Dec. 28, 1924 – Providence FC 5:1 Fleisher Yarn, Kinsley Park

Providence’s Tewfik Abdallah, who became the second Egyptian (Hassan Hesazi was first) to play in England and the first to compete in the American Soccer League, opened the scoring “18 minutes after the start … on the frozen Kinsley Park surface …” Abdallah performed for Derby County, Cowdenbeath, Bridgend Town and Hartlepool.

Goals: Beattie 2, Cooper 2, Abdallah; Purvis.

Fall River FC 2:0 J&P Coats

“Victors Tighten Grip on First Place in Race” Goals: Brittan, Stevenson (OG). Note: Perry (J&P) missed PK in second half.

Dec. 28, 1907 – J&P Coats 2:0 Fore Rivers, New England League series at Pawtucket, R.I.

“Ford” scored both goals and 17-year-old Tommy “Whitey” Fleming (listed at right outside forward) played one of his first matches for Fore River. “It was a pretty game to watch, the English style of shoot passing being pitted against the Coats’ aggressive, Americanized style of play. The ground was too heavy to allow the Bay State eleven to use its tricky play to much advantage, and the superior weight of the Coats team told.” (The Boston Globe)

Fleming resided briefly in Quincy, Mass., working at the Fore River Shipyard, in 1907-08, then returned to Scotland to play for Morton FC in Greenock. (There were strong connections between the shipyards). In 1914, Fleming returned to the U.S., winning four National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) titles with Bethlehem Steel. Fleming played for the Philadelphia Field Club, which won the inaugural American Soccer League title in 1921-22, then moved to J&P Coats, which won the 1922-23 ASL championship. Fleming moved to the Boston Wonder Workers for their initial season in 1924, winning the 1928 ASL championship. Fleming settled in Quincy, coaching the Quincy High School team to at least one New England title (1931), and was named to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005.

Dec. 28, 1918 – Fore River 2:3 J&P Coats, American Cup match

Fore River remains in lead in National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) standings (early games in tournament played in round-robin format).

Dec. 28, 1926 – Springfield Babes granted permission to suspend activities for balance of 1926-27 season

Babes have “been forced out of the running by the unprecedented December weather.”

Dec. 28, 1930 – Fall River 4:4 Brooklyn, N. Tiverton, R.I. (Att.: 700)

            Providence 3:1 Pawtucket

            New York SC 4:3 New Bedford, Starlight Park (Att.: 1,500)

Dec. 28, 1971 – Howard 1:0 Harvard, NCAA semifinals, Orange Bowl, Miami (Att. 4,044)

The Bison, led by several Trinidad & Tobago players and coached by Lincoln Phillips, defeated St. Louis in the final.

NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY