First self-published in 1948 before being backed by the USSFA beginning in 1960, over the span of three decades Bill Graham’s annual compilation of soccer activities in the US followed in the footsteps of the Spalding Guides Ed Farnsworth examines the publishing history of what are now colloquially known as the Graham Guides.
Quick links to essays by, and interviews with, Len Oliver.
National Soccer Hall of Famer and longtime SASH supporter Len Oliver has passed away at the age of 88.
Ed Farnsworth’s review of matches between US clubs and British ship crew teams between 1890 and 1905 concludes with a look at games in Oregon, California, Hawaii, and Texas
Ed Farnsworth’s review of matches between US clubs and British ship crew teams between 1890 and 1905 continues with a look at games played in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Ed Farnsworth’s review of matches between US clubs and British ship crew teams between 1890 and 1905 begins with a look at matches played in New York and Northern New Jersey.
In the decade after the founding of the Fall River’s East End team, Fall River and Pawtucket rose to be perhaps the preeminent center of soccer in the United States. Then, over the course of three seasons, organized soccer in the cities collapsed. Ed Farnsworth looks at the rise and fall.
Ed Farnsworth looks at how a reunion of old teammates in Philadelphia led to the formation of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Ed Farnsworth looks at the first and third matches of Bethlehem Steel FC’s 1919 tour of Sweden and Denmark.
Elmer Schroeder was elected as the first native-born president of US Soccer in 1932. Two decades later he was murdered.
Ed Farnsworth looks at the opening match of the United States Football Association’s first international tour, which was in Stockholm against a club side, Tigrarna Fotbollkubben.
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.
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 series on the origins of soccer in Philadelphia continues with a look at the development of university- and college-based football in the 1870s.
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.
A look at soccer in Philadelphia during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic.
The series on the origins of soccer in Philadelphia continues with a look at 19th-century football before the 1863 Laws of the Game.
A look at football in colonial and post-independence Philadelphia.
The first installment of a ten-part series on the origins of soccer in 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.
The 1921 All-Scots tour was the first by an international team backed by US Soccer.
Over the 1916 Christmas holiday, Bethlehem Steel FC, holders of the National Challenge Cup and the American Cup, traveled to St. Louis for two games to decide the unofficial title of champion of the United States.
Formed in reaction to the National League baseball-backed American League of Professional Football, the American Association of Professional Football appears to have played its first games before, and outlived, the ALPF.
Aldo “Buff” Donelli’s quartet of goals in the one-off playoff game against Mexico powered the US to a berth in the 1934 World Cup. It would 46 years before the US would defeat Mexico again.
On May 3, 1936, Philadelphia German Americans became the first amateur team, and the first team from the city of Philadelphia, to win the US Open Cup.
Our series on inter-city games involving Philadelphia area teams and St. Louis teams in the 1910s continues. When, a year after winning the American Cup, Tacony FC traveled to St. Louis in 1911, they came back from two goals down to draw 4–4 with St. Louis champion St. Leos in what newspaper reports […]
Tacony FC’s trip to St. Louis in December of 1911 to decide the “championship of America” had ended in disappointment. They would have a chance for revenge in March of 1912 when the St. Leos team of St. Louis embarked on a tour against leading East Coast teams.
Part One of a series looking at inter-city games involving Philadelphia area teams and St. Louis teams in the 1910s. Soccer in the United States at the start of the 1910s was undergoing a rise in organization and popularity. That organization was largely locally based and varied in both scope […]
One formation ruled the game of soccer in Philadelphia for 60 years, the 2-3-5.
Connie Mack is a baseball legend. In Philadelphia in 1901, he also had a soccer team.
Our series of Q&A’s with Philadelphia-born National Soccer Hall of Famer Len Oliver concludes.
Our series of conversations with Philadelphia-born National Soccer Hall of Famer Len Oliver continues.
Our series of Q&As with Philadelphia-born National Soccer Hall of Famer Len Oliver continues.
Women’s soccer has come a long way in the US. In 1922, it came all the way from England to Philadelphia.
A little more than one hundred years ago, the Philadelphia Inquirer led a campaign to abolish the penalty kick.
Our series of Q&As with National Soccer Hall of Famer Len Oliver continues.
In 1919, Bethlehem Steel became the first US club to embark on an overseas tour.
Our series of Q&A’s with US Soccer Hall of Famer Len Oliver continues.
Between 1912 and 1930, Bethlehem Steel FC played in at least 11 different jersey designs.
The first in a series of Q&A’s with National Soccer Hall of Famer Len Oliver.
On June 9, 1916, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, “Word was received in this city yesterday that all arrangements had been completed for an All-American soccer team to tour Sweden and Norway in July. The Sweden Football Association, through its secretary, C.L. Kornerup, has cabled a guarantee of $4000 to cover […]
