Frank Dell'Apa

U.S. Open Cup

May 6, 1916 – A U.S. OPEN CUP RIVALRY IS BORN

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May 6, 1916 – Bethlehem Steel 1:0 Fall River Rovers at Coats Field (Att.: 15,000)

The rivalry between Bethlehem Steel Company FC and Fall River Rovers FC kicked off in the 1916 National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final. The teams represented two of the country’s major industrial centers, the Bethlehem team composed of European imports, known for their precision passing game, and the Rovers a mostly native-born team relying more on effort than skill. [Read more…] about May 6, 1916 – A U.S. OPEN CUP RIVALRY IS BORN

May 3, 1959 – Ukrainian Nationals 1:1 (2:4 aggregate) Fall River SC. U.S. Open Cup semifinals

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Fall River SC went on to the final, falling, 4-3, to the McIlvaine Canvasbacks of San Pedro at Rancho La Cienega Stadium. Fall River teams have won five U.S. Open Cup titles and New England teams have won 10 U.S. Open Cups (nine from Massachusetts, one from Rhode Island). Fall River clubs also won five American FA Cups, the competition running from 1885-1924.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

April 30, 1939 – Long before Cristiano Ronaldo, there was Billy Gonsalves

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Long before Cristiano Ronaldo, Adelino (Billy) Gonsalves was considered among the most proficient players of Madeira Island descent. Gonsalves, born in Portsmouth, R.I., in 1908, holds the record by winning eight U.S. Open Cup championships, six in succession (1930-35) with three clubs. Gonsalves won his first title with Fall River Marksmen at the age of 22 and his last with Brooklyn Hispano at 35 in 1944.

Gonsalves competed for teams in several cities, but he might not have had to leave St. Louis to play for Chicago-based Manhattan Beer. Gonsalves left Fall River after the demise of the ASL and the Marksmen, performing for St. Louis Central Breweries, Beltmar Drug and South Side Radio in the “Mound City” from 1933-38. The St. Louis Soccer League invited Chicago teams to participate in the league, and Gonsalves joined Manhattan Beer for the 1938 and ’39 seasons. Gonsalves teamed with Spain-born Fabri Salcedo to lead the attack for the Brewers, and they continued to combine with Brooklyn Hispano in the ‘40s.

April 30, 1939 – Chicago Manhattan Beer 0:1 St. Mary’s Celtic (Brooklyn)

Gonsalves scored Manhattan Beer’s only goal in the two-game series on a penalty kick. Duke Nanoski converted in the away leg and added two goals in St. Mary’s Celtic’s 4-1 win in the return leg at Starlight Park in the Bronx May 7, 1939. Rudolf Kuntner, a U.S. Men’s National Team member who became stage manager at the Metropolitan Opera, added a penalty kick goal in the second leg. According to a Dec. 19, 1971 New York Times review of Tristan und Isolde, Kuntner “… was responsible for the lighting effects. Bravo.” The Met used the stage lighting setup for productions in the ‘80s, also.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

April 28, 1917 – Turning handsprings

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April 28, 1917 – New Bedford Celtics 2:1 Fore River, Southern New England series

Andy Stradan gave Fore River the lead, then McDavitt and Croasdale countered for the Celtics. Stradan (also spelled Straden) went on to play for the U.S., converting a penalty kick in a 1-0 win over Estonia in the 1924 Olympics. The Fore River lineup also included center half Page, who, a year later, might have been among the first players to make a gymnastic goal commemoration. [Read more…] about April 28, 1917 – Turning handsprings

April 24, 1916 – Disston AA 0:1 Fall River Rovers, National Challenge Cup semifinal

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Tommy Swords’ 16th-minute goal made the difference for Fall River Rovers in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) played in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. Less than four months later, Swords would become the first captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team on a visit to Scandinavia. Swords, a Fall River, Mass., native, was referred to as “formerly halfback of the Hibernians of this city (Philadelphia).” The result qualified the Rovers to meet Bethlehem Steel for “the first real National championship contest in this country” in Pawtucket, R.I., May 6, according to The Boston Globe story. [Read more…] about April 24, 1916 – Disston AA 0:1 Fall River Rovers, National Challenge Cup semifinal

April 22, 1950 – St. Louis Simpkins Ford 2:0 Ponta Delgada SC. U.S. Open Cup final first leg

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Ponta Delgada, which won one of its six U.S. Amateur Cup titles in 1950, would fall in the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final after a 1-1 return leg draw in North Tiverton, R.I., May 7. Ponta Delgada won one U.S. Open Cup title, in 1947 (when it also won the U.S. Amateur Cup). [Read more…] about April 22, 1950 – St. Louis Simpkins Ford 2:0 Ponta Delgada SC. U.S. Open Cup final first leg

April 5, 1931 – Bert Patenaude scores 5 goals for Fall River Marksmen in U.S. Open Cup

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Fall River Marksmen 6:2 Chicago Bricklayers, National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final at Polo Grounds, New York (Att. 12,000). Less than a year after the inaugural World Cup, Bert Patenaude continued his scoring spree as the Fall River Marksmen won the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) for the second successive time. Patenaude was 21 years old and Gonsalves 22, and they might have continued their combination, but the American Soccer League folded before the 1932 season, and the U.S. national team lacked organization.

Patenaude was 20 when he converted the first hat trick in World Cup history in 1930, still the third youngest to score a hat trick in the competition. But Patenaude was not selected for the 1934 World Cup team, and information is scarce regarding his exclusion. In March 13, 1934 editions of the Boston Globe, George M. Collins wrote:

“Over New York way the most interesting item is that Bert Patenaude, former Fall River star, has drawn a suspension from the Irish-Americans Club. Patenaude was said to be a sure starter for Rome, but his recent actions may finish his hopes in this respect.”

This was the first of a three-game series, the next two games played in Chicago, a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 Marksmen win on goals by Patenaude and a Gordon Burness penalty kick. Patenaude totaled 13 goals, Gonsalves nine in Fall River’s Cup campaign.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

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

April 1, 1934 – Stix, Baer & Fuller 4:2 aet Pawtucket Rangers

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The Pawtucket Rangers fell behind to an eighth-minute Alex McNab goal, then equalized on McAuley’s first-half penalty kick in a first leg U.S. Open Cup match before a 7,122 crowd. Billy Gonsalves, who had starred for the Boston Wonder Workers and Fall River Marksmen, gave Stix, Baer & Fuller the extra time lead, McIntyre equalized, then the final two goals were scored in the final five minutes. Werner “Scotty” Nilsen converted the go-ahead goal off a McNab cross and Flavin the final goal with goalkeeper Conroy screened. [Read more…] about April 1, 1934 – Stix, Baer & Fuller 4:2 aet Pawtucket Rangers

March 31, 1917 — Fall River Rovers 2:0 Pan-Americans

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Goals from Underwood and Swords give Fall River Rovers a 2-0 win over the Pan-Americans before a 2,000 crowd. Less than two months later, the Rovers would go on to become the first New England team to win the U.S. Open Cup. Thomas Swords, a Fall River native who had captained the U.S. national team in its first game on a tour to Sweden in 1916, scored the deciding goal in a 1-0 victory over Bethlehem Steel for the U.S. Open Cup title in Pawtucket, R.I., on May 5, 1917.

Also on March 31, 1917: United Shoe MAA 10:0 Haverhill at McKay Street Grounds in Beverly (Alex Black 7 goals, Hollings 3); New Bedford 2:1 Compton (New Bedford maintained Southern New England League lead as Shaw scored twice).

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY