Many years ago on a lot at Central Park this sport had its origin when a number of employees of the Bethlehem plant of the Bethlehem Steel company gathered there to play the game.

But things became different after Bethlehem entered the field. Instead of playing Allentown one weekend and Allentown coming down to Central Park to play Bethlehem the next weekend, for these were the only two clubs hereabout, Bethlehem sought other fields to conquer and entered into the thick of strife.

The United States Football Association was organized in 1914 and the creation of this parent body was perhaps one of Bethlehem’s greatest triumphs for it was the local team that was active and foremost in the promotion of this body. From then on soccer took on a different aspect and what followed is now history.

The team will disband and the players given their unconditional release, which means that they will be free agents and privileged to affiliate with clubs of their desire. As for the franchise disposition will probably be left to the Atlantic Coast Soccer League.

Many bids have been [made] for the franchise and the transfer of the team intact but not any of these have been given consideration.

The record of the team reveals five national cup championships, six times champion in the American Cup competition which was abandoned for the season 1924-25 when the post-season series of games were inaugurated to determine the American Soccer League champions. IN fourteen years of league competition, including the old National League, the American League, the Eastern League, the latter the war time loop of the clubs that remained loyal with the U. S. F. A. in its quarrel with the American League, and the Atlantic Coast League, Bethlehem won eight league championships. A recapitulation of games won, lost and draw in these fourteen years of league competition. Bethlehem won 238 games, lost 63 and drew in 52. By these figures it is noted that the games won is more than again as many as the total of lost and drawn. There were other laurels garnered by the Bethlehem team, most noteworthy those attained on an international tour to Sweden.

A complete record of the outstanding attainments of the team is found tabulated in the following resume:

1912-13 – Member of the Philadelphia Allied American League (no championship).
1913-14 – Finished first in the Philadelphia Allied American League, winner of the American Cup competition, winner of the Allied Cup.
1914-15 – Finished first in Philadelphia Allied American League and first champion of the National Cup competition.
1915-16 – No league affiliation. Winner of the National Cup competition; winner of the American Cup.
1916-17 – No league affiliation. Runner-up in National Cup competition; winner of the American Cup.
1917-18 – Member of the National League and runner-up for championship; winner of the National Cup competition; winner of the American Cup.
1918-19 – Winner National League; winner National Cup; winner American Cup.
1919-20 – Winner National League.
1920-21 – Winner National League.
1921-22 – Playing under the name of Philadelphia, first champion of the American Soccer League organized for that season.
1922-23 – Finished second in the American Soccer League.
1923-24 – Finished second in the American Soccer League; Eastern finalist National Cup, finishing runner-up; winner American Cup.
1924-25 – Finished second in American Soccer League, did not participate in National Cup; winner American Cup, no competition; eliminated in second round, American Soccer League post-season series.
1925-26 – Finished four in American Soccer League; winner National Cup; American cup, no competition; eliminated in semi-final round American Soccer League post-season series.
1926-27 – Finished first in American Soccer League; Eastern finalist and runner-up National Cup; American Cup, no competition; eliminated first round in American Soccer League post-season series.
1927-28 – Third in American Soccer League; runner-up Eastern division National Cup; American Cup, no competition; winner American Soccer League post-season series.
1928-29 – First in Eastern Soccer League; semi-finalist, Eastern division National Cup; American Cup, no competition.
1929-30 – Eastern finalist, National Cup; finished runner-up.