This Fall River-Bethlehem Steel 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 National League baseball seasons at the Polo Grounds).
A tryout match for the U.S. Olympic team at the Sullivan Square field in Charlestown was postponed “On account of ice and snow,” according to The Boston Globe. Clan Robertson of Dorchester and the Worcester Rangers were set to meet in the game. Also postponed was the Quincy Olympics v. Readville Carshops match at Merrymount Park. [Read more…] about March 15, 1924 – OLYMPIC TRYOUT AT SULLIVAN SQ. POSTPONED
George Burford and George M. Collins were in charge of the U.S. team that defeated Estonia (1-0), then was eliminated by eventual gold medalists Uruguay (3-0). Collins was also the soccer editor of The Boston Globe (nice gig!).
Here is Collins’ assessment of the U.S. chances in a March 17, 1924 Globe article entitled UNITED STATES SOCCER TEAM SHOULD MAKE A GOOD SHOWING: [Read more…] about March 14, 1924 – U.S. team announces George H. Burford of Brockton as coach/trainer for 1924 Olympic Games in Paris
Dante Washington, Lalas’ Olympic team teammate, scored on his debut, then was replaced by Dominic Kinnear after halftime. Goals: Washington 44th, Bruce Murray 89th; Luis Antonio Valdez 53d, Missael Espinoza 75th. [Read more…] about March 12, 1991 – U.S. 2:2 Mexico at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Att.: 6,261). Alexi Lalas U.S. debut
Fall River products Bert Patenaude (Marksmen) and Freddie Wall (Philadelphia) scored twice as the Fall River Marksmen edged Philadelphia. Scottish inside forward Johnny Grainger converted the Marksmen’s other goal. Patenaude, 19, would go on to complete the first hat trick in World Cup history in 1930 in Uruguay. Wall performed for Philadelphia and other teams in the ASL and other leagues.
[Read more…] about March 10, 1929 – Fall River Marksmen 3:2 Philadelphia
Supporters arrived in numbers for a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match at the Fore River Shipyard field in Quincy, Mass.: “The largest crowd that ever attended a soccer game in this part of the State …” [Read more…] about March 5, 1921 – Fore River 0:3 Robins Dry Dock, National Cup (U.S. Open Cup) fifth round
Pres John A. Fernley of Pawtucket presided as the National Council of the United States Football Association met in Providence. The Danish Association “offer of $9,000 for a series of international matches in that country next May and June was declined, but the Missouri Association was given permission to send a team to Sweden in May.” [Read more…] about Feb. 25, 1917 – Soccer Invitation of Danes Declined
“It was the first soccer game played here in almost three months, owing to unfavorable weather conditions.” The Rovers would go on to eliminate the Pan-Americans in the third round of the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup), 3-1, on March 23, 1918. The Rovers, reigning Cup champions, went on to a finals rematch, falling to Bethlehem Steel. The Rovers were led by Tommy Swords, who captained the U.S. in its first FIFA-affiliated international in 1916.
Feb. 18, 2002 – Ponte Preta 0:1 Revolution at Lix da Cunha, Brazil [Read more…] about Feb. 18, 1918 – Fall River Rovers 1:0 Pan-Americans, exhibition
Orrie Banach, a Germany-born Ukrainian, grew up in Chicago and had played for Toronto Roma, then the Boston Tigers, before joining the Boston Beacons in the NASL. Banach earned four caps for the U.S. national team, all in World Cup qualifiers.
Feb. 17, 1923 – Clan Sutherland 4:2 Methuen at Commonwealth Armory
“Biggest Crowd of the (Indoor) Season”
Feb. 17, 1929 – Brooklyn Wanderers 4:4 Boston Wonder Workers at Hawthorne Field
Goals: Nehadoma 3, Lyell; Nilsen 3, H.B. Burness
Fall River 0:0 J&P Coats
New York Nationals 4:5 Providence Clam Diggers
Feb. 17, 1999 – AC Prato 1:1 Revolution, preseason game
Feb. 17, 2006 –Bermuda U20 1:8 Revolution
Clint Dempsey scores five goals in preseason game.
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Bert Patenaude scores both Fall River goals past Kennaway. Scheduled opponent, Velez Sarsfield, delayed by “railway mishap in Texas … en route to the East.” Velez, a team that included players from Argentina’s 1930 World Cup team that defeated the U.S., 6-1, in the semifinals, arrived for a Feb. 22, 1931 match. Both goalkeepers — Joe Kennaway (Celtic FC) and Johnny Reder (first baseman for the Boston Red Sox) — would change teams in 1932. Jeremiah Best scored twice and Watson one goal for the All-Stars.
Feb. 15, 1925 – Fall River 3:0 J&P Coats. Lewis Cup game at Mark’s Stadium (Att.: 12,000)
“… all hopes of a record-breaking crowd for a soccer game in this country were dashed with the heavy rain that fell just before game time in Tiverton.”
According to The Boston Globe: “Boston’s 2-0 victory (over the New York Giants) means three teams out of the four remaining in this professional Cup series, making clearer the argument that New England teams are the game’s best supports (sic) from both a playing and financial point of view.”
New York Giants 0:2 Boston Wonder Workers, Lewis Cup match (Att.: 1,500)
Goals: Stevens, Fleming. Note: Battles hits bar early
Feb. 15, 2011 – Revolution sign Argentinian defender Franco Coria
NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY