Bethlehem Steel FC

1918/1919 National Challenge Cup Semifinals & Final: Bethlehem Steel earn back-to-back shutouts to win 4th title

October 31, 2019 by Chuck Nolan Jr.

The Bethlehem Steel won the 1918/1919 National Challenge Cup title, 2-0 over Paterson FC in Fall River, Mass. It was the club's fourth National Challenge Cup title in the last six years. — The Bethlehem Steel won the 1918/1919 National Challenge Cup title, 2-0 over Paterson FC in Fall River, Mass. It was the club’s fourth National Challenge Cup title in the last six years.

100 years ago, the National Challenge Cup (now known as the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup) crowned its sixth national champion. Prior to the 106th edition of the US Open Cup Final last August, TheCup.us begins a five-part series that jumps in a time machine back a full century to see what obstacles the 1918/1919 tournament faced. The game and the world itself was very different 100 years ago. World War I was wrapping up in Europe and there was an outbreak of the Spanish Flu around the country. The United States and the game of soccer were likely unrecognizable to the modern fan, so we decided to take a look back to see how it all played out.

Editor’s note: As you read this, you’ll notice a lot of players with just one name. This is not an oversight on our part, but rather, many of the sources of this information (newspapers, publications etc.) only use the last name of players in their stories. If you have confirmation of any of their names, or any other details that would add to our historical records, feel free to reach out to us HERE. We are always looking for help with historical research.

Check out the past entries in this five-part series: Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals & Final

1918/1919 National Challenge Cup – Semifinals

The final four survivors in the National Challenge Cup were set to meet in Bethlehem, Penn. and Harrison, N.J., and both games turned out to be anti-climactic blowouts.

Bethlehem Steel players (from left to right) Fred Pepper, James Campbell and Brown. Photo: Fall River Daily Evening News - April 18, 1919 — Bethlehem Steel players (from left to right) Fred Pepper, James Campbell and Brown. Photo: Fall River Daily Evening News – April 18, 1919

In a game some newspapers billed as a showdown of East versus West, Bethlehem Steel hosted Chicago’s Bricklayers & Masons FC at Taylor Stadium in Bethlehem on Mar. 29. The Chicagoans had not lost a game all season, scoring 40 goals and conceding only eight, while Bethlehem had lost just one game to an all-star team in St. Louis and scored an astounding 74 goals in 23 games while allowing 17. A remarkable 62 of those goals were scored by Bethlehem’s deadly squad of strikers. Among those five stars was a trio of future Hall of Famers in Harry Ratican (16 goals / 14 games), Tommy Fleming (12 goals / 20 games), and Bob Millar (8 goals / 13 games). Millar would not only play for the US National Team, but led the team as head coach at the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930. The fourth and fifth strikers were future Canadian international George Forrest (15 goals / 22 games) and George McKelvey (11 goals / 22 games), who would finish his career as one of the most successful players in US soccer history with five Open Cup titles and five more American Cup championships.

The visitors got off to a poor start before the game even kicked-off. Scheduled to arrive the evening before the game, the Bricklayers missed a train connection in Buffalo which delayed their arrival until the morning of the game itself.

High winds with gusts of 40 miles per hour swept over the stadium which forced the teams, which were both noted for their long passes, to change their normal tactics and favor shorter passes. About 5,000 spectators braved the chilly conditions, and after a few minutes, Bethlehem showed its superiority over their Chicago rivals. The Bethlehem Globe noted it was only a matter of how many goals the Steelmen would score.

Playing the first half with the strong wind at their backs, it didn’t take long for Bethlehem to score its first goal, and the wind played a direct role. Bethlehem won a corner kick in the third minute and McKelvey’s kick was blown just under the crossbar. Brickies goalkeeper Harry Holmes managed to tip the ball but was unable to stop it from entering the net. Seven minutes later, Bethlehem scored once again from a corner kick, this time from Fleming. His kick found the head of Forrest, who deflected the ball to Millar, who kicked it in from his position just about under the crossbar.

Bethlehem was well in charge of the game at this point and the Bricklayers first shot on goal did not come until 25 minutes had passed, a shot by Stewart that went over the crossbar. Bethlehem won corner after corner, and nearly added to their lead when another McKelvey corner kick struck the crossbar. Despite their dominance, Bethlehem failed to add to their advantage and the first half finished 2-0 in their favor.

Bethlehem’s dominant form continued in the second half, with Fleming shooting just wide of the goal, and then nearly scoring again when Holmes fumbled the ball in front of goal. The Chicagoans broke away for their only other good chance of the game, as forwards H. Stewart and Harold Hawke drove up-field, only to see Bethlehem goalkeeper William Duncan make a great save of George Herron’s shot. After this, Bethlehem began to add to their lead, as Millar scored his second and third goals to push the score to 4-0. Fleming finished the rout to give the defending tournament champions a 5-0 win and their fifth consecutive Finals appearance.

1918/1919 National Challenge Cup Semifinal #1
March 29, 1919
Bethlehem Steel 5:0 Bricklayers & Masons FC
Taylor Stadium – Bethlehem, PA

SCORING SUMMARY

Bethlehem: George McKelvey – 3rd min.
Bethlehem: Bob Millar – 12th min.
Bethlehem: Bob Millar – 2nd Half
Bethlehem: Bob Millar – 2nd Half
Bethlehem: Tommy Fleming – 2nd Half

LINEUPS

Bethlehem: William Duncan, James Wilson, Jock Ferguson, Fred Pepper, James Campbell, Davie Brown, George McKelvey, George Forrest, Harry Ratican, Bob Millar, Tommy Fleming

Bricklayers: Harry Holmes, Charles Dixon, Jack Walker, H.F. Erickson, E.F. Bromley, James Shaw, John Parry, J.H. Heath, George Herron, Harold Hawke, H. Stewart

Attendance: 5,000

Referee: William E. Hinds | Linesmen: E. Waldron, J. H. Carpenter

The other semifinal was set for the next day, March 30, at Harrison Field (sometimes known as ‘Federal League Baseball Park’) in Harrison, N.J., and featured a rematch of a contest in a separate cup tournament earlier in the season. On Feb. 9, Paterson FC romped over Morse Dry Dock 5-1 in the Quarterfinals of the American Cup. The American Cup was a competition which began in 1885 and was confined to the northeastern part of the United States but in other respects was similar to the National Challenge Cup .

The Morse roster had been bolstered since that embarrassing defeat, and featured seven players who had played with 1917/1918 National Challenge Cup runners-up Fall River Rovers. For a while, it appeared Paterson would be without speedy forward Harry Bleich, who broke his nose the previous week in Paterson’s American Cup semifinal win over Merchants Ship. Despite being advised to sit out the match, Bleich insisted on playing.

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "Champions" shirt, honoring the five clubs from the pre-Modern Era (1914-1994) to win four or more US Open Cup titles. Visit THECUP.US SHOP — Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “Champions” shirt, honoring the five clubs from the pre-Modern Era (1914-1994) to win four or more US Open Cup titles. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

As soon as referee James Walders blew his whistle to start the game, Paterson was off and running, bombarding the Morse goal from all angles. At one point Morse managed to get the ball to midfield, only for Paterson’s Amie Vandeweghe to recover possession, sending the ball back in the attacking end. A Morse defender cleared the threat away but gave Paterson a corner kick. The resulting corner from Harry Meyerdick found future Hall of Famer Archie Stark, who drove home the opening goal after 17 minutes.

The visitors from Brooklyn responded three minutes later as Harry Holgate sent a low twisting shot which Paterson goalkeeper Walter Healey saved. However, before he could clear the ball, an onrushing Sam Bell knocked Healey down, allowing future Hall of Famer Fred Beardsworth to recover the loose ball. Healey, still on the ground, managed to get a hand on the shot but was unable to stop it from going in to even the score at 1-1.

This counterattack sent Paterson into a frenzy and, as the Paterson Morning Call described it, the resulting Paterson attack kept Morse goalkeeper Jack Albion “busier than a one-armed paper hanger with the hives.” Albion kept the ball out of his goal for the moment, but Paterson would not be denied. In the 35th minute, Vandeweghe kicked the ball high and long, falling right at the feet of Bleich. Before the Morse defenders could respond, Bleich put Paterson back on top 2-1, which is how the first half ended.

In the second half, Paterson resumed their attack, peppering Albion with shots for about 20 minutes to no avail, until Stark got hold of the ball in a scrum inside the box and made the score 3-1 in favor of Paterson. In the process of scoring the goal, Paterson forward Rudy Hunziker had to be helped off the field with an injury. The Morse band, which had little chance of enthusiastic playing up to that point, smartly played a funeral dirge as Hunziker was helped off the field.

The band’s tactic backfired, as a seemingly irked Hunziker returned to the field and played like a demon. Hunziker took hold of the pass from Vandeweghe and raced down the field toward the goal. Before Morse fullbacks Frank Booth and Charles Burns could stop him, Hunziker sent a cross to Bleich who had no trouble beating Albion for Paterson’s fourth and final goal. With only a few minutes remaining, Paterson’s defense held Morse at bay, sending them to the championship game against the mighty Bethlehem Steel. They would be the first team to represent the Garden State in the National Challenge Cup Final.

1918/1919 National Challenge Cup Semifinal #2
March 30, 1919
Paterson FC 4:1 Morse Dry Dock
Harrison Field – Harrison, NJ

SCORING SUMMARY

Patterson: Archie Stark – 17th min.
Morse: Fred Beardsworth – 20th min.
Paterson: Harry Bleich (Amie Vandeweghe) – 35th min.
Paterson: Archie Stark – 65th min.
Paterson: Harry Bleich (Rudy Hunziker) – 2nd Half

LINEUPS

Paterson: Walter Healey, Poet, Murray, Tommy Stark, Amie Vandeweghe, Henry Meyerdick, Knowles, Archie Stark, Harry Bleich, Rudy Hunziker, Davey Brown

Morse: Jack Albion, Frank Booth, Charles Burns, Mackie, John McCann, Stone, Henry Holgate, Fred Beardsworth, Sam Bell, Morgan, McGreavey

Attendance: 5,000

Referee: James A. Walders | Linesmen: Thomas Cunningham, William Rowley

1918/1919 National Challenge Cup Final

Soccer enthusiasts must have felt a sense of déjà vu heading into the 1918/1919 National Challenge Cup Final on April 19. For the fifth year in a row, the juggernaut Bethlehem Steel had rumbled through the tournament and were once again in the Final. Winners in 1915, 1916 and 1918 and runners-up in 1917, the Steelmen were looking to win the Dewar Trophy for the fourth time in the Cup’s short six-year history. Standing in their way were fellow National Association Football League members Paterson FC, who had reached the Quarterfinals the previous season.

Headline from the Fall River Daily Evening News - April 21, 1919 — Headline from the Fall River Daily Evening News – April 21, 1919

The teams met once in the 1918/19 season prior to the final, with Bethlehem emerging with a 4-0 victory in the opening game of the season. Heading into the Challenge Cup final game Bethlehem were riding an 11-game unbeaten streak in the tournament dating back to December of 1917 and had lost only once in all competitions and exhibitions (a 4-3 defeat to a St. Louis All-Star squad).

Paterson came into the final reeling from back to back shutouts, a 2-0 loss to Federal Ship in the New Jersey state cup semifinals, and a loss by the same score to Robins Dry Dock in an NAFL contest. In an odd twist, the teams were set to meet again a week later in Philadelphia in the American Football Association Cup Final.

Clear and cool weather greeted the approximately 10,000 spectators who filed into the Fall River Athletic Field in Fall River, Mass., some arriving as early as 9 a.m.. The crowd was overwhelmingly in favor of Paterson, and the Fall River police department dispatched 40 officers to control the crowd which, in some parts, were lined fifty-deep around the field, with many other fans sitting on top of fences. Before the game, Paterson goalkeeper Walter Healey, who years prior played with Fall River’s Pan American team, was presented with a handsome traveling bag by the Fall River admirers.

Bethlehem won the coin toss, and Paterson had the first good chance to score off a corner kick. Knowles delivered the ball to the goalmouth, but the resulting shot went wide of the right post. The pro-Paterson crowd was in a frenzy with the ball staying in the Bethlehem end, highlighted by Davey Brown’s shot that clattered off the goalpost. Bethlehem’s attacks were snuffed out quickly by Paterson, as Tommy Fleming and Harry Ratican were held in check. At one point Bethlehem’s George McKelvey and Paterson’s Harry Meyerdick collided, forcing McKelvey to leave the game for a couple of minutes. Brown again came close for Paterson, sending another shot off the crossbar and over.

Paterson won another corner, and Meyerdick sent a well-placed shot into the goalmouth, which went into a crown of players, rolled over goalkeeper William Duncan’s arm, and then found its way into the goal. As the crowd roared and Meyerdick celebrated with his teammates, protesting Bethlehem players followed referee George Lambie back to the center circle. Lambie then stopped and ran towards the linesmen to explain the goal was disallowed because Meyerdicks’s corner kick had not been touched by another player before going in the goal. The crowd howled in disapproval over the nullified score. On their way home after the game, Bethlehem’s Bob Millar reportedly admitted to someone that the ball struck him before passing the goal line. Paterson remained on the attack until the end of the half but suffered a setback for the rest of the game when star forward Rudy Hunziker was thrown to the ground and re-agitated an old knee injury.

At the start of the second half, the blinding sun shone directly into the faces of the Paterson defenders, and Bethlehem finally got their attack going. In the 58th minute, Harry Ratican sent a nice pass to McKelvey down the right flank, who slammed it past Healey for a 1-0 Bethlehem lead. Paterson resumed its attack, but the Bethlehem defense were up to the task. With five minutes remaining, a gimpy Hunziker had a good chance to pull Paterson level, but his shot went a few inches over the bar.

At this point, the Fall River crowd was anxious for Patterson to tie the score. Paterson gained another corner with a minute remaining, and Knowles sent the pass into a crowd of Paterson players in front of the goal. Brown’s header struck the crossbar yet again, and Duncan snatched the ball off the rebound and kicked it out to Fleming. Meyerdick attempted to steal the ball from Fleming and in doing so, sent it to Ratican who found himself all alone against Healey. Ratican avoided the netminder and scored the clinching goal, and referee Lambie blew the final whistle right after, securing Bethlehem Steel’s fourth National Challenge Cup title in five years.

A team photo of the Bethlehem Steel in 1919 ahead of their tour of Sweden. Photo: Spaulding Guide

In the rematch for the American Cup the following weekend, Bethlehem yet again came out as 2-0 winners. Paterson would ultimately be hurt by the loss of their injured star Rudy Hunziker, and Bethlehem’s George Forest scored the first goal ten minutes into the game off a Fleming corner kick followed by a Harry Ratican clincher in the 68th minute. Paterson’s fortunes were far different this time around, as they only won two corner kicks the entire game.

Following their cup triumphs, Bethlehem embarked on a tour of Sweden and Denmark from Aug. 10 to Sept. 24, winning seven, drawing five and losing just two games. Bethlehem were the first American club to make a trip to Europe, and the second team representing the United States after the National Team made a similar trip to Sweden and Norway in 1916.

Remarkably, Bethlehem Steel would reach the final just one more time before the team folded in 1930. In 1926, they defeated St. Louis’ Ben Miller SC 7-2 to win their fifth and final National Challenge Cup title. Paterson would eventually win the National Challenge Cup in 1923 in controversial fashion when Scullin Steel of St. Louis forfeited the replay of their 2-2 draw due to injuries and losing players who had left for spring training for their respective baseball teams. The forfeit was also complicated by the USFA’s decision to have the replay take place in the East (Harrison, NJ) instead of St. Louis. After the 1922-23 season the new owner moved the club from Paterson across the river to the Big Apple where they became the New York National Giants.

1918/1919 National Challenge Cup Final
April 19, 1919
Bethlehem Steel 2:0 Paterson FC
Fall River Athletic Field – Fall River, Massachusetts

Scoring Summary

Bethlehem: George McKelvey (Harry Ratican) – 60th min.
Bethlehem: Harry Ratican – 90th min.

