Frank Dell'Apa

Bethlehem Steel

March 16, 1930 – Fall River 1:1 aet Bethlehem Steel, National Challenge Cup at Polo Grounds ‘One of the greatest games’

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This 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 seasons at the Polo Grounds).

A replay was set at New Bedford next Sunday “by the committee of the National Cup.” Bethlehem Steel scored on an R. McAuley own goal after 12 minutes of the second half. “Stark had almost connected with Dick’s great center and McAuley’s lunge at the ball caused the deflection.” At 27 minutes, Alex McNab deadlocked. [Read more…] about March 16, 1930 – Fall River 1:1 aet Bethlehem Steel, National Challenge Cup at Polo Grounds ‘One of the greatest games’

March 9, 1924 – Soccer Fans Spent About $100,000 Going to that Game Yesterday

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That was the headline the day after Fall River defeated Bethlehem Steel. 2-0, in the National Challenge Cup Eastern final at Dexter Park in Brooklyn on March 9, 1924.

The Boston Globe story estimated 5,000 supporters had traveled from Fall River “and other Massachusetts towns,” a trip estimated to cost about $25 – teams and fans usually traveled by boat.

The match drew “a record crowd,” to Dexter Park, which had a 25,000 capacity. Attendance figures were not listed in the game story, but each club received about $2,500 in gate receipts. Later estimates were a 20,000 crowd.

The Marksmen’s direct play was effective because the field was muddy and “in deplorable condition.” Johnny Reid headed in a Dougie Campbell cross and Campbell finished a Frank McKenna free kick. Alec Lorimer (Fall River) and Tommy Maxwell (Bethlehem) were ejected.

Fall River owner Sam Mark, asked by the Globe’s George M. Collins about the upcoming final, responded: “Believe me, boy, there is no bigger game than this one for me. Beating Bethlehem Steel was our objective and we did it.”

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

Feb. 7, 1925 — “Will there be another 14,000 crowd this time?”

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That was the question in The Boston Globe story after J&P Coats qualified for a showdown with the Fall River Marksmen in the U.S. Open Cup. J&P Coats had blanked the Newark Skeeters, 5-0, as Johnny Harvey scored three goals in Pawtucket, R.I., in a Feb. 7 match.

The next day, the ASL’s top teams, the Fall River Marksmen and Bethlehem Steel played to a 2-2 draw before a 10,000 crowd at Mark’s Stadium in North Tiverton, R.I. Archie Stark scored one of his 67 regular-season goals for Bethlehem. Stark would go on to convert four goals as the U.S. took a 6-1 win over Canada in an international friendly in Brooklyn in November. The Marksmen went on to record a 19W-0L-3D record at home, totaling 66 points in 44 games, and edging Bethlehem by 3 points for first place. The Globe’s George M. Collins wrote. “The soccer men who are crying ‘Do not play any American League games in January and February’ should have been at Tiverton, R.I. …”

TODAY IN NE SOCCER HISTORY