June 3, 1928 – Fall River Marksmen 0:0 Glasgow Rangers at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 15,500)
The Scots were setting footballing standards with their precision short passing game in the 1920s. The Scotland national team had destroyed England, 5-1, in the British Home Championship at Wembley March 31, 1928. After the match, Alex James said “we could have had 10,” and the team was nicknamed “The Wizards of Wembley,” the performance […]
June 2, 1917 – Lynn Hibernians win Boston and District League title
The Boston and District League was the top amateur soccer league in the area from the early 1900s on. The earliest references I’ve found were in 1907. Lynn Hibernians fell, 3-1, to eventual champions Fall River Rovers in the third round of the 1917 National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup).
June 1, 1991 – U.S. 1:1 Ireland at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 51,273). First full international in Massachusetts
Ireland’s Tony Cascarino (57th minute) opened the scoring before Eric Wynalda slipped past Kevin Moran for a 68th-minute equalizer off a Chris Henderson assist as the U.S. Men’s National Team made its Massachusetts debut. Organizers budgeted for a 30,000 crowd, but a week before the match, stadium manager Brian O’Donovan projected possible 35,000 attendance. The […]
May 31, 1992 – Italy 0:0 Portugal, U.S. Cup at Yale Bowl (Att.: 38,833)
The Azzurri had their first look at the New England area, and would return two years later for World Cup second round and quarterfinal matches. This game was played in a rainstorm and organizers had had to put things together quickly. I recall FIGC president Antonio Mattarese entering the press box and taking notice of […]
May 30, 1931 – New York Yankees 4:3 Glasgow Celtic at Fenway Park (Att.: 8,000)
Billy Gonsalves scored three goals for the Yankees, who began the season as the Fall River Marksmen, in an upset win over Celtic FC. In fact, the Boston Globe advance story called the team the “Fall River Yankees.” “Billy Gonsalves, who learned his soccer on the sandlots of East Cambridge and then was grabbed by […]
May 29, 1925 – ‘The Boston Soccer Social Club will hold a special meeting tonight’
The Boston Globe May 29, 1925 editions noted: “The Boston Soccer Social Club will hold a special meeting tonight at 8 o’clock in the Caledonian Building and all members are requested to be present.” The building, at the corner of Appleton and Berkeley streets, became the Boston Tea Party rock club in the 1960s. TODAY […]