Lineups

Bethlehem: William Duncan, James Wilson, Jock Ferguson, Fred Pepper, James Campbell, Davie Brown, George McKelvey, Butler, George Forest, Harry Ratican, Tommy Fleming

Manager: William Sheridan

Paterson FC: Walter Healey, Broadbent, Murray, Tommy Stark, Aimie Vandeweghe, Henry Meyerdick, Knowles, Harry Bleich, Archie Stark, Rudy Hunziker, Davy Brown

Manager: Tom Garside

Attendance: 10,000
Referee: George Lambie | Linesmen: Ed Pemberton, George Mitchell

Philadelphia Union honor five time US Open Cup champ Bethlehem Steel with new jersey (video)

February 26, 2013 by Gerald Barnhart

As part of the ongoing MLS Jersey Week leading up to opening weekend of the league season, the Philadelphia Union today unveiled the new third jersey, a retro design created to honor the Philadelphia area’s most successful soccer club Bethlehem Steel.

The Bethlehem Steel are co-holders of the tournament’s all-time best championship tally having won the US Open Cup title on five occasions during their existence from 1911 to 1930. Four of the five championships came in the first six years of the event, winning it back-to-back twice (1915-16, 1918-19), and once more just four years before folding.

The new solid black jersey with white trimming has three elements tied to the Steel. In the wearer’s lower left front corner of the shirt is a large B made of felt, reminiscent of the material used during that era with the text ‘Bethlehem Steel FC 1911-1930’ beneath it. The team featured a large B on their jerseys throughout their existence.

Along the outside back collar of the shirt the Bethlehem Steel logo is featured with the years 1911 and 1930 on either side.

The final touch is another usage of felt, this time with the Philadelphia Union crest done in black and white.

1918team-bethlehem — 1918 Bethlehem Steel team photo. Photo: BethlehemSteelSoccer.org

“One of the great things that we found when we were coming up with ideas is all of this history of soccer that is on the east coast and in the Philadelphia area. And we found the Bethlehem Steel FC,” said adidas product manager Mike Walker via MLSsoccer. “They are a five-time US Open Cup winning team. They’ve got a lot of great history and we thought it was a perfect team to really kind of start with and talk about that history.

“That’s the foundation of soccer in the Philadelphia area that helped the Union kind of become what they are today.”

Beyond the jersey, the white B will also be featured in the black and red socks, the colors of the Bethlehem Steel logo, to complete the throwback uniform which is expected to run a two-year cycle.

While Walker may have been intrigued by the idea via his research, it was club CEO and operating partner Nick Sakiewicz that gave the green light and wholeheartedly endorsed the nod to a previous club who has more championships than years the 2010 founded Union have been in existence.

“Professional soccer has a dormant but rich history in the Greater Philadelphia region dating back over 100 years,” said Sakiewicz on PhiladelphiaUnion.com. “Our vision with this concept is to revive the history and recognize the past.

“As the Philadelphia Union now leads professional soccer into the 21st century it is our duty and responsibility to remember, honor and pay tribute to those teams that came before us and laid the groundwork for the growth of the game in the region.

The new shirt is already available for purchase along with other Bethlehem Steel style merchandise at the team store.

#USOC100

The First Cup: Bethlehem FC’s protest denied as Quarterfinal draw announced (Feb. 16, 1914)

February 16, 2013 by Chuck Nolan Jr.

1914 Bethlehem FC — Bethlehem FC from the 1913/14 season.

TheCup.us introduces “The First Cup” series, which revisits the first running of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (then known as the National Challenge Cup) that took place from the fall of 1913 to the spring of 1914.

Links to the full series are located at the bottom of this story.

The United States Football Association denied the protest put forth by the Bethlehem FC over their 1-0 loss to Brooklyn Field Club in the third round.

Bethlehem FC, who became Bethlehem Steel FC the following season, submitted a laundry list of complaints back on Jan. 30 including that Brooklyn was over a half-hour late to appear on the field. Bethlehem’s argument was that referee Charles E. Creighton should have either forfeited to Bethlehem or started the match before the Field Club team came out.

The rest of the protest centered on a number of players Bethlehem felt should not have been eligible to play. Bethlehem contended that H.H. Shanhold and H. Hynds should have been ineligible because they still had a case pending against them from an American Football Association cup game for accepting payment as amateur players.

1914 Brooklyn Field Club — Brooklyn Field Club from the 1913/14 season

Bethlehem also questioned Hinds’ eligibility on the grounds that he never signed a National Challenge Cup form, as well as goalkeeper W. Haughtie, whom Bethlehem claimed was not on the roster received from Brooklyn before the game.

After investigating the allegations, the USFA ruled in favor of the Brooklyn Field club and announced the draw for the round of eight:

New Bedford FC at Peabody FC (Philadelphia)
Columbia Oval at Brooklyn Celtics
Yonkers FC at Brooklyn Field Club
Pullman FC or Hyde Park Blues at Niagara Falls Rangers

There was just one third round match yet to be played as Pullman FC and Hyde Park Blues were delayed for weeks due to severe weather in Chicago. The game would not be played until March 8, 1914.

THE FIRST CUP SERIES (THECUP.US)
A detailed look back at the 1913/1914 National Challenge Cup

Sept. 12, 1913 / Oct. 11, 1913: How the 1913/14 National Challenge Cup began
Nov. 1, 1913: The inaugural National Challenge Cup gets under way
Nov. 2, 1913: Brooklyn Field Club begins their journey as Round 1 concludes
Nov. 29 1913: Farr Alpaca forfeit Round 1 replay with New Bedford FC
Dec. 6, 1913: Four teams move on to Round 3, two more to be decided by protest or replay
Dec. 14, 1913: Second Round nearly complete as USFA announces protest results, draw for Round 3
Dec. 21, 1913: Third time’s the charm for St. George FC as Round 2 comes to a close
Jan. 12, 1914: Rochester’s MacNaughton Rangers forfeit replay with Niagara Falls Rangers
Jan. 24, 1914: Differing opinions as New Bedford FC eliminates West Philadelphia FC to reach quarterfinals
Jan. 25, 1914: Brooklyn Field Club, Columbia Oval join the quarterfinals
Mar. 8, 1914: Pullman FC beats Hyde Park Blues in Chicago derby to complete quarterfinal field
Mar. 28, 1914: Brooklyn Field Club defeat ‘cup holders’ Yonkers FC to reach Challenge Cup Semifinals
Mar. 29, 1914: Brooklyn Celtic defense carries them past Columbia Oval, into Semifinals
Apr. 5, 1914: Niagara Falls Rangers topple Pullman FC to complete Semifinal field
Apr. 18, 1914: Brooklyn Field Club edge New Bedford FC to reach inaugural National Challenge Cup Final
Apr. 26, 1914: Brooklyn Celtic cruises past Niagara Falls Rangers to reach inaugural National Challenge Cup Final
Before the 1913/1914 Final: By boat or by train, Brooklyn Field Club, Brooklyn Celtic prepare for inaugural National Challenge Cup Final
May 16, 1914: Brooklyn Field Club wins inaugural National Challenge Cup on late winner over Brooklyn Celtic

The First Cup: Bethlehem FC files lengthy protest over loss to Brooklyn Field Club (Jan. 30, 1914)

January 30, 2013 by Chuck Nolan Jr.

Links to the full series are located at the bottom of this story.

It was announced today in the Philadelphia Inquirer that Bethlehem FC was protesting their 1-0 third round loss to Brooklyn Field Club.

In the protest filed by Bethlehem manager Trand, a number of objections were brought up. First, Brooklyn was over a half-hour late to appear on the field. Bethlehem’s argument was that referee Charles E. Creighton should have either forfeited to Bethlehem or started the match before the Field Club team came out.

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "US Open Cup Champions" shirt which celebrates the five teams with the most titles (pre-Modern Era). Visit <a href="https://shop.thecup.us/">THECUP.US SHOP</a> — Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “US Open Cup Champions” shirt which celebrates the five teams with the most titles (pre-Modern Era). Visit THECUP.US SHOP

Bethlehem, who became Bethlehem Steel FC the following season, also questioned Hinds’ eligibility on the grounds that he never signed a National Challenge Cup form, as well as goalkeeper W. Haughtie, whom Bethlehem claimed was not on the roster received from Brooklyn before the game.

The third round game between St. George and Peabody was forfeited to Peabody on the grounds that St. George could not put together a strong enough team to travel to Philadelphia. The game was originally scheduled for Jan. 24, but the grounds were deemed unplayable.

THE FIRST CUP SERIES (THECUP.US)
A detailed look back at the 1913/1914 National Challenge Cup

The First Cup: Brooklyn Field Club, Columbia Oval join the Quarterfinals (Jan. 25, 1914)

January 25, 2013 by Chuck Nolan Jr.

Links to the full series are located at the bottom of this story.

Two more teams advanced to the round of eight in the inaugural National Challenge Cup on this day as Brooklyn Field Club ousted Bethlehem FC by a single goal, and Columbia Oval knocked off the unbeaten Alley Boys 2-1.

1914 Columbia Oval — Columbia Oval from the 1913/14 season

At Marquette Oval in Brooklyn, the Field Club snuck by the Allied League-leading Bethlehem FC, 1-0. After a scoreless first half, Brooklyn was able to hold back many offensive attacks by Bethlehem, thanks to standout defensive work from Drinkwater and Nichols.

After a Field Club corner kick, a fierce scrum formed in the Bethlehem goalmouth. From there, Miller sent a shot toward goal only to be stopped by Bethlehem’s Lewis, who was called for a hand ball. Miller stepped up to take the penalty, which was initially stopped by goalkeeper Scafe, who dropped the ball allowing Hynd to pounce on it and score the only goal of the game.

Elsewhere, in front of several thousand spectators at Lennox Oval in Manhattan, Columbia Oval pulled off an upset in knocking off the unbeaten Alley Boys 2-1.

The score was 1-1 at halftime on goals from J. Toal of Columbia and the Alley Boys’ Costello. Wollard scored the game winner for Columbia Oval in the second half. At the time Alley Boys were undefeated over 12 games at that point of the 1913-14 season.

Note: Bethlehem FC is the same club that later became Bethlehem Steel FC the following season.

1913/14 National Challenge Cup – Third Round
Jan. 25, 1913

Brooklyn Field Club 1:0 Bethlehem FC
Marquette Oval – Brooklyn, NY

Scoring Summary
Brooklyn: Hynd – 2nd half

Lineups

Brooklyn: Haughie, Hynd, Drinkwater, Mathews, Clark, Nichols, Ford, Black, Slade, Miller, Shanholt

Bethlehem: Scafe, McKelvey, Peacock, Stewart, Morrison, Lawler, Galbraith, Lewis, Lance, Donaghy, Fleming

Referee: CE Creighton | Linesman: J. Williams, H. Thompson

Columbia Oval 2:1 Alley Boys FC
Lenox Oval – Manhattan, NY

Scoring Summary
Columbia: J. Toal – 1st half
Alley Boys: Costello – 1st half
Columbia: Wollard – 2nd half

Lineups

Columbia: Hopkins, Harper, F. Maskell, Ellis, Holbrook, Blatchford, Pierson, E. Maskell, Lord, Woollard, J. Toal

Alley Boys: Dinkle, Coogan, Ellant, Short, McMahon, Glynn, Welsh, Costello, Myers, O’Rourke, Briely

Referee: J. Erskine | Linesmen: C. Byers, D. Andrews

THE FIRST CUP SERIES (THECUP.US)
A detailed look back at the 1913/1914 National Challenge Cup

The First Cup: Four teams move on to Round 3, two more to be decided by protest or replay (Dec. 6, 1913)

December 7, 2012 by Chuck Nolan Jr.

1914 West Philadelphia — West Philadelphia FC in 1914

Links to the full series are located at the bottom of this story.

A pair of games had already kicked off the second round of the inaugural National Challenge Cup, but neither had produced a winner on game day. New York teams Hudson United FC and St. George FC finished in a scoreless draw on Nov. 30, and a replay was scheduled for Dec. 14. Rochester’ MacNaughton FC defeated the Niagara Falls Rangers 1-0, but the United States Football Association (USFA) was in the process of reviewing a protest submitted by the losing side.

1914 Kensington AFC — Kensington AFC from the 1913/14 season.

The second round continued with six games on Dec. 6, when action took place in Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New Bedford, Mass. In Philadelphia, the West Philadelphia FC advanced to the third round of the National Challenge Cup with a resounding 4-1 victory over Allied League rivals Kensington AFC. Ligget and Anderson scored two goals each for West Philly, while Dunkinfield netted the lone tally for Kensington. West Philadelphia had been sitting atop the Allied League standings with a 4-2-0 record, while Kensington occupied the bottom rung of the eight-team league at 0-5-0.

1914 Peabody — Peabody FC (Philadelphia, Pa.) from the 1913/14 season.

In what the Philadelphia Inquirer described as “A splendidly fought game”, Wissiniming and Peabody FC played to a 1-1 draw in their second round contest in Philly. Wissinoming, of the Pennsylvania League, scored first when midfielder R. Hyslop took a shot that Peabody goalkeeper Hanna has no chance to save. Maryley answered for the Allied American League side in the second half with the tying score. New Bedford FC, who were awarded their opening round match over Farr Alpaca when the Holyoke, Mass.-based club chose to play a league game instead of their replay at New Bedford, overcame Presbyterian FC of Bridgeport, CT by a 3-0 score. After Alpaca’s forfeit, New Bedford remained the state of Massachusetts’ lone representative and they moved on to Round 3 by eliminating the state of Connecticut’s only entry.

1914 New Bedford FC — New Bedford FC (New Bedford, Mass.) during the 1913/14 season.

Despite frigid winter conditions, Hyde Park Blues and Pullman FC each won their second round games in Chicago. At 52nd Avenue and West Madison Street, Pullman made easy work of Campbell Rovers with a 3-0 win, as they avenged a recent loss in the Association Football League of Chicago. With a biting breeze from the north, passing was made difficult on the slippery pitch that was frozen solid. These conditions reduced scoring chances to dumping the ball into the goalmouth and try for any kind of shot. Pullman had the clear advantage over Campbell, and their goalkeeper Sutton did not handle the ball at all in the first half, only needing to kick it away twice. After McNaughton and Mackie scored in the first half to give Pullman a 2-0 lead, the car builders bunkered down their defense and smothered any Campbell chances. Shalcross added a third goal in the second half to put the game out of reach. At 16th Street and 48th Avenue, the Hyde Park Blues outlasted MacDuff FC 2-0 in the arctic conditions on goals from Cole and Mair. Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the game, as Halsall of MacDuffs and Jack Evans of Hyde Park left the game late in the second half, due to complications from the cold.

1914 Braddock (vs. Bethlehem, Pittsburgh Press) — Braddock FC (Pittsburgh, Pa.) from the 1913/14 season.

Hyde Park will move on to face Pullman in the next round, although there was word that the MacDuff club would lodge a protest over a player in the Hyde Park lineup, who they believed to be ineligible. This protest, along with Niagara Falls Rangers’ protest over their loss against MacNaughton FC, will be reviewed by the USFA and ruled on before the Round 3 draw on Dec. 14. The main attraction of the day was the showdown between Pittsburgh’s Braddock FC and Bethlehem FC at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Braddock had just concluded the first half of the Pittsburgh District League, finishing second (6-1-2) to Homestead Steel Works, though they would later slip down the standings in the second half and finish with a 7-10-3 record. Bethlehem was at the beginning of a season that would provide a glimpse of the future success the team would have when they would become Bethlehem Steel FC the following season. At the time of the game with Braddock, Bethlehem was 3-0-0 in the Allied American League and they were due to face West Hudson in the quarterfinals of the American Cup. By the time their season ended in May 1914, they had won the Allied League with a 13-0-0 record, the American Cup championship and the Allied League Cup.

Despite the threat of poor weather, nearly 3,000 fans, along with 250 supporters who traveled from Bethlehem, turned up at Forbes Field to witness the first National Cup game ever played in the Steel City. Braddock kicked off and just twelve minutes into the match, Bethlehem was awarded a penalty kick. Tommy Fleming stepped up and beat Braddock goalkeeper Marshall for a 1-0 lead, which Bethlehem held on to at half time. For most of the first half, play stayed in the Braddock half of the field, but in the second half Braddock came to life, and with ten minutes gone, Kelly tied the score for the home club. It only took ten more minutes for Braddock to retake the lead on a goal from McCann. The Pittsburgh Press described McCann’s play leading up to the goal as a “scientific exhibition of footwork.”

With five minutes remaining, it seemed as if Braddock would pull off the upset, but Fleming dashed those hopes with a free kick to tie the game at 2-2. With darkness approaching, the lights at Forbes Field were turned on and extra time was soon under way. With two minutes remaining in the first extra period, Fleming earned his hat trick with a goal that put Bethlehem in the lead for good. Fleming’s play was described by the Pittsburgh Press: “This player was by far the best man on the visiting team. He is scientific and as fast as the wind. His aim is sure and his opponents’ goal is in danger when he secures the ball within kicking range.”

The 1913-14 season was Fleming’s first in the United States, having played in Scotland for Greenock Morton. Fleming was lured to the United States, along with numerous other English and Scottish players, by offers of substantially better wages than what was offered at home. His Hall of Fame career would run to 1929, and in his time with Bethlehem he would win the National Challenge Cup four times, the American Cup five times, as well as numerous other league championships.

1913/14 National Challenge Cup – Second Round
December 6, 1913

Braddock FC 2:3 (AET) Bethlehem FC Forbes Field – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring Summary

Bethlehem: Tommy Fleming (PK) – 12th min. Braddock: Kelly – 61st min. Braddock: McCann – 71st min. Bethlehem: Tommy Fleming – 85th min. Bethlehem: Tommy Fleming – 103rd min.

Lineups

Braddock: Marshall , Blackwood, Howe, Beagling, Kelly, Whyte, Anderson, Rattray, Stevenson, Lowther, McCan

Bethlehem: J. Love, George McKelvey, E. Peacock, R. Stewart, Robert “Bobby” Morrison, Mike Lawler, Johnny Galbraith, Edgar Lewis, Jack Lance, Ned Donaghy, Tommy Fleming

Referee: Isaac Wilson

————————————————————

West Philadelphia FC 4:1 Kensington FC Northwestern
44th St. & Parkside Ave. Ballpark – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Scoring Summary

West Philly: Liggett (2), Anderson (2) Kensington – Dunkinfield

Lineups

West Philadelphia: Irwin, Cannon, Campbell, McEwan, Fisher, Gillies, A. Doherty, Kendall, Liggett, Anderson, J. Doherty

Kensington: Warren, Trotter, Dalton, Wambech, Marnock, Cooper, Dunkinfield, Mellors, Ford, Burrows

Referee: E. Waldron Linesmen – McCracken, Blackney

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Peabody FC 1:1 Wissinoming FC
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Scoring Summary

Wissinoming: R. Hyslop – 25th min. Peabody: Marley – 2nd half

Lineups

Peabody: W.R. Hanna, Lynch, Witson, Colston, H. Hanna, Leslie, Hemingway, Evans, Marley, Jacovelli, Meadows

Wissinoming: O’Brien, Coventry, T. Hyslop, Brown, Boyle, Gibbs, R. Hyslop, McBride, Skinnider, McGraw, Simpson

Referee: G. Young Linesmen – Broadley, Cannon

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Pullman FC 3:0 Campbell Rovers FC
52nd Ave. & West Madison Grounds – Chicago, Illinois

Scoring Summary

Pullman: McNaughton, Mackie, Shallcross

Lineups

Pullman: Sutton, Blockley, B. Govier, Dickson, Brown, Taylor, Pollitt, Mackie, Shalcross, Cartwright, McNaughto

Campbell: Linley, Stevenson, Paul, Williamson, Buchan, Thompson, Trueman, Main, Crosbie, Graham, Duncan

Referee: D. McKean | Linesmen: Leach, Cumnmings

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Hyde Park Blues FC 2:0 MacDuff FC
16th Street & 48th Avenue Grounds – Chicago, Illinois

Scoring Summary

Hyde Park: Cole, Mair

Lineups

Hyde Park: Birchall, Heale, Scott, Whiteside, Parker, D. McKay, Craig, J. Evans, Cole, Barlow, Mair

MacDuff: Fraser, J. Moir, McGregor, Paterson, McKay, Qualte, Platt, Brown, Monroe, Halsall, Peat

Referee: W. Napier (Note: Game protested by MacDuff FC over Hyde Park Blues using an ineligible player)

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New Bedford FC 3:0 Presbyterian FC
New Bedford, Mass.

THE FIRST CUP SERIES (THECUP.US)
A detailed look back at the 1913/1914 National Challenge Cup

The First Cup: The inaugural National Challenge Cup gets under way (Nov. 1, 1913)

November 2, 2012 by Chuck Nolan Jr.

Links to the full series are located at the bottom of this story.

November 1, 1913

The 1913/14 National Challenge Cup began got under way on Nov. 1, 1913 with three games scheduled, but only two of them would be played.

The New Bedford FC defeated Farr Alpaca of Holyoke, Mass. in the opening round by a score of 3-1. While New Bedford was a talented squad in their own right, it could be considered a bit of an upset considering that Farr Alpaca, a club sponsored by a textile mill in Holyoke, Mass., had only lost one match in the last three years entering that weekend’s action.

Burnett opened the scoring for Farr Alpaca with a goal from the penalty spot, but it was to be the only blemish on the record of New Bedford’s goalkeeper Howard.

Two minutes later Beeton evened the score with a penalty conversion of his own for New Bedford. Meller gave the home side a 2-1 lead just before halftime and then struck against in the second half to give the home side a 3-1 cushion.

The ball stayed in possession of New Bedford for much of the game, and the New Bedford back line of McManus, Burnett and Littlejohn did a good job at keeping the Alpacas off the scoresheet aside from their lone penalty kick.

Hall and Leitsen also stood out for the Holyoke club according to newspaper reports.

The start of the game was delayed while referee A. Milne and the New Bedford management settled a dispute over the pay Milne was to receive for officiating the contest.

Over in Eastern Pennsylvania, Bethlehem FC completely outclassed the visitors from Disston AA by a score of 7-0. The Sawmakers from Philadelphia were no match for Bethlehem FC (who became Bethlehem Steel FC the following season) in front of their home fans. Bethlehem lost the coin toss and had to start play facing a strong wind, which helped keep the game close for the first fifteen minutes. After receiving a pass from Lance, Fleming was able to beat both Disston backs to score a splendid goal, leaving Disston goalkeeper Errickson with no chance.

From this point, Bethlehem displayed a fine combination passing game, at times bewildering the Disston players. Lewis scored the second goal by taking the ball at midfield and making a solo run through the Disston defense.

With the start of the second half, Bethlehem found themselves with the wind at their back and continued to outclass Disston. The goals came in rapid succession, as Fleming scored his second, Lewis added two more, along with Lance and Stewart to make the final score 7-0. It should be noted that Disston goalkeeper Errickson did a good job to keep the score from reaching double digits with some sensational saves.

There was a third game on the schedule, but it would ultimately not be played as Tacony FC forfeited their opening round match against Kensington Association FC.

Tacony had an American Cup match against the Trenton Hibernians scheduled for the same day, and the club felt the AFA match was more important. The American Cup was an elite-level regional tournament that dates back to 1885. Tacony seemed to value the American Cup a little more because the year before they reached the championship game, losing to the Paterson True Blues, 5-4. Tacony would end up defeating Trenton 3-1 and would eventually reach the Cup Final for the second year in a row where they would fall to Bethlehem Steel.

This represented the struggle that many teams had with playing multiple cup competitions, something that has not gone out of style a full century later. The Philadelphia Inquirer commented on the situation on Nov. 3, 1913, writing “There is something radically wrong in the arrangements when a team is scheduled to play two important cup games in one afternoon.”

1913/14 National Challenge Cup – First Round
Farr Alpaca 1:3 New Bedford FC
Nov. 1, 1913 – New Bedford, Mass.

Scoring Summary
Farr Alpaca: Burnett (PK)
New Bedford: Beeton (PK)
New Bedford: Mellor
New Bedford: Mellor

Lineups

New Bedford: Haworth, Bagley, Ralstrick, Preston, Murphy, Helden, Mellor, Klemm, Morgan, Beeton, McKenna

Farr Alpaca: McManus, Littlejohn, Burnett, McKinstrie, Turner, Gammie, Arnold, Lietzen, Chruikshanks, Hall, Dowdall

Referee – A. Milne | Linesmen – Southworth, Scott

Disston AA 0:7 Bethlehem FC
Nov. 1, 1913 – Bethlehem, Pa.

