Frank Dell'Apa

New Bedford Whalers

March 27, 1927 – Fall River 3:2 New Bedford, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 14,280)

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Fall River Marksmen’s Dave McEachran opened the scoring with the first of his two goals, then Alex “Dynamite” Lorimer converted an Olimpico (“scored directly from a flag kick”), and Paterson gave the New Bedford Whalers a 2-1 halftime lead. McEachran equalized in the 49th minute, then Billy Gibson surrendered an own goal as Wilson “lobbed in a shot.”

“Every seat was taken and every vantage point was occupied, there being more than 14,000 in the enclosure …” [Read more…] about March 27, 1927 – Fall River 3:2 New Bedford, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 14,280)

Feb. 3, 1929 – New York Nationals 4:2 [8:6 aggregate] New Bedford Whalers (Att.: 4,000)

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Nationals win Lewis Cup in third game of series at Hawthorne Field, Brooklyn. Note: All of the starters in this game were foreign-born, many having performed professionally in England and Scotland. But U.S.-born players were beginning to emerge on the professional scene, New Bedford’s Arnie Oliver coming on as a second half substitute. Oliver, 21, would be named to the U.S. national team for the 1930 World Cup. Fall River’s Bert Patenaude, 20, would complete the World Cup’s first hat trick, Billy Gonsalves starring and Providence’s Tommy Florie captaining the U.S. team. [Read more…] about Feb. 3, 1929 – New York Nationals 4:2 [8:6 aggregate] New Bedford Whalers (Att.: 4,000)

Nov. 7, 1926 – Boston SC 4:3 New Bedford Whalers, exhibition match at Mark’s Stadium, N. Tiverton, R.I. (Att.: 3,328)

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The Fall River Marksmen were on a road trip to Springfield and New York, leaving Mark’s Stadium available. Both the Wonder Workers (Boston SC) and Whalers had played ASL home games the previous day. [Read more…] about Nov. 7, 1926 – Boston SC 4:3 New Bedford Whalers, exhibition match at Mark’s Stadium, N. Tiverton, R.I. (Att.: 3,328)

Sept. 20, 1930 – New Bedford Whalers 5:3 Newark Americans, National Challenge Cup

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The New Bedford Whalers defeated the Americans despite a Bert Patenaude hat trick for Newark, both teams defying an ASL vote to boycott the cup. This was apparently a continuation of a controversy arising over ASL teams entering what is now called the U.S. Open Cup, leading to the Soccer War of 1928.  [Read more…] about Sept. 20, 1930 – New Bedford Whalers 5:3 Newark Americans, National Challenge Cup

May 23, 1926 – New York Giants 3:0 (4:5 aggregate) New Bedford Whalers, Lewis Cup final at the Oval

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This was the second year of the Lewis Cup competition, the equivalent of the League Cup for ASL teams. The Whalers won the home leg, 5-1, at Battery Park in New Bedford May 22, 1926. According to the Boston Globe, Jimmy Montgomerie “lost a penalty,” meaning he either missed a penalty kick or surrendered one – the Giants’ right back Charlie Kelly did convert a PK. The Whalers had two own goals, Neil Turner scored twice, and Andy Stevens (who totaled 44 goals in 39 league matches) converted just before the final whistle. [Read more…] about May 23, 1926 – New York Giants 3:0 (4:5 aggregate) New Bedford Whalers, Lewis Cup final at the Oval

April 2, 1932 – New Bedford Whalers win U.S. Open Cup

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Stix, Baer & Fuller 2:5 (5:8) New Bedford, National Challenge Cup final at Sportsman’s Park. Billy Gonsalves scored twice, including the aggregate go-ahead goal on a free kick 18 minutes into the second half, according to an Associated Press report. (Other sources credit Gonsalves with one goal in the game – and a record 14 goals in U.S. Open Cup finals; Gonsalves could actually have totaled 15 goals). The New Bedford team was essentially the Fall River Marksmen, who had won the 1930 and ’31 Challenge Cup titles, owner Sam Mark moving the franchise for the 1932 season (difficult to understand why Mark moved to New Bedford, as he controlled Mark’s Stadium near Fall River).

The record for U.S. Open Cup titles is five (Bethlehem Steel and Los Angeles Maccabi), but Gonsalves holds the individual title with eight victories (playing for five teams). This was the third of six successive U.S. Open Cup championships for Gonsalves, who was 23 years old at the time. [Read more…] about April 2, 1932 – New Bedford Whalers win U.S. Open Cup

March 19, 1927 – Bethlehem Steel loses in New Bedford, profits big time

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Andy Stevens scored both goals as the New Bedford Whalers took a 2-0 win over Bethlehem Steel in an American Soccer League match. On the same day, Bethlehem Steel Corp. reported in its 22nd annual statement “shipments and deliveries by subsidiary companies of $304,361,805 for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 1926 … net income for the year was equivalent to $7.48 per share on the common stock (up from $5.30 the previous year).” The next day, Bethlehem Steel would concluded its two-day road trip with a 4-2 win over the Providence Clamdiggers. [Read more…] about March 19, 1927 – Bethlehem Steel loses in New Bedford, profits big time

March 7, 1925 – WTAB will broadcast the Cup semifinal between Fall River and New Bedford

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The Boston Globe reported a record crowd of about 18,000 was expected for the match and, in a separate story, noted on March 7, 1925 the announcement: “The Fall River Herald broadcasting station, WTAB, on 266 meters, will broadcast the American League soccer football Cup semifinal between Fall River and New Bedford at Providence tomorrow (Saturday) at 2.” [Read more…] about March 7, 1925 – WTAB will broadcast the Cup semifinal between Fall River and New Bedford

March 5, 1927 – New Bedford breaks records

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The New Bedford Whalers rallied from a three-goal halftime deficit to take a 4-3 win over Boston in an American Soccer League match at the Walpole Street Grounds. The “record” the Whalers apparently surpassed was earning their first win in Boston, according to the Boston Globe report. “The Woodsies” (nicknamed for owner A.G. Wood) took the lead on a Hampton own goal: “the ex-Chelsea goalkeeper proceeded to give Boston a goal by throwing the ball into his own net.” This was probably Colin Hampton MM, who played for Chelsea from 1914-24 (also serving in the Machine Gun Corps in Mesopotamia). Former Scottish international Alec McNab and Bobby Blair (38 goals in 38 games that season) upped the lead to 3-0. [Read more…] about March 5, 1927 – New Bedford breaks records

Feb. 24, 1929 – Fall River Wins on an Icy Field

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The Fall River Marksmen took a 2-0 victory over the New Bedford Whalers in a Sunday game before a 3,500 crowd. The game “was well played despite the heavy condition of the field,” according to the Boston Globe story. In the second half, “ice commenced to form on the field, making play dangerous.” Tec White and Johnny Granger scored.

[Read more…] about Feb. 24, 1929 – Fall River Wins on an Icy Field