Soccer Champions Back to Bethlehem
Looking fit as a fiddle and ready to assume responsibilities in the American soccer campaign this year, the Bethlehem Steel F. C., victory-flushed from their successful Scandinavian trip, returned home last night with the splendid record of seven victories, five drawn games and two losses in a total of 14 matches. The record is the greatest ever established by an American soccer eleven in foreign countries and establishes more firmly the claims of the club's admirers as one of the greatest soccer teams in the world. As for this country, there is no dispute to their wearing the crown of American champions, having decisively proven that when they garnered all the honors possible in the last several years. Adding to these laurels now comes an international title, one of the honors most cherished. Barring a few of the members who visited England and Scotland, the major portion of the players arrived yesterday afternoon in New York and lost little time in beating a hasty retreat to this city. Capt. "Jim" Campbell, whom the Swedes acclaimed the most useful member of the team, was one of the absentees, having gone to Scotland for a visit. In the party were: A. Blakey, D. Brown, W. Duncan, T. Fleming, J. Heminsley, T. Murray, H. Ratican, J. Robertson, A. Stark, and G. Tintle, players; W. Sheridan, trainer; T. W. Cahill, manager; E. J. Viborg, interpreter; Axel Stern, masseur. Of these, Blakey, Heminsley, Murray, Robertson and Tintle were members of the American team that visited Scandinavia in 1916. In addition to the Captain Campbell, J. Ferguson, S. Fletcher, W. Forrest, G. McKelvey, and F. Pepper took the opportunity of visiting their old homes in Great Britain. Archie Stark played in 13 of the games and Brown in 12. Heminsley was the most prolific scorer, having eight goals to his credit. Of the 14 games, all except the one at Copenhagen were played in Sweden, as Norway would not meet the terms of the Swedish Association, which made the contract with Bethlehem. The opening match, which drew 30,000 people, was attended by the King of Sweden.
A summary of the scores follows:
Opponents |
Result |
Beth. |
Opp. |
Almanna, Stockholm |
Drawn |
2 |
2 |
Tigrarna, Stockholm |
Won |
1 |
0 |
Provinces, Stockholm |
Won |
2 |
1 |
Djurgarden, Stockholm |
Drawn |
1 |
1 |
Norrkopping |
Drawn |
1 |
1 |
Heisingborg (All-Skano) |
Won |
4 |
0 |
Copenhagen |
Drawn |
1 |
1 |
Malzo |
Lost |
2 |
3 |
Kamraterna, Gothemburg |
Lost |
1 |
3 |
Orgryte, Gothemburg |
Won |
1 |
0 |
Norrkoping |
Won |
1 |
0 |
All-Stockholm |
Won |
1 |
0 |
All-Sweden, Stockholm |
Won |
3 |
2 |
Hannarby, Stockholm |
Drawn |
0 |
0 |
Total -- Seven victories, five draws, two loses. Total goals -- Bethlehem 22; opponents, 14. |
Club Managers Greeted Tourists
When the steamship Stavangerfjord, of the Norwegian-American Line, docked in Brooklyn yesterday afternoon, the soccer players were greeted with a reception staged by several rival club managers. While congratulations naturally were in order, it may be safely said that these "receiving" club managers did not pass up the time and expense solely to welcome the home-coming players but with a more beneficial purpose in view. Word apparently had been received that a number of the members of the club under the wing of Thomas W. Cahill, secretary of the U. S. F. A. had not yet attached their signatures to a Bethlehem contract and it was in hopes that they might be successful in luring these stars into their fold that the gathering of six rival club managers at the docks wen the steamship unloaded the passengers was staged. Among the travelers who have probably not yet signed for the season were A. Blakely, D. Brown, Archie Stark, G. Tintle and J. Heminsley, most all of whom played a prominent part in the Steel Workers victory. Particularly was the playing of Stark, Heminsley and Brown, a bulwark of strength to the Bethlehem crowd and their leaving now would no doubt have some effect on the rating of the Bethlehem team in starting in the American contests. It is almost safe to say, however, that some of these stars will be retained and it would be no surprise if a conference with the local authorities would result in the signatures to forms in the next few days. The Bethlehem team apparently fully realizes what the services of these players mean to the aggregation and it is quite likely that those approached have already decided on their future. William Sheridan, manager of the Bethlehem club, accompanied the tourists as their trainer and it is certain "Billy" was on the job while constantly in contact with the players. Then again the new men have adopted the style of the Bethlehem team, a style that proved disastrous to the foreign teams and one that surely would be effective in the American games.