Scoring Summary

Bethlehem: Fleming (Lance)
Bethlehem: Lewis
Bethlehem: Fleming
Bethlehem: Lewis
Bethlehem: Lewis
Bethlehem: Lance
Bethlehem: Stewart

Lineups

Bethlehem FC: Love, McKelvey, Garvey, Stewart, Morris, Lawler, Fleming, Donaghy, Lance, Lewis, Galbraith

Disston AA: Errickson, Quinn, Dutcher, Henry, Stalger, Gibeson, Whittaker, Eastwood, Sheritt, Shive, Parks

Referee – Charles Mayne | Linesmen – Callum, Shackelton

THE FIRST CUP SERIES (THECUP.US)
A detailed look back at the 1913/1914 National Challenge Cup

The “High-Five” US Open Cup winners

October 4, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

UPDATE: Since this article was published, further historical research by TheCup.us has revealed that there is a third club that has won five US Open Cup titles. The Fall River Marksmen won four titles under that name (1924, 1927, 1930, 1931), but then won a fifth under the name New Bedford Whalers in 1932. Read the full explanation here.

Nearly 100 years into the history of the tournament, there have been a number of clubs that have been dominant forces in the United States Open Cup, but two stand as the Kings of the Cup with a record five championships. On Tuesday, the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer hope to join that elite list with the Bethlehem Steel and Maccabi Los Angeles.

While attempting to make history, the Fire will be looking to stave off a league rival aiming to push Chicago off the stage as the tournament’s greatest MLS club. Relative newcomer Seattle is on the verge of becoming the fourth team ever to three-peat.

The Fire’s connection with the Open Cup began right from the start, as the team captured the tournament title in their expansion season in 1998. They went on to win it three more times (2000, 2003 and 2006).

Similarly, Bethlehem Steel were the dominant club in the early years of the US Open Cup, previously known as National Challenge Cup. A Third Round 1-0 exit to eventual inaugural NCC champion Brooklyn FC in 1914 was quickly forgotten a year later as the club, founded in 1911, returned to capture the championship in its second running. Bethlehem Steel dominated the tournament on defense from the Third Round on, never allowing more than one goal against. They knocked off fellow Pennsylvania side Victor FC in the Third Round, 1-0, the closest contest of the campaign. They downed New Jersey’s Scottish Americans, 3-1 in the Quarterfinals, and dropped another state rival, Homestead FC, 4-1 in the semifinals. They met up with another Brooklyn side in the Final, winning their first championship 3-1, against Brooklyn Celtic.

The second title a year later was a little harder. Another Pennsylvania rival gave them a tough test early on again, as Disston A.A. forced a replay in the second round with a 1-1 draw. Bethlehem Steel would advance with a 3-0 win in the second leg. Philadelphia Hibernian were no match in the Third Round though, falling 6-0. Bethlehem Steel then began to face out of state competition, blanking New Jersey’s West Hudson A.A. 1-0 in the Quarterfinals. Pullman FC of Illinois forced another replay with a scoreless draw in the Semifinals, but Bethlehem Steel kept the run alive with a 2-1 victory. They moved on to win their second consecutive title, 1-0 against Fall River Rovers of Massachusetts in 1916. For the second year in a row they did not allow more than a goal in any game.

The 1916 Final marked the first of three consecutive championship meetings between the two clubs. For the third straight year, Bethlehem Steel went through the tournament without allowing more than a goal in a game, downing familiar faces in Brooklyn Celtic (Second Round, 3-1), West Hudson A.A. (Third Round, 3-0) and Homestead FC (Quarterfinals, 2-1) to reach the Semifinals. They then topped Joliet Steel Works of Illinois 6-0. Fall River, however, copied that playbook in their run and bested Bethlehem Steel, 1-0 in the 1917 championship, spoiling the three-peat bid.

bethlehem-1921 — 1921 Bethlehem Steel team photo. Photo: BethlehemSteelSoccer.org

Though the tournament shrank with the military enlistment of players in the First World War, things remained the same on the pitch for Bethlehem Steel, as they swept through the tournament with an aggregate tally of 11-1 against their three opponents heading into the championship game against those Fall River Rovers. For the first time in four tournaments though, the club allowed two goals as the pair played to a 2-2 draw. Bethlehem Steel would claim their third title with a 3-0 victory in the replay two weeks later.

Bethlehem Steel made it four championships in five years with another dominant run a year later. Again, an early round contest proved the most difficult, as state foe Merchant Ship “A” battled the three-time champs in high scoring Second Round affair, becoming the first to score three goals against Bethlehem Steel in six editions of the tournament. It was not enough, as the favorites won out 4-3 and proceeded to not allow another goal in the tournament, topping New Jersey’s Paterson FC, 2-0, in the 1919 Final.

The run of consecutive championship appearances would come to an end in 1920 for Bethlehem Steel, exiting in the Quarterfinals at the hands of Robins Dry Dock 1-0, after 1-0 and 10-0 wins in the previous two rounds. Robins Dry Dock would go on to win the tournament a year later.

Bethlehem Steel began to make noise again in 1924, with a trip to the Semifinals before being knocked out by Fall River Marksmen, who went on to win the first of their four championships between 1924 and 1931. After taking the 1925 tournament off, Bethlehem came back in familiar form to capture their fifth championship in 1926. They dominated the Eastern Division portion of the bracket with a 12-4 aggregate over four games, again not allowing more than a goal in any game. This set up a meeting with Missouri’s Ben Millers in the Final. Archie Stark scored three goals to help lead the club to a 7-2 victory before a reported crowd of 18,000 at Ebbets Field, home of baseball’s Brooklyn Dodgers.

The club would go on to reach the final four again the following year, the quarterfinals in 1929 and the semifinals in 1930 before folding due to the Great Depression.

While Fall River Marksmen came close to equaling their mark after the team dissolved, it would take nearly 50 years for another club to begin its run for five, despite other challenges from Philadelphia Ukrainians (4 titles in 1960, 61, 63, 66) and New York’s Greek American AA (4 titles in 1967, 68, 69, 74) as well.

A group formed by a group of Israeli expatriates for a simple Sunday recreation team turned competitive in the seventies, when a number of former Israeli national team players immigrated to the area and joined Maccabee AC (Los Angeles).

Much like Bethlehem Steel, defense was key in the Maccabee’s first title run as they swept through the Western Bracket of the tournament without allowing a goal in four rounds. They would defeat Cleveland’s Inter Italian 5-3 in the 1973 Championship.

The club returned to the Final two years later, downing New York City’s Inter-Giuliana, 1-0, for their second title. Maccabee AC would win its third two years later again, with a lopsided 5-1 victory against United German Hungarians of Philadelphia in the 1977 Championship.

The elusive repeat would finally come in 1978, with a 2-0 overtime victory against Connecticut’s Bridgeport Vasco de Gama for the Maccabees’ fourth championship. The club nearly won number five in 1980, falling 3-2 to New York Pancyprian Freedoms in New York, but would break through a year later against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with another 5-1 victory in the 1981 Final. A shot at holding the record alone at six was again spoiled by the Freedoms in 1982, as Maccabee AC were edged out in a 4-3 overtime affair in Chicago.

Bethlehem Steel’s status as the only five-time champion, however, could have easily been untouched until today. All five titles won by Maccabee AC from 1973-81 came during the era of the North American Soccer League, which existed from 1968-84. Perhaps the most famous and arguably most-talented professional league prior to Major League Soccer’s 1996 launch, the NASL did not compete in the US Open Cup, opening the door for the history-making run of the Israeli club.

Though overshadowed by the NASL at the time, one of highlight moments for the tournament and Maccabee AC during the era came in the 1978 Final. The match was held at Giants Stadium (The Meadowlands) in front of a crowd of over 30,000, as part of a doubleheader with the NASL’s New York Cosmos and Tampa Bay Rowdies – a game with a reported crowd of around 70,000.

On Tuesday, over 30,000 fans are expected to come out for a second consecutive year to see who will come out on top in the Battle for Open Cup History.

