Frank Dell'Apa

Harvard

Nov. 6, 1909 – Boston Rovers 3:2 Lynn City at Franklin Park

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Former Manchester City center forward William “Billy” Gillespie (b. Oct. 2, 1873 in Strathclyde, Scotland) scored for Lynn City. Gillespie, described as “one of the greatest center forwards England has had in years,” had combined with Billy Meredith, winning the 1904 FA Cup with the Citizens. Manchester City was  later disciplined for paying players above the maximum wage; Gillespie refused to pay a fine, instead moving to the U.S., settling in Lynn and later coaching Harvard’s soccer team. [Read more…] about Nov. 6, 1909 – Boston Rovers 3:2 Lynn City at Franklin Park

Sept. 24, 1924 – Thomas J. Dent named coach at Dartmouth College

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Tommy Dent was a captain in the Black Watch Regiment that was gassed during World War I, and had moved to Hanover, N.H., as part of his recovery. Dent compiled a 143W-111L-22D record from 1924 to ’59 and also coached the Big Green lacrosse team. Dent was chairman of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission. [Read more…] about Sept. 24, 1924 – Thomas J. Dent named coach at Dartmouth College

July 25, 2012 – AS Roma 2:1 Liverpool FC at Fenway Park (Att.: 37,169)

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Two clubs financed by Boston-based owners (John Henry, James Pallotta) met in a preseason match that was being proposed as a regular event. Goals from Michael Bradley (63rd minute) and Alessandro Florenzi (69th) gave Roma the advantage, then Liverpool substitute Charlie Adam (80th) cut the deficit. [Read more…] about July 25, 2012 – AS Roma 2:1 Liverpool FC at Fenway Park (Att.: 37,169)

June 26, 1996 – Revolution acquire John Kerr Jr. from Dallas Burn in exchange for Zak Ibsen

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Kerr’s arrival would help the New England Revolution’s offense, and also have long-term implications for New England soccer. While playing for the Revolution, Kerr worked as an assistant coach at Wellesley High School in 1997. Kerr then coached the A League Worcester Wildfire in 1998 and the Boston Bulldogs, starting in 1999. While with the Bulldogs, Kerr recruited Steve Nicol, who took over as player-coach after Kerr was named head coach at Harvard University. Kerr hired Paul Mariner as a Harvard assistant in 2003, Mariner going on to become Nicol’s assistant with the Revolution from 2004-09. [Read more…] about June 26, 1996 – Revolution acquire John Kerr Jr. from Dallas Burn in exchange for Zak Ibsen

June 5, 1924 – Chinese students’ soccer team of Greater Boston captain Arthur Sun elected MIT captain

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Xi Jinping and the China Super League have revived soccer in the country, but there were apparently some talented Chinese players competing in the Boston area 100 years ago.

Some of the earliest mentions of Chinese soccer in New England date to 1918, the name of the team(s) varying. Chinese players made a strong impact with Northeastern University’s team. References to Chinese soccer in Boston appear to fade after the mid-1920s, though, a time of great political unrest in China.

Nov. 9, 1918 – MIT Chinese soccer 4:1 Harvard S.A.T.C. [Read more…] about June 5, 1924 – Chinese students’ soccer team of Greater Boston captain Arthur Sun elected MIT captain

May 20, 1990 – U.S. 1:0 Partizan Belgrade at Yale Bowl, New Haven, Conn. (Att.: 30,644)

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Peter Vermes scored 15 seconds into the second half in a U.S. preparation match before the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Tony Meola saved an Aleksandar Dordevic free kick as Partizan played without three Yugoslavia national teamers, including starting defender Predrag Spasic. [Read more…] about May 20, 1990 – U.S. 1:0 Partizan Belgrade at Yale Bowl, New Haven, Conn. (Att.: 30,644)

April 16, 2011 – NEEP Holdings takes control of AS Roma

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Jim Pallotta came from the North End and his partners from Everett and Peabody (NEEP) to begin an ambitious project that has kept AS Roma near the top of Italy’s Serie A. A major part of Pallotta’s goal to vault Roma into soccer’s elite includes building a stadium ( http://www.stadiodellaroma.com/en ) and several hurdles have been cleared in what has been described as potentially the biggest building project in Southern Europe. [Read more…] about April 16, 2011 – NEEP Holdings takes control of AS Roma

April 4, 1908 – Yale 5:2 Penn

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Yale’s McNulty opened the scoring late in the opening half. Penn equalized, then took the lead on Capt. Wood’s penalty kick and a goal by Marsh. Yale recovered as Congdon, O’Sullivan, Hart and Jennings scored “in record time.”

A week later, on Saturday, April 11, 1908, Yale took a 1-0 win over Harvard in the final game of the season at Soldiers Field. Jennings converted a wind-aided goal in the early going and Yale outplayed the Crimson for most of the match, according to the Boston Globe account. [Read more…] about April 4, 1908 – Yale 5:2 Penn

March 28, 1908 – Haverford Wins, 1 to 0, at Soccer Football

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Harvard played its first official intercollegiate match three years earlier, losing, 1-0, to Haverford at Soldiers Field on April 1, 1905. At the turn of the century, “association football” (soccer) and American football were both being played in New England. Games were referred to as “football”/”foot ball,” which could have meant soccer or American football; in 1905, “soccer football” was used to distinguish the codes. Soccer seemed to be favored by The Boston Globe, judging by this editorial in Oct. 5 1888 editions about “foot ball” (in this case, soccer):

“Now, we have loved foot ball from of old. It is a beautiful, exciting game and is one of the few games now popular which combine a vigorous use of the muscles with good judgment and activity … Now and then we hear of a man getting hurt in the ‘rush,’ but, as far as brutality is concerned, foot ball is as free from the charge as is base ball or lawn tennis or bicycling. … Every healthy boy who goes to school loves foot ball. The lads with the hollow cheeks and small necks and narrow shoulders may prefer croquet and cigarettes to exercise, but every college graduate who has made his mark in the world and paid for his schooling by extra ability has been a lover of sport, and as a true sportsman, must have had a liking for foot ball. … the only way an active, healthy citizen should ‘kick’ at foot ball is at the ball on the open field and not at the game. We are glad the season is at hand and hope the interest will grow every year.”

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY