Philadelphia

Noha carried by crowd after Ukrainian Nationals 1960 US Open Cup win

The Archives Room: The greatest Open Cup final?

March 15, 2023

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ASL, Los Angeles, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US Open Cup:

In the 1960 US Open Cup final, Philadelphia’s Ukrainian Nationals came from behind three times over 120 minutes to win the championship with Mike Noha scoring all five of the Uke Nats goals. Roger Allaway has the story.

Philadelphia Inquirer, October 7, 1894

Who scored the first professional goals in US soccer history?

November 23, 2022

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AAPF, ALPF, ASL, Boston, Brooklyn, Fall River, Massachusetts, Newark, Philadelphia:

Who scored the first goals in the earliest US professional leagues? Brian Bunk looks at the available evidence.

The Philadelphia Old Timers Association leadership in 1949-50 and 1950-51.

The origin of the National Soccer Hall of Fame

May 6, 2021

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NSHOF, Philadelphia, USSF:

Ed Farnsworth looks at how a reunion of old teammates in Philadelphia led to the formation of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Undated press photo of Elmer A. Schroeder. From the author's collection.

The life — and murder — of the first American-born president of U.S. Soccer

September 16, 2020

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Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Profiles, USSF:

Elmer Schroeder was elected as the first native-born president of US Soccer in 1932. Two decades later he was murdered.

The grounds of the Belmont Cricket Club in 1895. Image courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Philly’s first international club friendly

May 20, 2020

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Pennsylvania, Philadelphia:

A friendly between a local cricket club and a touring English cricket club in 1901 helped spur soccer’s resurgence in Philadelphia after the depression that followed the Panic of 1893.

Professional soccer "For the Championship of America." Fall River Daily Herald, November 2, 1894.

After the collapse: ALPF vs. ALPF in Baltimore and Fall River, 1894-96

April 27, 2020

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AAPF, AFA, ALPF, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Newark, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia:

Following the collapse of the ALPF after only 16 games over two weeks, four former ALPF sides met in seven additional matches, including a series of three games in Fall River for the “championship of America.” Former Boston and Brooklyn ALPF professionals continued in Fall River after that.

The origins of soccer in Philadelphia, part 5: Local college-based football after the 1863 Laws of the Game

The origins of soccer in Philadelphia, part 5: Local college-based football after the 1863 Laws of the Game

April 16, 2020

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College Soccer, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia:

The series on the origins of soccer in Philadelphia continues with a look at the development of university- and college-based football in the 1870s.

England vs Scotland, 1872. Note how the goal is constructed — and the scrum of players in front of it.

The origins of soccer in Philadelphia, part 4: The first account of soccer-style football after codification?

April 10, 2020

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Pennsylvania, Philadelphia:

The series on the origins of soccer in Philadelphia continues with a look at football in Philadelphia in the years immediately after the 1863 FA code.

Philadelphia Inquirer, October 7, 1918, page 14

Philadelphia Soccer and the 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic

March 18, 2020

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Pennsylvania, Philadelphia:

A look at soccer in Philadelphia during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic.

The origins of soccer in Philadelphia, part 3: 19th century football before codification

The origins of soccer in Philadelphia, part 3: 19th century football before codification

March 12, 2020

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Pennsylvania, Philadelphia:

The series on the origins of soccer in Philadelphia continues with a look at 19th-century football before the 1863 Laws of the Game.

The origins of soccer in Philadelphia, part 2: Colonial football

The origins of soccer in Philadelphia, part 2: Colonial football

March 3, 2020

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Pennsylvania, Philadelphia:

A look at football in colonial and post-independence Philadelphia.

A 17th Century engraving from England showing the inflating of an animal bladder football.

The origins of soccer in Philadelphia, part 1: Native American and British footballing traditions

February 19, 2020

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Pennsylvania, Philadelphia:

The first installment of a ten-part series on the origins of soccer in Philadelphia.

The AAPF and the ALPF: The beginnings of professional league soccer in the United States

The AAPF and the ALPF: The beginnings of professional league soccer in the United States

July 24, 2018

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AAPF, ALPF, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia:

A look at the first professional soccer leagues in the US, the American Association of Professional Football and American League of Professional Football, with new information on the lesser known AAPF.