Notable Semifinal matches in US Open Cup history

August 27, 2011 by

4/18/14 Pawtucket, Rhode Island
New Bedford FC 1-2 Brooklyn Field Club

New Bedford – Beckton 24’
Brooklyn – Robert Millar (2)
Sent Off – Clark (Brooklyn) 34’, Chadwick (New Bedford) 34’

4/26/14 Olympic Park – Paterson, New Jersey
Brooklyn Celtic 6-2 Niagara Falls Rangers (3-0 HT)

Celtic – O’Hallaran (3), King (Campion), Campion, Lonie
Rangers – Kemp, Wallace

The very first Semifinal round of the US Open Cup (then called the National Challenge Cup) saw a pair of Brooklyn teams reach the Final. On April 18, the Brooklyn Field Club, which finished first in the National Association Football League, defeated New Bedford FC 2-1, on two goals by Hall of Famer Robert Millar, after Beckton had given the New Englanders a 1-0 lead. Both teams played much of the game with ten men each, after Clark of Brooklyn and Chadwick of New Bedford were sent off in the 35th minute for fighting.

In the other Semifinal on April 26 Brooklyn Celtic, eventual winners of the New York State Amateur Foot Ball League, easily defeated the Niagara Falls Rangers 6-2. O’Hallaran lead the way for Celtic with a hat trick.

3/17/29 Sportsman’s Park – St. Louis, Missouri
Madison Kennels 7-4 Sparta A & BA

Madison – Bud Grennon (3), Dinty Moore, Worden, Oster, Eddie Flavin
Sparta – Barger (2), Kratochvil, Oster (og)

St. Louis’s Madison Kennels and Chicago’s Sparta A & BA combine for 11 goals, setting a new Semifinal mark that would later be equaled in 1962. Madison’s Bud Grennon led all scorers with three goals, while Barger led Sparta with two.

3/16/30 Polo Grounds – New York, New York
Bethlehem Steel 1-1 Fall River Marksmen (Match Report)

Bethlehem – Sandy Dick
Fall River – Alex McNab 82’

Bethlehem – Fraser, Finlayson, McGregor, Reid, Carnihan, Pitt, Gillespie, Jaap, Stark, Massie, Dick

Marksmen – Reder, McGill, R. McAuley, McPherson, Priestley, Ballantyne, McNab, Gonsalves (Nilsen), Patenaude, J. McAuley, White

Att – 17,000 Referee – C. E. Creighton. Linesmen – F. DeGroof and M. Hutchinson

3/23/30 Battery Park – New Bedford, Massachusetts
(replay) Fall River Marksmen 3-2 Bethlehem Steel

Fall River – Billy Gonsalves 50’, Dave Priestley 67’, Bobby Ballantyne 71’
Bethlehem – Archie Stark 64’ 70’

Bethlehem Steel makes their final appearance in the National Challenge Cup, losing to the Fall River Marksmen 3-2 and ending the first great dynasty of the Cup. After a 1-1 draw at the Polo Grounds in New York, Fall River took the replay at New Bedford. Billy Gonsalves gave the Marksmen a 1-0 lead after 50 minutes, but Archie Stak put Bethlehem ahead with two goals in the middle of the half. Fall River snatched the lead for good on scored from Dave Priestly and Bobby Ballantine. Effects of the Great Depression forced Bethlehem Steel to stop fielding a team after 1930.

Bethlehem made the Semifinals a total of nine times from 1915-1930, including five in a row from 1915-1919, in which they reached the Final each time.

3/6/32 St. Louis, Missouri
(first leg) Stix, Baer & Fuller 3-2 Bricklayers FC

Stix – McCarthy (2), Willie McLean
Bricklayers – Lillie, Coutis

3/14/32 Sparta Field – Chicago, Illinois
(second leg) Bricklayers FC 2-0 Stix, Baer & Fuller

Bricklayers – Munro, Lillie

3/19/32 Sportsman’s Park – St. Louis, Missouri
(third leg) Stix, Baer & Fuller 1-0 Bricklayers FC

Stix – Jack O’Reilly 1’

Stix, Baer & Fuller, featuring Hall of Famers Billy Gonsalves, William Lehman, Alex McNab, Willie McLean, began their run of six straight appearances in the Open Cup Final by defeating Chicago’s Bricklayers SC over three legs in the 1932 Western Final. The team reached the 1932, 1933 & 1934 Finals under the sponsorship of Stix. Baer and Fuller, a St. Louis department store. The team switched sponsorship for the 1935 season, playing as Central Breweries. Sponsorship changed again, and the team reached the 1936 & 1937 finals under the name Shamrocks. The team finally folded after many of its players left to play for another St. Louis club, St. Patricks.

3/24/35 St. Louis, Missouri
(First leg) Central Brewery 2-1 Weiboldt Wonderbolts

4/1/35 De Paul Field – Chicago, Illinois
(Second leg) Weiboldt Wonderbolts 1-1 (aet) Central Brewery

Weibolt – Littie 28’
Central – McNab 30’

4/6/34 St. Louis, Missouri
(Second leg replay) Central Brewery 3-3 (aet) Weiboldt Wodnerbolts

4/14/35 Sparta Stadium – Chicago, Illinois
(Second leg – second replay) Weiboldt Wonderbolts 3-2(aet) Central Brewery (0-2 HT, 2-2 FT)

Weibolt – Monroe (2 PK), Hill
Central – Billy Gonsalves, Bert Patenaude

4/21/35 St. Louis, Missouri
(third leg) Central Brewery 1-0 Weiboldt Wonderbolts

Central – Bert Patenaude 68′

The longest Semifinal matchup was between Chicago’s Weiboldt Wonderbolts and Central Brewery of St. Louis. The three-leg Western Final actually lasted five games. Central won the first game 2-1 in St. Louis. The second leg in Chicago finished 1-1 after extra time. A week later in St. Louis, the second leg replay finished 3-3, meaning a second replay of the second leg would take place a week later in Chicago. That game also went to extra time, but the Wonderbolts managed to come out on top 3-2. Nearly a month after it started, the series finally ended when Central won the decisive leg 1-0.

4/23/44 Winnemac Park – Chicago, Illinois
(first leg) Viking AA 0-2 Morgan Strasser

Morgan – Elgie Grant 21′ 80′

5/7/44 Bridgeville Park – Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
(second leg) Morgan Strasser 9-0 Viking AA (Chi.) (4-0 HT)

Morgan – Aldo Donelli 15′ (Hart) n/a’ , Felix Mitchell (2), Pucker (2), Urbanic, Grant, Pietersek

The most lopsided Semifinal pairing was in 1944, when Pittsburgh’s Morgan Strasser demolished Chicago’s Viking AA 11-0 over two legs. Morgan won the first leg in Chicago 2-0, but the return leg in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania turned into a rout. Aldo Donelli, Felix Mitchell and Pucker each scored twice as Morgan ran away with a 9-0 win, a mark that still stands as the highest score by a single team in a single Semifinal game.

3/28/54 Rancho la Cienega Stadium – Los Angeles, California
Scots SC 0-1 Kutis SC
Att-4,000

The Scots SC of Los Angeles became the first team West of St. Louis to appear in a US Open Cup Semifinal, losing to Kutis SC 1-0. 1954 was also the first year teams from California participated in the US Open Cup, and the winner between Los Angeles and San Francisco went on to face the survivor between St. Louis and Chicago in the Semifinals.

6/10/62 St. Louis, Missouri
Kutis SC 5-6 (aet) San Francisco Scots 6-5

Scots – Tom Dawkins n/a’ 118′

The Scots and Kutis combine for 11 goals in the 1962 Western Final, equaling a mark set by Madison Kennels and Sparta A & BA in 1929 for the most combined goals in a single Semifinal game. Tom Dawkins scored twice for the Scots, including the winning goal with a minute left in extra time. The game was tied 3-3 after ninety minutes, and also marked the first time a club from San Francisco would reach the Open Cup Final.

3/6/71 Seattle, Washington
(1st Leg) Heidelberg Brewers (Sea.) 1-0 Yugoslav SC

3/14/71 Rancho la Cienega Stadium – Los Angeles, California
(2nd Leg) Yugoslav SC 2-0 Heidelberg Brewers

Yugoslav – Karlo Mertisek, Rade Savic

In the last two-leg Semifinal in Open Cup play, San Pedro, California’s Yugoslav SC edged out Seattle’s Heidelberg Brewers on a 2-1 aggregate.

