Soccer night games in the U.S. go back to 1923, General Electric’s team showing the way, according to The Boston Globe. In England, the first lighted stadium was Bramall Lane, home of Sheffield United, in 1878. [Read more…] about Aug. 21, 1929 – New York Nationals 3:3 Fall River Marksmen at Polo Grounds (Att.: 1,500), “Soccer Game Played Under Arc Light … “
The U.S. produced several high-scoring forwards in the early 1900s, and Bert Patenaude might have been the best of his generation. Patenaude converted a hat trick for Fall River against the Wonder Workers and a year later became the first player to produce a hat trick in the World Cup. Patenaude’s hat trick was in a 3-0 win over Paraguay on July 17, 1930.
Aug. 17, 1930 – Brazil 4:3 U.S. at Rio de Janeiro [Read more…] about Aug. 17, 1929 – Boston Wonder Workers 1:3 Fall River Marksmen at Fenway Park. Bert Patenaude hat trick
Jose Soroa’s eighth-minute finish over Tony DiCicco made the difference as the Astros (6W-2L-1D, 13 points) pulled within three points of the first-place Wildcats (7W-2L-2D, 16 points). [Read more…] about July 28, 1973 – Boston Astros 1:0 Connecticut Wildcats, ASL game at Boston College Alumni Stadium (Att.: 6,414)
The Boston Astros (9W-3L-8D, 26 points) ended up ahead of the Oceaneers (8-3-9, 25) and Connecticut Yankees (9-6-5, 23) in the North Division, then became ASL co-champion after playing to 2-2 and 1-1 draws (plus nine 7 minute, 30 seconds extra time sessions) with the New York Apollo. [Read more…] about July 18, 1975 – Boston Astros 1:1 Rhode Island Oceaneers, Astros’ debut at Foley Stadium in Worcester
Former Dartmouth College football star Bill Cunningham named president of American Soccer League. League also adds a new team: “… an all-Jewish team, to be known as the Hakoah of New York, is being organized by Nat Agar, formerly of the Brooklyn Wanderers. Fourteen stars of Continental Europe are being imported for the team,” according to a wire service report. [Read more…] about June 28, 1929 – Boston Man Reelected Soccer League President
When Lowell’s John Bertos started the Astros in the mid-1960s, he acted as owner, coach and goalkeeper. Bertos had to be resourceful, as the team moved from Fall River, to Boston to Worcester, competing in the American Soccer League from 1969 until 1975, when the team finished as co-champion of the league. Bertos brought in talented Brazilian players, such as Decio Brito, a former Pelé teammate at Santos FC and brother of Seleçāo star Brito. Bertos, whose son, Mike, was a standout at Boston University, went on to coach Lowell High School’s soccer team in the ‘80s. [Read more…] about June 24, 1972 – Boston Astros prepare for Pele’
This was the second year of the Lewis Cup competition, the equivalent of the League Cup for ASL teams. The Whalers won the home leg, 5-1, at Battery Park in New Bedford May 22, 1926. According to the Boston Globe, Jimmy Montgomerie “lost a penalty,” meaning he either missed a penalty kick or surrendered one – the Giants’ right back Charlie Kelly did convert a PK. The Whalers had two own goals, Neil Turner scored twice, and Andy Stevens (who totaled 44 goals in 39 league matches) converted just before the final whistle. [Read more…] about May 23, 1926 – New York Giants 3:0 (4:5 aggregate) New Bedford Whalers, Lewis Cup final at the Oval
According to an Associated Press story, George M. Collins “declares” the USFA would “have to accept all other professional bodies on equal footing,” during the 12th annual meeting of the group in New York. Collins, a Boston Globe columnist, representing the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Association, was referring to recognition for the two professional leagues – the American Soccer League and the St. Louis Soccer League. [Read more…] about May 18, 1925 – American Soccer League accepted as full member of United States FA
According to The Boston Globe, the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final had been set as a best-of-three series, the title going to the first team to win twice. The Centrals had taken a 5-2 home victory and the teams had played to a 1-1 tie in Pawtucket. But on May 11, 1935, the day before the match, the U.S. Football Association decreed total goals would decide the winner. [Read more…] about May 12, 1935 – St. Louis Central Breweries 1:3 (7:6) Pawtucket Rangers, U.S. Open Cup final at Newark School Stadium (Att. 2,000)
The Boston Globe listed attendance at 10,000, “the biggest crowd of people to ever watch a soccer game in the Boston area.” Several sources who were at the game as players or spectators are convinced the crowd was greater than 10,000. My primary source is Frank Mirisola, a South Boston businessman and former Boston SC player/long-time supervisor of referees for the Boston Public Schools league. Mirisola said he “saw the ticket receipts and it was 15,000 … it wasn’t quite full.” Everett Memorial Stadium held 18,000 on bleacher seats, according to Sal LoGrasso, a long-time Everett resident and former Boston SC and Boston Minutemen defender. [Read more…] about May 8, 1964 – Liverpool FC draws a (15,000) crowd in Boston