The Boston Beacons’ win over the Atlanta Chiefs was considered “The biggest upset of the year in the Atlantic Division of the (NASL).” (Marvin Pave/The Boston Globe) [Read more…] about July 28, 1968 – Atlanta Chiefs 1:2 Boston Beacons, Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (Att.: 5,195)
The Atlanta Chiefs went on to win the North American Soccer League title and the Boston Beacons finished in last place in the Atlantic Division. Graham Newton’s 57th-minute goal made the difference for the Chiefs (5W-2L-1D). Atlanta’s roster included Kaizer Motaung, who would return to South Africa to found what would become the country’s preeminent soccer team, Kaizer Chiefs. The Beacons (1W-4L-2D) lost their second successive home match. [Read more…] about May 10, 1968 – Boston Beacons 0:1 Atlanta Chiefs at Fenway Park (Att.: 5,318)
Jimmy Fund benefit game in rain storm. Roy Bloomfield finished a Ron Newman shot deflected off Bill Brown, then Newman earned two PKs, Bloomfield and Graham Newton converting. Lopez scored for Toronto. Roddy Pearce (Jamaica) commanded midfield, plus Ev Cummings and Emmet Kapengwe (Zambia), according to Seamus Malin story in The Boston Globe. Future NASL commissioner Phil Woosnam is player-coach, thanks to Bob Sales story.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
The New England Tea Men struggled to a 2-10 record during the North American Soccer League indoor season, playing home games at the Providence Civic Center before an average 3,249 attendances. In this match, David Byrne scored five goals and former Brown University star Fred Pereira added three. South African Pat Wasmuth and Billerica’s Peter Simonini faced 61 shots in goal for the Tea Men.
This would be the team’s final season in New England before moving to Jacksonville. Stadium dates were probably the Teas’ greatest obstacle to success. On Jan. 22, 1980, the Tea Men reached an agreement for home games to be played at Schaefer Stadium. But conflicts with the race track forced several games to be scheduled on Monday – meaning the team would often have Saturday-Monday dates for a week. Yet, their final two games drew 25,132 and 17,121 crowds five days apart in late August. The move south would not be announced until November.
TODAY IN NE SOCCER HISTORY