This Fall River-Bethlehem Steel U.S. Open Cup match at the Polo Grounds “was one of the greatest games ever seen here,” according to the Boston Globe report. Attendance announced at 15,000, including 3,000 arriving from New England (the New York Giants averaged less than 12,000 attendance in both the 1929 and ’30 National League baseball seasons at the Polo Grounds).
The Boston Wonder Workers played to a 1-1 draw with the New York Nationals on a field that was “very heavy in spots,” according to The Boston Globe. The Wonder Workers moved 22-year-old Barney Battles to center forward in the second half, and the change paid off as he scored the equalizer “at 25 minutes” after he “whipped the ball past (Pete) Renzulli after a scrimmage a few yards from the net.” [Read more…] about March 11, 1928 – New York Nationals 1:1 Boston Wonder Workers at the Polo Grounds. Goals: Wortmann; Barney Battles
Fall River products Bert Patenaude (Marksmen) and Freddie Wall (Philadelphia) scored twice as the Fall River Marksmen edged Philadelphia. Scottish inside forward Johnny Grainger converted the Marksmen’s other goal. Patenaude, 19, would go on to complete the first hat trick in World Cup history in 1930 in Uruguay. Wall performed for Philadelphia and other teams in the ASL and other leagues.
[Read more…] about March 10, 1929 – Fall River Marksmen 3:2 Philadelphia
The Fall River Marksmen blanked rivals New Bedford in a semifinal match in Providence as “More than 15,000 persons were crowded into (Kinsley Park) and when the police ordered gates closed more than 5,000 were turned away … a section of a temporary stand collapsed early in the day, throwing between 50 and 75 men to the ground.”
“Fall River Wins In A Downpour/Part of Crowd of 7000 Fans Rush Home in the Rain” [Read more…] about March 1, 1925 – Fall River Marksmen 2:0 Brooklyn (Att.: 7,000)
In the midst of a “Soccer War,” the top professional teams were divided between the American Soccer League and Atlantic Coast League. The ASL had been concentrated in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and two New England states (Massachusetts and Rhode Island). Connecticut’s Bridgeport Hungaria represented a chance to expand. [Read more…] about Feb. 23, 1930 – Fall River Marksmen 6:1 Bridgeport Hungaria, Atlantic Coast League
This was a rematch for several players of the 1930 World Cup semifinals, Argentina defeating the U.S., 6-1, in Montevideo. Velez Sarsfield had a 20W-1L-4D record on tour of Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Peru and the U.S., using several players on loan, such as Bernabé Ferreyra, Fernando Paternoster and Francisco Varallo. Ferreyra was likely the Velez goal-scorer against Fall River.
Goals: Gonsalves 3, Patenaude 2; Ferreira 2.
Note: Fall River syndicate buys Providence franchise, announces plans to move team to Mark’s Stadium (Fall River Marksmen owner Sam Mark had moved the Marksmen to New York).
Feb. 22, 1919 – Fore River 0:0 [aet] Paterson FC, USFA Cup (U.S. Open Cup) quarterfinals at Fore River field
Notes: Kershaw missed second-half PK. (One 30-minute OT. Also, 5-minute halftime)
Feb. 22, 1925 – Brooklyn Wanderers 1:0 Fall River (Att.: 6,000)
Goal: Johnny Nelson
Providence 2:2 New York Giants at Kinsley Park
Goals: Florie (PK), Blair; Duggan, Phips
Indiana Flooring 4:0 New Bedford Whalers at New York Oval (Att.: 3,000)
Goals: Carlson 2, Herd, Walker
Bunker Hill Celtics 3:2 Charlestown
Boston & District League game “before a big crowd at Sullivan Sq.”
Rochester 2:5 [aet] Whittal’s (Worcester, Mass.), USFA Cup (U.S. Open Cup) first round match
Fore River 5:0 Lynn Gas & Electric, exhibition game
Feb. 22, 1930 – Fall River Marksmen 5:2 New Bedford, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) quarterfinals at Sam Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 7,000)
“The outstanding player was (New Bedford’s) Billy Harper, former player-manager of the Boston pro team, whose display of goalkeeping has never been excelled hereabouts.” Goals: Gonsalves, Patenaude 3, McAuley; Pete Welcome, Nick Stewart.
