ASL at 100 is a joint history project between Soccer Almanac and Protagonist Soccer. Dan Creel (a contributor on both platforms) will look back over the history of the American Soccer League, month by month, as the centennial of the league is celebrated in 2021. Please check out the Protagonist Podcast feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and most other platforms for the audio version of this article, released on the same day as this publishes.

First Weekend

The first weekend of December saw Philadelphia F.C. continue their winning ways with a 5-3 victory over Falco F.C. at Holyoke on Saturday, December 3rd. Harold Brittan scored yet another brace and Dougie Campbell did the same. On the same day, in Pawtucket, J&P Coats defeated Fall River United 4-2 with Charles Lappin scoring two goals for the victors. Philadelphia’s victory pushed them three points clear of second place Todd Shipyards FC.

On Sunday the three metro area clubs were due to play third round National Challenge Cup matches postponed from the prior weekend. Todd Shipyards was due to host New York FC and Harrison SC was scheduled to host Antler F.C. of Newark. Both matches were again postponed this time due to snow.

On Saturday, December 10th, Philadelphia FC hosted Fall River United on Cahill’s Field at 29th and Cambria Streets. The league leaders continued their league unbeaten streak winning 3-1 off goals from Tommy Fleming, Dougie Campbell and Harold Brittain. While that was the only ASL match of the day, Falco FC traveled to the Lynnwood Avenue grounds at Whitinsville, Mass. and beat the Whitin Machine Works team 4-2 in the third round of the Northern Massachusetts and New Hampshire State Cup. And, J&P Coats were surprised by their old Southern New England League rivals, Fall River Rovers, losing 2-0 in an exhibition match at the Fall River Athletic Grounds.

The next day, the metro area ASL clubs were finally able to play their postponed third round National Challenge Cup matches. In the big tilt, Todd Shipyards hosted New York FC at Todd Field. One minute from the start, New York got on the board after a good combination between Andrew Burnett and Hardy found Harry Cooper who scored the first goal.

Cooper had taken part in the US men’s national team 1916 tour of Scandinavia. He played in the US’ first officially recognized international game against Sweden on August 20, 1916 in Stockholm. The US won the match 3-2 with Cooper scoring the third, game-winning-goal. His second, and final cap, came two weeks later in a 1-1 draw against Norway at Kristiania. Cooper had previously played for New York FC in their inaugural 1916-17 season when they joined the National Association Football League. He later played for Paterson FC and Erie AA before rejoining New York FC for the first ASL season.

Just 20 minutes later, Burnett scored on a breakaway putting New York FC up 2-0 at the half. But, even though down by two goals to start the second half, Todd Shipyards was not done and took the lead scoring 3 goals in the span of 12 minutes from Frank McKenna, Robert Hosie, and Jack McGuire. Andrew Burnett scored his second for New York FC off a corner to tie the score 3-3. But Todd’s Peter Sweeney scored two goals and Todd Shipyards took the exciting match 5-3. Harrison SC had an easier time of it blanking Antler FC 5-0 at Harrison Field. John Heminsley and Davey Brown each scored a brace with Fred Pepper scoring the other.

Celtics No More

That same day, Sunday, December 11th, the ASL held its regular monthly meeting at Hotel Astor in New York City. It was there that the withdrawal of Jersey City’s Celtic FC was made official. M.A. Delaney, head of the club, notified the league that the team had difficulty both putting together a competitive team and landing the Jersey City International League ball park as its playing field. It was reported that the club forfeited a bond of $1000 for failing to finish the season. League Secretary Thomas W. Cahill officially announced that Jersey City had surrendered its franchise to the league. A special meeting of the league was held on Wednesday, December 14 to put together a revised schedule of matches through January 8th.

The following weekend was the first full slate of league matches for the remaining seven clubs. On Saturday, December 17, J&P Coats beat Falco FC 3-1 at Pawtucket, and, in a minor upset, visiting Todd Shipyards drew Philadelphia FC 1-1 in front of 2000 fans at Cahill Field. Todd scored first after 20 minutes of play when Peter Sweeney sent in a goal. Philadelphia struggled without their center forward Harold Brittan who pulled a tendon in his right leg in the Phillies previous match against Fall River United. Although Todd Shipyards played the better match, Philadelphia managed to tie the game halfway through the second period off a penalty kick by their outside left, Tommy “Whitey” Fleming.

On Sunday, Todd Shipyards continued to catch up to Philadelphia by beating New York FC 2-1 at Todd Field. And Harrison SC’s offense continued to click as they easily handled Fall River United 5-1 before 2500 at Harrison Field. John Heminsley scored another brace for Harrison.

End of December

Christmas weekend held a full slate of games for the ASL clubs in both league and cup play. On Saturday, Christmas Eve, Falco F.C. met J&P Coats at Coats Field in Pawtucket for a fourth round National Challenge Cup match. It was a close affair and was tied 3-3 as regulation time wore down. But, 2 minutes before the end of time, Reynolds, the Coats’ left back, fouled Foster of the Falcos in the penalty area. Downie scored on the ensuing penalty kick giving Falco FC the 4-3 win. THinking the foul occurred a few feet outside the penalty area, Coats supporters frew angry and referee Norse had to be escorted from the field to the clubhouse to protect him from the crowd.

On Christmas Day, Harrison hosted New York’s Viking F.C. before 2000 at Harrison Field in a fourth round National Challenge Cup match.. Harrison’s offense continued it’s hot streat beating the Vikings 6-2 with John Heminsley scoring four and Davey Brown the other two.

All seven ASL teams played on Monday, December 26. After scoring 16 goals in their prior three games, Harrison pushed the gas pedal even harder, crushing Falco FC 7-0 at Harrison before 2000 fans. Falco was down 5-0 at half with Heminsley scoring three of the goals. Davey Brown notched another brace with Pepper and Wilson scoring the other two. With Jersey City out of the league, Falco found itself floundering at the bottom of the standings as the year ended. With ice covering half of Coats Fields, the visiting New York FC edged J&P Coats 1-0 in league play. The 2000 in attendance saw Hardy score the only goal of the match a few minutes before the end of the first half.

But the biggest match of the day was the other fourth round NCC clash between the top two teams in the ASL. Todd Shipyards traveled to face Philadelphia FC with a spot in the Eastern Division Semifinals up for grabs. Six thousand came out to Phillies Park to root on their squad but Todd scored a major upset winning 4-1. It was a rough match as the referee let the players get away with physical play.

Early in the match, Harry Ratican, Todd’s all-american St. Louis center forward, opened the scoring after receiving a pass from Jack McGuire. Just 4 minutes later, McGuire scored off a corner kick and made it 2-0 for the visitors. The Phillies scored just after halftime when William Forrest dribbled through two full back and easily beat Pete Renzulli with a low shot. Almost halfway through the second period, George McKelvey scored for Todd Shipyards to make it 3-1. And, later in the half, Philadelphia’s Jock Ferguson was called for a handball in the penalty area resulting in a penalty kick by Adam Smith to make it a 4-1 final for Todd.

At the Fall River Athletic Grounds, Fall River United played an exhibition against the great Fall River Rovers. Stung by not being part of the ASL, the Rovers had something to prove and did so beating the United squad 2-1 in- a spirited match.

At the end of December, Philadelphia FC sat top of the ASL with 10 wins, 2 losses, no defeats and 22 points. Todd was 3 points behind in second. New York and J&P Coats were tied at 15 points a piece. After a successful month, Harrison had moved up the standings with 12 points. Fall River and Falco FC sat at the bottom with 7 and 6 points respectively.

In the next installment, January brings major disruptions to the schedule as bad weather and faltering teams slow the progress of the young league.

- Dan Creel