Forty-seven games, including league, cup and exhibition affairs comprised the campaigning of the Bethlehem Steel soccer team, which concluded its season with a victory over the New York F. C. on the latter's grounds on Sunday afternoon. The Steel Workers shared with Fall River in winning the soccer trophies, the latter taking the league and National Cup honors and Bethlehem winning the American Cup trophy. In each of the competitions, it is interesting to note that Bethlehem was the Fall River rival in each of the three competitions. Bethlehem finished second in the American League race; lost to Fall River in the Eastern final of the United States Football Association challenge cup, which gave Fall River the right to compete in St. Louis where the title of national champion was won. In the American Cup competition Fall River and Bethlehem again were rivals in the final, Bethlehem winning out.
In the cup competition, Bethlehem shared in victories with Fall River, each winning and losing one game to each other. In the league campaigning four games were played, Bethlehem winning two and Fall River two. The victory of Fall River over Bethlehem in this city was the first defeat of the Steel Workers on the home ground in many years. Bethlehem's victory over Fall River at the latter place was the first home defeat for the national champions during the season just closed. Bethlehem also enjoyed the distinction of being the only club to beat the New York F. C. on the home grounds.
Getting away to a poor start and a slump toward the close of the season robbed the Steel Workers of their chances in winning the American League club honors. In glancing over the resume of the season, it will be noticed that setbacks were encountered where least expected, many of which were sharing the points in draw games.
At the start of the season draw games in which victories would have added substantially to the total points scored by the team, were the opening game with Brooklyn, which was a 1 to 1 tie; Bethlehem then defeated New York F. C., but in the next two games played were held to a tie by New York and then, much to the surprise of soccer followers, were held to a draw game by the National Giants.
The slump which created havoc with the Bethlehems in the league race, came with a defeat at the hands of New York on April 26. On May 4 Bethlehem lost to Brooklyn and then rallied to defeat Fall River in the American Cup final, but in the next league game dropped two more points when Fall River defeated the Steel Workers, 3 to 0. After then Bethlehem won its four remaining league games. However, the damage had already been done.
According to gossip out around the Steel Workers' headquarters, the team will remain intact for next season for the time being at least. If there are to be any released or new acquisitions, the management has made no announcement to that effect at this time. Playing agreements expire with the close of the season, but even so, certain restrictions force players to remain with the clubs with which they have played. They are free agents insofar as their future pursuits do not include their presence with an American League club. There is a verbal agreement in the circuit whereby managers of rivals' teams will not accept a player unless formal notice is served that he has been released and is eligible for any other club.
Following is the resume of the season, just closed:
American Soccer League Games |
||
Date |
Opponent |
Final Score (Beth-Opponent) |
October 7 |
Brooklyn |
1-1 |
October 13 |
New York |
4-3 |
October 14 |
New York |
4-2 |
October 21 |
National Giants |
2-2 |
November 3 |
National Giants |
5-1 |
November 12 |
Philadelphia |
1-0 |
November 16 |
Brooklyn |
2-0 |
December 8 |
Newark |
2-0 |
December 9 |
Newark |
4-3 |
December 15 |
Fall River |
1-0 |
December 22 |
Coats |
6-0 |
January 5 |
Coats |
1-0 |
January 6 |
Fall River |
0-1 |
January 12 |
Brooklyn |
3-0 |
January 19 |
National Giants |
3-1 |
February 16 |
Philadelphia |
2-1 |
March 1 |
Newark |
3-0 |
March 15 |
Coats |
1-1 |
March 29 |
Coats |
2-3 |
March 30 |
Giants |
1-1 |
April 12 |
Philadelphia |
4-0 |
April 26 |
New York |
0-1 |
May 4 |
Brooklyn |
1-2 |
May 17 |
Fall River |
0-3 |
May 25 |
Newark |
4-2 |
May 30 |
Philadelphia |
2-0 |
June 1 |
Fall River |
2-1 |
June 8 |
New York |
4-1 |
American Cup |
||
November 24 |
Philadelphia |
2-1 |
January 13 |
Bedford F. C. |
6-1 |
March 22 |
Fleisher Yarn |
3-1 |
April 20 (semi-final) |
New York |
1-0 |
May 11 (final) |
Fall River |
1-0 |
National Cup Games |
||
October 20 |
Kaywood |
7-0 |
November 10 |
Fairhill |
7-0 |
December 1 (3rd round) |
Philadelphia |
5-0 |
December 25 (4th round) |
New York |
2-2 |
Dec. 30 (4th, replay) |
New York |
4-3 |
January 26 (semi-final) |
Newark |
1-1 |
February 2 (semi, replay) |
Newark |
6-0 |
March 9 (final) |
Fall River |
0-2 |
Exhibition Games |
||
September 30 |
Fall River |
1-1 |
October 28 |
Wolfendenshore |
3-1 |
February 3 |
Trenton Seniors |
1-0 |
April 5 |
All-St. Louis |
3-2 |
April 6 |
All-St. Louis |
2-1 |
April 7 |
Gillespie, Ill. |
4-0 |
Webmaster's note: This summary as published contains several errors, which have been corrected based on game accounts published elsewhere in the Bethlehem Globe. |