A year after losing their Walpole Street Grounds home field, the Boston SC Wonder Workers briefly ceased operations, then returned to competition in the restructured American Soccer League. [Read more…] about Dec. 15, 1930 – Boston SC re-admitted to American Soccer League
In the Boston Globe story entitled “More Stands for Boston ‘Pro’ Soccer,” team president G.A.G. Wood said: “We intend to make the Walpole St. Grounds a real soccer stadium, where all the big games in this State can be staged. Arrangements have been completed with the N.Y., N.H & H. officials to the end that the Boston team will not spend money needlessly. Boston has a real soccer outfit and after the fine crowd that paid admission Saturday, we think they are entitled to a fairly decent ground.” [Read more…] about Dec. 14, 1924 – Fall River 2:1 Boston Wonder Workers (Att.: 8,337)
The New England high school championship game in Quincy, Mass., featured one of the year’s biggest crowds, “… gathered round the ropes when the game started saw a really wonderful exhibition from these boys.” Brown scored three goals, McGuire and Jepson one. The game appears to have been conducted under FIFA rules, two 45-minute halves, referee and two linesman, no substitutes utilized. [Read more…] about Dec. 13, 1930 – Quincy 5:0 (12:4 aggregate) Pawtucket, NE Schoolboy final (Att.: 2,000)
When Matt Reis joined MLS in 1998, there were few openings for starting goalkeepers. And, after four seasons playing mostly as a backup to Kevin Hartman with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Reis set up a deal that took him to the Revolution, one of the teams Reis reasoned would give him a chance to start. Reis turned out to be right, as an Adin Brown injury led to Reis becoming the Revolution’s first-choice ‘keeper for the next 10 years. [Read more…] about Dec. 11, 2013 – Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis announces retirement
Peter Simonini became a starter in his first season with the Tea Men, who moved to Jacksonville from 1981-83. Simonini helped the Tea Men win the ASL title and was named league MVP in 1983. [Read more…] about Dec. 10, 1979 – New England Tea Men select Peter Simonini in 1st round of NASL draft
Tommy Florie, who captained the U.S. national team in the 1930 World Cup, scored both goals. The Victorias were sponsored by Victoria Mills in Thornton, R.I. [Read more…] about Dec. 9, 1934 – Thornton Victorias 2:0 Portuguese SC, ASL match
Boston SC’s Jimmy Cairney scored the winning goal with a “back heeler” that deflected off Caldwell past New Bedford Whalrs goalkeeper Johnny Reder (who would go on to play first base for the Red Sox in 1932). New Bedford was in first place in the ASL before the match. [Read more…] about Dec. 5, 1931 – Boston SC 2:1 New Bedford Whalers at Lincoln Park
Shalrie Joseph planned to pass up MLS, as he set up tryouts in Europe after playing for St. John’s University. The New England Revolution selected Joseph with their second-round pick in the 2002 draft, coach Fernando Clavijo following assistant John Murphy’s recommendation, realizing Joseph would be unavailable for at least one season. A year later, Joseph was playing for the New York Freedom when Kraft Soccer’s Sunil Gulati convinced him to take his chances with the Revolution and the move worked out as he became the team’s best-ever all-around performer. [Read more…] about Dec. 3, 2002 – New England Revolution sign Shalrie Joseph
The New England Revolution broke with team policy when they claimed Lee Nguyen off waivers on March 2, 2012, and the move paid off. Nguyen, who earned $55,000 in his first season, has gone on to become one of the Revolution’s top attacking players. Former Revolution coach Jay Heaps built the team’s tactics around Nguyen’s playmaking and knack for timing late finishing runs. In 2014, Nguyen expanded his repertoire, totaling 20 goals in all competitions, the No. 2 total (behind Taylor Twellman’s 25 in 2002) in team history. Nguyen has scored 51 goals in MLS regular-season games, second to Twellman (101) on the all-time Revolution list.
[Read more…] about Dec. 2, 2014 – Revolution’s Lee Nguyen named to MLS Best XI
Thierry Henry avoided Gillette Stadium’s synthetic surface until the final game of his five-year MLS stay. Henry, who scored three goals in six games against the Revolution at Red Bull Arena, nearly provided what could have been a deciding assist, Tim Cahill volleying high off his cross. After the game, Henry limited his media remarks to a one-liner congratulating the Revolution. [Read more…] about Nov. 29, 2014 – Thierry Henry’s final game. Revolution 2:2 (4:3) NYRB, MLS playoffs (Att.: 32,698)