5/27/73 Metropolitan Oval – Queens, New York
New York Greek Americans 1-3 Inter-Italia SC

NYGA – Joe Ognajac 31’
Inter – Valentino Stavole 3’, Vito Colonna 40’, Gianpietro Gasparin 41’)

Cleveland’s Inter-Italia SC halted a six-year streak of New York/New Jersey clubs appearing in the US Open Cup Final, thanks to a 3-1 victory over New York Greek Americans. Inter dominated play for the most part, and were lead by Gianpietro Gasparini, a priest by trade, who played a part in all three of Inter’s goals.

Cleveland started off right away, as Gasparini fed a pass to Valentino Stavole, who beat G-A goalkeeper Joe Canal from 15 yards out after just two minutes of play. The Greeks managed to draw the match level after 31 minutes however, as Joe Ognajac put in a header from close range. Cleveland took the lead for good just before halftime, as Vito Colonna scored in the 40th minute, and Gasparini scored just a minute later. Cleveland kept up the pressure, but missed several chances to further grow the scoreline.

6/3/79 Norton Park – St. Petersburg, Florida
H. Brooks Dodge Chargers 0-3 Brooklyn Dodgers

The St. Petersburg, Florida-based Chargers are the first team from the Southern US to make an appearance in the Semifinals of the US Open Cup. By this time the tournament was split into four regions, and only three teams entered from the southern region.

6/20/87 St. Louis Soccer Park – Fenton, Missouri
Mitre Eagles 5-4(aet) Busch SC (2-2 FT)

Eagles – John Klein 119’ (2), Eddie Kruger, Peter Klein, Andy Churlin
Busch- Steve Trittschuh 85’

St. Louis’s Busch SC tried the game at 2-2 in the 85th minute on a goal from Steve Tritschuh. The teams traded goals in extra time to make it 4-4, and John Klein sent the Eagles to the final with a 25-yard shot in the 119th minute.

6/25/94
Bavarian Leinekugel w/o McCormick Kickers

The Kickers are forced to forfeit since most of the team held tickets to a World Cup game in Orlando that fell on the same day. The team had purchased the tickets well in advance, and were assured the dates for the Open Cup would not conflict.

9/2/97 Stagg Memorial Stadium – Stockton, California
San Francisco Bay Seals 1-2 DC United

The Cinderella run of the San Francisco Bay Seals comes to an end with their Semifinal loss to DC United. The D3 Pro League Seals had upset two MLS teams (Kansas City and San Jose) on their way to becoming the only team from the third tier of US soccer to reach the Semifinals in the Professional Era (1995-present).

9/1/99 Virginia Beach Sportsplex – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-2 Columbus Crew

Rochester – Darren Tilley 68’, Scott Schweitzer 86’, Tom Hardy 90’
Columbus – Robert Warzycha 56’, Brian West 77’

9/1/99 Virginia Beach Sportsplex – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Colorado Rapids 3-0 Charleston Battery

Colorado – Jorge Daly Valdes 55’ 87’, Paul Bravo 82’

For the first time in Pro Era history, two non-MLS teams reach the Semifinals. Rochester’s 3-2 triumph over Columbus paved the way for the only time a lower league club would win the Open Cup title in the Pro Era. While Charleston fell 3-0 to Colorado, their run was catapulted by their famous 4-3 sudden death extra time win over DC United in the Fourth Round. Both games were played in Virginia Beach, Virginia due to the fact that they were scheduled to host the 1998 Open Cup Final, but a hurricane forced a venue change.

8/12/08 Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston Battery 1-1 (aet) Seattle Sounders
Charleston advance on penalty kicks, 4-3

Charleston – Randi Patterson 32’
Seattle – Osvaldo Alonso 20’ (og)

For the only time in the Pro Era, a Semifinal match is contested between two lower league teams, ensuring the Final would feature at least one non-MLS team.

7/21/09 Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, Washington
Seattle Sounders FC 2:1 (aet) Houston Dynamo

The Seattle Sounders, in their inaugural season in Major League Soccer, advanced to the Final in dramatic fashion. Houston’s Ade Akinbiyi put the Dynamo up in the 32nd minute, but the home team wasn’t able to equalize until the 89th minute when Nate Jaqua sent the game into extra time. With all the momentum and the home crowd behind them at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash., Stephen King scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the 95th minute on an assist from Sebastien Le Toux and the club would hold on to the 2-1 lead throughout extra time, despite defender Jhon Hurtado being sent off in the 110th minute. The Sounders become the first Seattle-based team to reach the Open Cup Final since the Mitre Eagles did it in 1987.

1930 National Challenge Cup Results

January 27, 2009 by adamspangler

First Round
Eastern Bracket
1/26/30		New Bedford Whalers	4 : 0	Bridgeport Hungaria
2/2/30		New York Giants	6 : 0	New York Hispano
2/2/30		Brooklyn Wanderers	6 : 0	Monclair Camerons
2/2/30		Hakoah All Stars	3 : 1	I.R.T. Rangers
2/2/30		Fall River Marksmen	5 : 0	Lusitania Recreation
2/2/30		Pawtucket Rangers	3 : 1	Providence Gold Bugs
2/9/30		Newark Portuguese	1 : 8	Bethlehem Steel
New York Nationals receive a bye
(Nationals were shown drawn against Newark in the 1/8/30 New York Times. Newark apparently withdrew)
Western Bracket
12/25/29		Sparta FC (Chi.)	9 : 3	Olympia SC (Chi.)
12/29/29		Madison Kennel SC (St. L)	1 : 3	Hellrungs FC (St. L)
12/29/29		Swedish American FC (Chi.)	1 : 1(aet)	Bricklayers FC (Chi.)
1/5/30	R	Swedish American FC	1 : 2(aet)	Bricklayers FC
12/29/29		Bruell Insurance (Cle.)	5 : 5	Bartunek Slavia (Cle.)
1/5/30	R	Bruell Insurance	0 : 0(aet)	Bartunek Slavia
1/12/30	R	Bruell Insurance	3 : 2(aet)	Bartunek Slavia
12/29/29		Carpenters FC (Chi.)	2 : 2	Yugoslav American SC (Chi.)
1/5/30	R	Carpenters FC	2 : 2	Yugoslav American SC
1/5/30		Ben Miller SC (St. L)	2 : 4	Tablers FC (St. L)
2/3/30		Holley Carburetor (Det.)	6 : 1	Pierpoints FC (Pit.)
2/10/30		Detroit FC	3 : 3	All Scots FC (Det.)
2/17/30	R	Detroit FC	1 : 0	All Scots FC

Second Round
Eastern Bracket
2/15/30		Pawtucket Rangers	3 : 2	New York Nationals
2/16/30		Brooklyn Wanderers	2 : 1	Hakoah All Stars
2/23/30		New York Giants	1 : 2	Bethlehem Steel
2/22/30		Fall River Marksmen	5 : 2	New Bedford Whalers
Western Bracket
2/16/30		Bruell Insurance	2 : 0	Sparta FC
2/23/30		Detroit FC	1 : 3	Holley Carburetor
2/23/30		Tablers FC	3 : 2	Hellrungs FC
2/23/30		Bricklayers FC	1 : 1	Carpenters FC
3/2/30	R	Bricklayers FC	3 : 0	Carpenters FC

Quarterfinals
3/2/30		Brooklyn Wanderers	0 : 2	Bethlehem Steel
3/2/30		Fall River Marksmen	5 : 2	Pawtucket Rangers
3/3/30		Tablers FC	1 : 3	Bruell Insurance
3/9/30		Bricklayers FC	1 : 2	Holley Carburetor

Semifinals
3/16/30		Bethlehem Steel	1 : 1	Fall River Marksmen
3/23/30	R	Fall River Marksmen	3 : 2	Bethlehem Steel
3/23/30		Bruell Insurance	2 : 0	Holley Carburetor

Final
First Leg – at Polo Grounds – New York, New York
3/30/30		Fall River Marksmen	7 : 2	Bruell Insurance
Second Leg – at Luna Park – Cleveland, Ohio
4/6/30		Bruell Insurance	1 : 2	Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen win National Challenge Cup on 9-3 aggregate
KEY – w/o – Walkover, R – Replay