Feb. 22, 1932 – Boston Red Sox announce New Bedford Whalers’ goalkeeper Johnny Reder receiving tryout
Feb. 22, 1941 – ASL All-Stars 2:2 North Mass. & New Hampshire State All-Stars, Infantile Paralysis Fund benefit game at Lusitania Recreation Stadium, Cambridge
Feb. 22, 2006 – Revolution 0:0 LD Alajuelense
CONCACAF Champions Cup at National Stadium, Hamilton, Bermuda
Feb. 22, 2010 – Revolution sign midfielder Joseph Niouky
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Hugh Lorimer, listed as having served in the British Army, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, during World War I, played outside right for Spurs from 1919-21 and Dundee FC before performing in the ASL for Boston and J&P Coats.
Feb. 19, 1930 – Thornton Vics’ William Barone loses lawsuit
Providence Superior Court jury verdict in favor of the Providence Soccer Football Club, Inc., after four minutes of deliberation. Barone “sought to recover $190 claimed to be due under a contract with the club … he failed to comply with the terms of the contract in regard to reporting for practice and playing.”
Feb. 19, 2014 – Revolution acquire Teal Bunbury from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for draft pick and allocation money
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Freddie Wall scores twice as Philadelphia FC hands Providence Clam Diggers their only home defeat of second half of ASL season. Wall, born in Fall River, finished seventh in the ASL with 22 goals in 25 games, playing for the Newark Skeeters and Philadelphia, that season. Wall, born in Fall River, Mass., also played for local clubs such as Lusitania Recreation in East Cambridge and was part of a generation that included proven goal-scorers on the international stage, such as Barney Battles, Davey Brown, Jim Brown, Buff Donelli, Tommy Florie, Billy Gonsalves, Arnie Oliver, Bert Patenaude, Archie Stark, et al.
According to The Boston Globe: “The Phils’ center-forward almost won the game single-handed when he scored two goals and passed to Wardrop a third.” For the deciding goal, Wall outmaneuvered Joe Kennaway, who would go on to be Celtic FC’s starting goalkeeper from 1931-39.
Bethlehem Steel 5×1 Walsh Chevrolet, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup)
The same day, “18-year-old goalie” Johnny Reder of Fall River “was sensational” playing for Walsh Chevrolet. Reder, born in Lublin, Poland, Sept. 24, 1909, according to Colin Jose’s “American Soccer League 1921-1931,” went on to a two-sport professional career, playing for three ASL teams and as a first baseman/third baseman for the Boston Red Sox. Reder also was named MVP of the NY-Penn League while playing for the Williamsport Grays in 1935.
J&P Coats 3:1 Boston Wonder Workers
New Bedford Whalers 5:3 New York Nationals
Feb. 16, 1924 – Armenian-Americans “13th team of ‘nationalities’ to join district leagues in Boston area
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Bert Patenaude scores both Fall River goals past Kennaway. Scheduled opponent, Velez Sarsfield, delayed by “railway mishap in Texas … en route to the East.” Velez, a team that included players from Argentina’s 1930 World Cup team that defeated the U.S., 6-1, in the semifinals, arrived for a Feb. 22, 1931 match. Both goalkeepers — Joe Kennaway (Celtic FC) and Johnny Reder (first baseman for the Boston Red Sox) — would change teams in 1932. Jeremiah Best scored twice and Watson one goal for the All-Stars.
Feb. 15, 1925 – Fall River 3:0 J&P Coats. Lewis Cup game at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 12,000)
“… all hopes of a record-breaking crowd for a soccer game in this country were dashed with the heavy rain that fell just before game time in Tiverton.”
According to The Boston Globe: “Boston’s 2-0 victory (over the New York Giants) means three teams out of the four remaining in this professional Cup series, making clearer the argument that New England teams are the game’s best supports (sic) from both a playing and financial point of view.”
New York Giants 0:2 Boston Wonder Workers, Lewis Cup match (Att.: 1,500)
Goals: Stevens, Fleming. Note: Battles hits bar early
Feb. 15, 2011 – Revolution sign Argentinian defender Franco Coria
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY