Paterson F.C. was an early twentieth-century American soccer club based in Paterson, New Jersey. It spent three seasons in the National Association Football League, winning one title, and one season in the American Soccer League.
In 1917, Paterson joined the National Association Football League, winning the 1917–18 championship. When several teams from the NAFBL left the league in 1921 to form the American Soccer League, Paterson did not join them.
A year later, Adolph Buslik, a wealthy New York fur merchant, purchased the club and the former Falco F.C. franchise in the American Soccer League. [1] The club entered the league for the 1922–23 season. Following that season, Buslik moved the franchise to New York and renamed it the National Giants Soccer Club. [2]
Year | Division | League | Reg. season | Playoffs | Challenge Cup | American Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1917/18 | 1 | NAFBL | 1st | No playoff | Quarterfinals | ? |
1918/19 | 1 | NAFBL | 3rd | No playoff | Runner Up | Runner Up |
1919/20 | 1 | NAFBL | 4th | No playoff | ? | ? |
1920/21 | 1 | NAFBL | Withdrew | No playoff | Third round | Third round |
1922/23 | 1 | ASL | 5th | No playoff | Champion | Semifinals |
Bethlehem Steel Football Club (1907–1930) was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1907 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation. Bethlehem Steel FC played their home games first at East End Field in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley, then later on the grounds Bethlehem Steel built on Elizabeth Ave named Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field.
New York Giants was a name used by three different New York City soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894. The second team played in the American Soccer League between 1923 and 1930 while the third team played in the same league between 1930 and 1932.
The National Association Football League (NAFBL) was a semi-professional U.S. soccer league which operated between 1895 and 1898. The league was reconstituted in 1906 and continued to operate until 1921.
Archibald McPherson Stark was a soccer player who became the dominant player in U.S. leagues during the 1920s and early 1930s. He spent nine seasons in the National Association Football League and another twelve in the American Soccer League. He also earned two caps, scoring five goals, as a member of the U.S. national team. He holds the U.S. single-season scoring record with 67 goals scored during the 1924–25 season which is the current World Record. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1950.
David "Davey" Brown was an American soccer forward. He spent most of his career playing for teams in New Jersey and New York, gaining his greatest fame with the New York Giants. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Thomas W. Cahill was one of the founding fathers of soccer in the United States, and is considered the most important administrator in U.S. Soccer before World War II. Cahill formed the United States Football Association in 1913, which later became the United States Soccer Federation. In 1916 he became the first coach of the United States men's national soccer team. Cahill was enshrined in the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1950.
John J. "Rabbit" Hemingsley(also spelled Heminsley) was a U.S. soccer center forward who played the first two U.S. national team games in 1916. He spent seven seasons in the National Association Football League and five in the American Soccer League.
Johnny "Jack" McGuire was a soccer player who played as an inside right who played professionally in both Scotland, Canada, and the United States. Born in Scotland, he earned one cap for the United States national team. He is a member of the United States National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Peter Renzulli was an American soccer goalkeeper. He played in the New York State League, National Association Football League and the American Soccer League, winning three National Challenge Cups. Renzulli was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1951.
Tommy Duggan was an American soccer outside right who played in both the National Association Football League and American Soccer League. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Frederick "Chiddy" Pepper was an English footballer who played as an inside forward. Born in Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, Pepper received a basic education before finding vocation as a fireman on the local railway. Joining Notts County F.C. in 1908 aged 21, he found little success playing in the English Football League and subsequently emigrated to Canada in 1913. Settling in Hamilton, Ontario, Pepper was scouted by industrialist Charles M. Schwab from local team Hamilton Lancashire and joined his Bethlehem Steel F.C. in 1914, an important club in the infancy of organized association football in the United States.
Patrick Butler was an early twentieth-century Irish soccer player who appears to have spent his entire career in the U.S. leagues. He was a member of the Bethlehem Steel teams which won the 1916 National Challenge Cup and the 1917 and 1919 American Cup Butler began his career on the front line, playing both inside and outside forward on both sides of the field. He ended his career at the right half back position.
The American Soccer League, established in 1921, was the first of four different professional soccer sports leagues in the United States to use the ASL name. It was formed by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For several years the ASL's popularity rivaled the popularity of the National Football League. Disputes with the United States Football Association and FIFA, as well as the onset of the Great Depression, led to the league's collapse in spring 1933.
The 1921–22 season was Falco F.C.'s first and only season in the American Soccer League.
The 1921–22 New York F.C. season was the club's first season in the American Soccer League and the inaugural season of the league. The club previously played in the National Association Football League. New York F.C. finished 2nd in the league.
The 1922–23 Brooklyn Wanderers F.C. season was the first season for the club and its first season in both the New Jersey State Soccer League and the American Soccer League. The team was formed by the Bay Ridge F.C. to play in the New Jersey State League while the Bay Ridge team continued to play in the First Division of the amateur New York State Association Football League. The team left the New Jersey State League in the middle of the season to join the American Soccer League as its eighth club.
The 1922–23 Fall River F.C. season was the first season for the club after the Fall River United franchise was purchased and relaunched by Sam Mark. The club continued to play in the American Soccer League and finished the season in 3rd place.
The 1922–23 Paterson F.C. season was the first season for the club in the American Soccer League. Prior to the season, Adolph Buslik, a wealthy fur merchant, purchased the club as well as the former Falco F.C. franchise in the American Soccer League. The club finished the season in 5th place.
The 1923–24 National Giants F.C. season was the second season for the club in the American Soccer League but its first season in New York after playing the previous season as Paterson F.C. Following the 1922-23 season, owner Adolph Buslik transferred the Paterson F.C. franchise to New York and renamed them the National Giants F.C.
The 1923–24 New York S.C. season was the third and last season for the club in the American Soccer League. At the end of February 1924, Adolph Buslik sold the National Giants F.C. franchise to Maurice Vandeweghe. Prior to the purchase, Vandeweghe had been part-owner and manager of New York S.C. with Hugh Magee. The club finished the season in 3rd place.