-28 American Soccer League season. In this game, Tommy Florie would score Providence’s third goal on an 82nd-minute penalty kick and New Bedford-born Arnie Oliver would convert for the “JayPees.” Both Florie and Oliver led their team in scoring that season, and went on to join the U.S. national team for the first World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay.

Three of the ASL’s top eight scorers were U.S.-born, and others, such as Johnny Nelson and Archie Stark, had moved to the U.S. as teenagers. [Read more…] about Feb. 5, 1928 – Providence Clamdiggers 3×1 J&P Coats

Feb. 4, 1998 – Revolution trade Alexi Lalas to MetroStars for draft pick

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The Revolution were making bold moves in the 1998 preseason in an attempt to move on from an unsuccessful on-field start to their existence, including the trade of Alexi Lalas. Though the Revolution made a strong financial commitment to Lalas, the organization did not follow up effectively, as he was not favored by either of the team’s first two coaches, Frank Stapleton or Thomas Rongen.

I recall Lalas pushing for the Revolution to select Jason Kreis in the MLS inaugural draft in 1996, and realizing his frustration as the team passed by Kreis with four choices. Somewhere around that time, there were indications the Revolution were not going to be Lalas’ team, though they had built their marketing campaign, as well as the back line, around him. [Read more…] about Feb. 4, 1998 – Revolution trade Alexi Lalas to MetroStars for draft pick

Feb. 3, 1929 – New York Nationals win Lewis Cup

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The Nationals and New Bedford Whalers were even, 4-4, on aggregate, so this was the deciding match, staged “before an enthusiastic crowd of 4,000 fans at Hawthorne Field in Brooklyn,” according to The Boston Globe account. The Nationals took a 4-2 victory, the Whalers squandering the advantage after a scoreless first half.

New Bedford was led by 40-year-old Sam Chedgzoy, a star at Everton and with the England national team, plus Jeremiah Best (formerly of Newcastle and Leeds United) and Scottish international Jimmy Howieson. The Whalers’ center half was Jimmy Montgomerie, who in late February would play in his 200th consecutive American Soccer League match (he totaled 303 career games). [Read more…] about Feb. 3, 1929 – New York Nationals win Lewis Cup

Feb. 2, 1997 – Revolution select Scott Coufal in 2nd round of MLS draft

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The plan was for Scott Coufal to learn the trade from Walter Zenga, but after Zenga sustained a knee injury, Coufal became the Revolution’s starter. The timing was bad, as the Revolution were in a mid-season slump and would sustain a 10-game losing streak, recovering only after Zenga’s return. Coufal started in goal for three games of the streak, then the Revolution brought in Jeff Causey, who would go on to become a regular with the team through 2002, but could do little to prevent the losses from continuing.

Revolution coach Thomas Rongen had gambled with Coufal as Zenga’s backup. An alternative might have been Khalil Azmi, who had been Morocco’s starter in the 1994 World Cup and had remained in the Boston area, acquiring a green card. With Zenga in goal, the Revolution rallied to clinch their first MLS playoff berth. [Read more…] about Feb. 2, 1997 – Revolution select Scott Coufal in 2nd round of MLS draft

Feb. 1, 2016 – Revolution acquire Xavier Kouassi from FC Sion

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With Jermaine Jones’ return in question, the Revolution went shopping for a replacement, and appeared to have found one in Switzerland with Xavier Kouassi. Rather than pay a transfer fee, the Revolution decided to allow Kouassi to play out his contract, finishing the Swiss Super League season with FC Sion. Six days later, though, Kouassi sustained a knee injury in a 1-0 win over FC Zurich. That left the Revolution scrambling to fill a defensive midfield hole, with Kouassi likely out for the season and Jones looking increasingly unlikely to accept a major salary reduction.

The Revolution acted quickly, acquiring Gershon Koffie from the Vancouver Whitecaps. A year later, Jones and Koffie are long gone, but Kouassi appears to have recovered from surgery. The defensive midfield role has been crucial for successful Revolution teams, from the days of Shalrie Joseph through Jones. Now, it is Kouassi’s turn. [Read more…] about Feb. 1, 2016 – Revolution acquire Xavier Kouassi from FC Sion