Frank Dell'Apa

Fall River Rovers

Dec. 20, 1890 – Fall River Rovers 4:1 Olympics at Jarvis Field, Cambridge, Mass.

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According to The Boston Globe, the game between two Fall River soccer teams was “arranged by Gov.-elect Russell with Col. Spencer Borden of his prospective staff while the former was here to speak during the campaign.” There had been “a movement … to add Association foot ball to the regular list of sports at Harvard …”

The Rovers and Olympics had each won in two previous games against each other in 1890.

A separate Globe story reported: “…. The Fall River contingent … arrived home at 8 o’clock and the Rover men immediately began to paint County St., where the winning team’s clubs are situated, a bright red. The Olympics were favorites in betting … 50 to 10 … About $2,000 was wagered on the game by local sports.”

Another match under association football rules had been scheduled in Boston: “A game has been arranged between two Fall River teams for Christmas day on the Brotherhood base ball grounds.”

Dec. 25, 1890 – Chase Rovers 2:1 Fall River Clippers at Congress St. Grounds (Att.: 200)

”The cold wind whistled around the grounds made memorable by the brilliant work of Boston’s famous champions of 1890 (the Boston Reds baseball team, which lasted two seasons) and the foot ball players were unable to keep warm, not to speak of the spectators.”

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

Dec. 12, 1891 –East Ends 2:2 Rovers, New England League series at Fall River, Mass. (Att.: 8,000)

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The Fall River Rovers had defeated the East Ends the previous week but “… East End management and backers, however, were not satisfied with the result, and as a consequence today’s game was arranged.” [Read more…] about Dec. 12, 1891 –East Ends 2:2 Rovers, New England League series at Fall River, Mass. (Att.: 8,000)

Nov. 10, 1909 – Fall River Rovers 1:1 Pilgrims at Atlantic Grounds (Att.: 4,000)

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The Fall River Rovers achieved surprising results in two games played near the conclusion of the Pilgrims’ tour. The Pilgrims’ Sim opened the scoring “30 minutes” into the second half. Elliott equalized, heading in a Sunderland corner “after 80 minutes.” [Read more…] about Nov. 10, 1909 – Fall River Rovers 1:1 Pilgrims at Atlantic Grounds (Att.: 4,000)

Oct. 12, 1889 – Fall River Rovers 4:1 Pawtucket Free Wanderers, American FA Cup series (Att.: 1,000)

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This was a rematch of the 1888-89 American Football Association Cup semifinal, won by the Rovers, who went on to defeat the Newark Caledonians for the title. [Read more…] about Oct. 12, 1889 – Fall River Rovers 4:1 Pawtucket Free Wanderers, American FA Cup series (Att.: 1,000)

June 2, 1917 – Lynn Hibernians win Boston and District League title

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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). [Read more…] about June 2, 1917 – Lynn Hibernians win Boston and District League title

May 6, 1916 – A U.S. OPEN CUP RIVALRY IS BORN

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May 6, 1916 – Bethlehem Steel 1:0 Fall River Rovers at Coats Field (Att.: 15,000)

The rivalry between Bethlehem Steel Company FC and Fall River Rovers FC kicked off in the 1916 National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final. The teams represented two of the country’s major industrial centers, the Bethlehem team composed of European imports, known for their precision passing game, and the Rovers a mostly native-born team relying more on effort than skill. [Read more…] about May 6, 1916 – A U.S. OPEN CUP RIVALRY IS BORN

April 24, 1916 – Disston AA 0:1 Fall River Rovers, National Challenge Cup semifinal

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Tommy Swords’ 16th-minute goal made the difference for Fall River Rovers in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) played in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. Less than four months later, Swords would become the first captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team on a visit to Scandinavia. Swords, a Fall River, Mass., native, was referred to as “formerly halfback of the Hibernians of this city (Philadelphia).” The result qualified the Rovers to meet Bethlehem Steel for “the first real National championship contest in this country” in Pawtucket, R.I., May 6, according to The Boston Globe story. [Read more…] about April 24, 1916 – Disston AA 0:1 Fall River Rovers, National Challenge Cup semifinal

March 31, 1917 — Fall River Rovers 2:0 Pan-Americans

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Goals from Underwood and Swords give Fall River Rovers a 2-0 win over the Pan-Americans before a 2,000 crowd. Less than two months later, the Rovers would go on to become the first New England team to win the U.S. Open Cup. Thomas Swords, a Fall River native who had captained the U.S. national team in its first game on a tour to Sweden in 1916, scored the deciding goal in a 1-0 victory over Bethlehem Steel for the U.S. Open Cup title in Pawtucket, R.I., on May 5, 1917.

Also on March 31, 1917: United Shoe MAA 10:0 Haverhill at McKay Street Grounds in Beverly (Alex Black 7 goals, Hollings 3); New Bedford 2:1 Compton (New Bedford maintained Southern New England League lead as Shaw scored twice).

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

March 31, 1917 – Fall River Rovers 2:0 Pan-Americans, Times Cup (Att.: 2,000)

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Goals from Underwood and Swords give Fall River Rovers a 2-0 win over the Pan-Americans before a 2,000 crowd. Less than two months later, the Rovers would go on to become the first New England team to win the U.S. Open Cup. Thomas Swords, a Fall River native who had captained the U.S. national team in its first game on a tour to Sweden in 1916, scored the deciding goal in a 1-0 victory over Bethlehem Steel for the U.S. Open Cup title in Pawtucket, R.I., on May 5, 1917.

Also on March 31, 1917: United Shoe MAA 10:0 Haverhill at McKay Street Grounds in Beverly (Alex Black 7 goals, Hollings 3); New Bedford 2:1 Compton (New Bedford maintained Southern New England League lead as Shaw scored twice).

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY