1918 National Challenge Cup

The United States had recently entered World War I, and the soccer world felt the effects as increasing numbers of players joined the armed forces to wage battle in Europe. Soccer was not as hard-hit as some other sports, but all leagues felt the impact; in fact the Cechie team of Chicago lost every member of its roster to enlistment. The United States Soccer Football Association [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Soccer_Football_Association] issued a call to its member associations for teams to resist the temptation to strengthen their teams at the expense of others -- when wealthy, but decimated teams eye the poorer but complete teams, their wallets and checkbooks should remain pocketed in the name of fair play. A welcome consequence of the war situation was a willingness of the USFA's own warring factions to bury the hatchet and work together in relative harmony during those trying times. Many soccer organizations launched fund raising campaigns and benefit matches to raise money to provide support for US soldiers through, among other means, the provision of soccer equipment and gear to enhance their recreational opportunities. One such project was the Soccer Football Chain Letter Fund launched by Thomas Cahill and the USFA [ [http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1918.html The Year in American Soccer - 1918] ] .

Other welcome events included record attendance figures in some late-round games of the National Challenge Cup that were well promoted. One of the major topics of discussion was the pros and cons of substitutes. At the time the laws did not specifically allow nor outlaw substitutes per se, but the consensus was that eventually they would become a reality. For the 1917-18 year, the USFA reported receipts of $6,318.64 and disbursements of $3,034.39, giving the USFA a net worth of $2,784.25 in cash and one $500.00 Liberty Bond.

Open Cup Bracket

"Home teams listed on top of bracket [ [http://usopencup.com/1432/1918/index_E.html USOpenCup.com] ] "16TeamBracket | RD1=Third Round
Dec 25-Mar 23
RD2=Quarterfinals
March 2-24
RD3=Semifinals
Mar 30,Apr 20
RD4=Finals
May 5,19
RD1-seed01=PA
RD1-team01=McKeesport F.C.
RD1-score01=9
RD1-seed02=PA
RD1-team02=Rochester Celtics
RD1-score02=0
RD1-seed03=PA
RD1-team03=Bethlehem Steel F.C.
RD1-score03=2
RD1-seed04=PA
RD1-team04=Disston A.A.
RD1-score04=1
RD1-seed05=IL
RD1-team05=Joliet F.C.
RD1-score05=2-9
RD1-seed06=IL
RD1-team06=Scottish Americans
RD1-score06=2-2
RD1-seed07=OH
RD1-team07=Cleveland F.C.
RD1-score07=3
RD1-seed08=MI
RD1-team08=Corinthians
RD1-score08=1
RD1-seed09=MA
RD1-team09=Lynn Hibernians
RD1-score09=6
RD1-seed10=MA
RD1-team10=Fore River
RD1-score10=1
RD1-seed11=MA
RD1-team11=Fall River Rovers
RD1-score11=3
RD1-seed12=MA
RD1-team12=Pan-Americans
RD1-score12=1
RD1-seed13=NJ
RD1-team13=West Hudson A.C.F.
RD1-score13=4
RD1-seed14=NY
RD1-team14=New York F.C.
RD1-score14=3
RD1-seed15=NY
RD1-team15=New York IRT
RD1-score15=3
RD1-seed16=NJ
RD1-team16=Paterson F.C.
RD1-score16=4
RD2-seed01=PA
RD2-team01=McKeesport F.C.
RD2-score01=0
RD2-seed02=PA
RD2-team02=Bethlehem Steel F.C.
RD2-score02=5
RD2-seed03=IL
RD2-team03=Joliet F.C.
RD2-score03=4
RD2-seed04=OH
RD2-team04=Cleveland F.C.
RD2-score04=2
RD2-seed05=MA
RD2-team05=Lynn Hibernians
RD2-score05=0
RD2-seed06=MA
RD2-team06=Fall River Rovers
RD2-score06=5
RD2-seed07=NJ
RD2-team07=West Hudson A.C.F
RD2-score07=4-5
RD2-seed08=NJ
RD2-team08=Paterson F.C.
RD2-score08=4-1
RD3-seed01=PA
RD3-team01=Bethlehem Steel F.C.
RD3-score01=4
RD3-seed02=IL
RD3-team02=Joliet F.C.
RD3-score02=0
RD3-seed03=MA
RD3-team03=Fall River Rovers
RD3-score03=3
RD3-seed04=NY
RD3-team04=West Hudson A.C.F
RD3-score04=1
RD4-seed01=PA
RD4-team01=Bethlehem Steel F.C.
RD4-score01=2-3
RD4-seed02=MA
RD4-team02=Fall River Rovers
RD4-score02=2-0

(*) replay after tied match

Final

First game

footballbox
date = May 4, 1918

team1 = Fall River Rovers (MA)
score = 2–2 (overtime)
report = [http://www.geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/gl050618.html (Report)]
team2 = Bethlehem Steel (PA)
goals1 = J.J. Sullivan 10'
M. Chadwick 45'
goals2 = Ratican (Fleming) 4'
Fleming (Murphy)
stadium = Fall River, Massachusetts
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Charles Creighton, New York. (USA)

Replay

footballbox
date = May 19, 1918

team1 = Bethlehem Steel (PA)
score = 3–0
report = [http://www.geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/gl052018.html (Report)]
team2 = Fall River Rovers (MA)
goals1 = Ratican (Ferguson) 30'
Pepper 32'
Ratican (Fleming) 75'
goals2 =
stadium = Federal League Park, Harrison, New Jersey
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Charles Creighton, New York. (USA)

References

External links

* [http://www.soccer.on.ca/osn.nsf/1422de1221eb9886852568170050f4f6/de33d85c9cead5d4852570d7005423a1?OpenDocument National Challenge Trophy]
* [http://www.geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/1917.html Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club, 1917-1918]
* [http://www.hickoksports.com/history/soccuschamps.shtml HickokSports.com]
* [http://news.google.com/archivesearch?hl=en&q=national+challenge+cup&as_ldate=1918&as_hdate=1918&um=1&ie=UTF-8&scoring=t&sa=X&oi=archive&ct=title National Challenge Cup - Google News Archive]
* United States Soccer Football Association
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9054975/National-Football-League Britanica Online Encyclopedia]
* [http://www.soccer-for-parents.com/us-soccer-history2.html#dynasties US Soccer History Page2]