Fall River (Mass.) native Bert Patenaude, who had become the first player to complete a hat trick in the 1930 World Cup at age 20, opened the scoring for the Giants in a National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) second-round match. Goals: Patenaude, Carlson 2, O’Brien; Dick 2.
The New York Giants completed one of the most unexpected comebacks in ASL history, rallying after an 8-3 away defeat to the New Bedford Whalers. “… Bert Patenaude raced clean through his opponents, with a spectacular breakaway to score the winning tally, as the crowd went wild.” (The Boston Globe) [Read more…] about Jan. 3, 1932 – New York Giants 6:0 (9:8) New Bedford Whalers, ASL Championship return leg, Polo Grounds (Att.: 3,000)
Bert Patenaude led the way with five goals for the New York Giants. Patenaude, who completed the World Cup’s first hat trick in a 3-0 U.S. win over Belgium, “scor[ed] five brilliant goals” and assisted on O’Brien’s finish “before about 1,000 people, who braved a drenching rain through 90 minutes of play.” (The Boston Globe) [Read more…] about Dec. 13, 1931 – New York Giants 6:1 Pawtucket, ASL game at Polo Grounds (Att.: 1,000)
Bert Patenaude hat trick for New York Giants, Jim Brown scored for Newark Americans in a National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) match. Patenaude, born in Fall River in 1909, was 20 years old when he led the U.S. in scoring in the 1930 World Cup (first hat trick in the competition) and Brown was 21 (he scored in the semifinals). Neither Patenaude (playing in Philadelphia) nor Brown (Manchester United) were selected for the 1934 World Cup. [Read more…] about Feb. 7, 1932 – New York Giants 6:1 Newark Americans, National Challenge Cup Eastern semifinals, Polo Grounds (Att.: 3,000)
Bert Patenaude, probably the most dynamic U.S.-born goal-scorer ever, converted once and earned an 85th-minute penalty. Johnny Slavin (ex-Raith Rovers, Hearts) scored the deciding penalty kick after Patenaude was “tripped by Rebello six minutes from the end.” [Read more…] about Dec. 27, 1931 – New York Giants 3:2 New Bedford Whalers at Polo Grounds (Att.: 2,500)
Bethlehem Steel, the New York Giants and Newark Skeeters defied an ASL vote to boycott the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) and were suspended from the league, kicking off a “Soccer War.”
According to The Boston Globe: “The seven remaining ASL delegates voted unanimously to uphold president Bill Cunningham’s decision to suspend Bethlehem, the New York Giants and Newark.” That included all five New England teams, represented by Sam Mark (Fall River), Dave Pomfret (New Bedford), Alec Cooper (J&P Coats), Bob MacDonald (Boston) and Sam Fletcher (Providence); plus E.J. Viberg (New York Nationals) and Nat Agar (Brooklyn Wanderers).
New York Nationals owner Horace Stoneham (who also owned baseball’s New York Giants) had been the strongest opponent of scheduling Challenge Cup matches during the ASL season. Ironically, Stoneham’s Nationals were the defending Cup champions. Stoneham’s idea was for the ASL to operate outside the constraints of the U.S. Football Association (now U.S. Soccer), which organized the Challenge Cup. The “Soccer War” lasted for more than a year, contributing to the downfall of the ASL.
Roger Allaway’s story for SASH: http://www.ussoccerhistory.org/what-was-the-soccer-war/
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
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
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’
They were talking about a sports stadium in Boston 50 years ago, but finances, logistics and politics got in the way. In the late 1960s, several sites were being considered for a stadium, from Dedham to Dorchester (Neponset Circle) to Readville to Stoughton to Weston. Other possibilities included East Boston; Fenway; Newton (on the Woodland Golf Club grounds); South Boston (in 1946, Mayor Curley pushed a 75,000-capacity stadium for Columbus Park in Southie); South Station (stadium to be built on “stilts”); Walpole; Westwood-Canton; Wilmington. Also proposed were a $5 million expansion of White Stadium; a facility next to a planned “third harbor tunnel,” paid for by tolls; one of the Harbor Islands. [Read more…] about March 14, 1967 – Sox, Patriots Back Stadium; Rival Planners Offer Help