Philadelphia Soccer History

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The Philadelphia Phillies & early Philly soccer history

With the approach of the opening of the Major League Baseball and the recent debut of the Philadelphia Union, the PSP takes a look at the connection between baseball and soccer in Philadelphia soccer history and recounts the story of the Philadelphia Phillies’ short-lived soccer team of 1894.

Great moments in Philly soccer history: Philadelphia Hibernians beat the Pilgrims, 1909
History / Philadelphia Soccer History

Great moments in Philly soccer history: Philadelphia Hibernians beat the Pilgrims, 1909

It will probably come as no surprise that the history of English football snobbery directed toward America is almost as long as the history of the game itself. But such snobbery is not necessarily a bad thing. In 1905 and 1909 a team of gentleman amateurs called the Pilgrims landed […]

Great Philly soccer teams: Philadelphia Atoms, part II
History / NASL / Philadelphia Soccer History

Great Philly soccer teams: Philadelphia Atoms, part II

This concludes the two-part “Great Philly soccer teams: Philadelphia Atoms.” You can read Part I here. Before Atoms coach Al Miller took the young team to England to train and to scout for some British players to fill out the roster, back in Philadelphia, Atoms general manager Bob Ehlinger’s marketing […]

Great Philly soccer teams: Philadelphia Atoms, part I
History / NASL / Philadelphia Soccer History

Great Philly soccer teams: Philadelphia Atoms, part I

The Philadelphia Atoms joined the NASL as an expansion team in 1973. They were the first expansion team to win a championship in its first year in any American professional sport. That they accomplished this with a squad managed by an American coach that was largely made up of Americans […]

Great Philly soccer teams: Ukrainian Nationals
History / Philadelphia Soccer History

Great Philly soccer teams: Ukrainian Nationals

The Ukrainian Nationals, also known as “Tryzub” Philadelphia, played in the American Soccer League (ASL) from 1957 until 1970. Along the way they won six national championships, four U.S. Open Cups and two Lewis Cups. They won “the double”  – the league championship and U.S. Open Cup –  in 1961 […]

History / Philadelphia Soccer History

Great Philly soccer teams: Lighthouse

A powerhouse of mid 20th century American soccer, Lighthouse Boys Club won 5 U-19 national championships and provided players to local amateur and professional teams as well as the US national team.

The Ball is Round book
History / Philadelphia Soccer History / Soccer Books

In the book: some essential reading for the Philly soccer fan

Today the Philly Soccer Page introduces a new feature, In the Book, a column reviewing books about soccer. To start things off, here are some essential books that every Philly soccer fan should have on their shelve. Rangers, Rovers & Spindles: Soccer, Immigration and Textiles in New England and New […]

Philadelphia Soccer History / US World Cup History

England, the USA, Philadelphia and the 1950 World Cup

It first started during the unlikely run of the US in the Confederations Cup: was the victory over Spain the US team’s greatest victory since the 1-0 victory over England in the 1950 World Cup hosted by Brazil? If the US had beaten Brazil in the Confederations Cup final, would […]

History / Local Leagues / Philadelphia Soccer History

Clement Beecroft: the father of league soccer in Philadelphia

The origin of soccer in Philadelphia rests squarely on the shoulders of the city’s 19th Century British immigrant population. British immigrants came to work in Philadelphia’s bustling steel and shipbuilding industries but large numbers came to work in the city’s textile trades. The soccer/textile connection can be found both in […]