Foremost in soccer in Bethlehem during the past season as in all previous seasons for a good many year was the campaigning of the Bethlehem Steel Soccer Team. Bethlehem did not win any honors in this branch of sport which closed early in spring , but had the satisfaction of remaining as a dangerous contender in the American Soccer League up to the very last game played and also of advancing in the rounds of the cup competitions before eliminated. Probably when the task is assumed of chronicling a brief result of activities at the close of the year 1924, it will be with reference to the Bethlehem Steel Soccer team as a champion, either in the American League, National or American Cup competitions in which Bethlehem, as the old year passes out, is farther advanced than any other soccer team in the country.
2 -- At Bethlehem, William Carnihan, center halfback, was signed up by the Bethlehem F. C.
6 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem F. C. figured in 1-1 tie with J & P Coats.
13 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem F. C. defeated Paterson, 2-1, in American League contest.
20 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem F. C. took lead in American Soccer League race by defeating Fall River, 3-2.
25 -- At Bethlehem, Tom Maxwell, inside left, joined forces of Bethlehem F. C.
4 -- At Brooklyn, Bethlehem F. C. defea . . . in exhibition game
3 -- At New York, Bethlehem F. C. defeated New York, 1-0.
17 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem F. C. defeated the Phillies, 5-1.
24 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem F. C. defeated New York, 2-1, when Young, Bethlehem fullback, scored wining goal.
31 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem F. C. defeated Fall River, 6-1.
2 -- At Philadelphia, Bethlehem F. C. defeated Philadelphia F. C., 2-0.
8 -- At Brooklyn, Bethlehem F. C. and Brooklyn tied in soccer, 3-3.
14 -- At Pawtucket, Bethlehem F. C. defeated J & P Coats, 1-0.
19 -- At Fall River, Bethlehem F. C. and Fall River tied in soccer, 1-1.
21 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem F. C. shut out Philadelphia 5-0.
28 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem F. C. defeated Harrison, 2-0.
6 -- At Clifton, N. J., Bethlehem F. C. lost to Paterson in soccer, 3-2.
7 -- David Carson, a goal tender, was announced as having signed with Bethlehem Steel soccer club.
6 -- James Cassidy was announced as having signed a form to play soccer with the Bethlehem Steel Soccer team.
6 -- At Brooklyn, Bethlehem Steel Soccer team and Brooklyn Wanderers played a one goal tie in an American League game.
13 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem Steel soccer team defeated New York F. C., 4-2.
14 -- At New York, Bethlehem Steel soccer team lost first American League game to New York F. C., 4-2.
21 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem Steel Soccer team defeated Kaywood Club of Philadelphia, in first round National Cup.
28 -- At Philadelphia, Bethlehem Steel soccer team defeated the Wolfenden-Shore team in exhibition game, 8-1.
3 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem Steel soccer team defeated National Giants, 5-1, in American League game.
10 -- At Philadelphia, Bethlehem F. C. eliminated Fairhill F. C. in a National Cup game by the score of 7-0.
17 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem Steel soccer team defeated Brooklyn F. C., 2-0.
24 -- At Philadelphia, Philadelphia F. C., was eliminated in the National Cup competition by Bethlehem Steel soccer team, 2-1.
1 -- At Bethlehem, Bethlehem F. C. decisively defeated the Philadelphia F. C. aggregation in soccer tilt played at Steel Field by the score of 5-0.
8 -- Bethlehem Steel soccer eleven added another win to its string of victories by defeating Newark F. C. by 4-3 score.
9 -- At Newark, N. J., Bethlehem Steel Soccer team again defeated Newark F. C. by 4-3 score.
12 -- Bethlehem Steel soccer officials signed Harry Oellermann, of St. Louis, for remainder of season.
15 -- The Bethlehem Steel soccerites handed Fall River a setback by a 1-0 score in a game played on the Steel Field.
23 -- Bethlehem Steel soccer team defeated the J & P Coats aggregation six goals to none.
25 -- Bethlehem F. C. soccer eleven played tie game with New York F. C. Score 2-2.
30 -- Bethlehem Steel defeats New York F. C. in soccer at New York, 4 to 3, in a national cup contest.
Soccer football made such encouraging strides during the past year that it is fast approaching a state where it may shortly be recognize as a "major sport." Over 10,000 people watched the final for the national challenge trophy under the auspices of the United State Football Association at Harrison, thereby equalizing the best attendance in New England, where the game has long enjoyed a strong foothold.
So encouraging was this that the management of the Paterson Football Club, to which was awarded the national championship, after a tie with the Scullin Steel Football Club of St. Louis, applied for a New York city franchise, as a result of which the National Giants were organized, with headquarters at the Polo Grounds, where the important games so far this season have drawn good crowds.
The National Giants are one of the eight teams entered in the American Soccer League, the championship of which was won by the J & P Coats Football Club of Pawtucket, R. I., with 44 points, followed by Bethlehem, 43; Fall River, 35, and New York, 34.
The Fleisher Yarn Football Club of Philadelphia was the winner of the cup of the American Football Association, the history of which dates back to 1884. The Brooklyn Wanderers captured the cup of the Southern New York Football Association and the Lexington Football Club holds the championship of the New York State Football League. The annual international series under the auspices of the New York Footballers Protective Association was won by America. The record now reads: American, 2; England 3; Scotland 8; Ireland, 2. Princeton won the intercollegiate championship after a tie with Pennsylvania.