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The "Classic" ASL logo was not adopted until the 1960s​

In 1921, 8 Soccer teams that were fully professional broke off from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. The teams were frustrated with the bizarre mix of Professional, Semi-Professional and Amateur teams that filled the leagues. With the backing of the United States Football Association (USFA) the teams established the American Soccer League (ASL). The ASL was an attempt to create a dominant top tier of American soccer. The 8 teams were:

Holyoke Falcos
Harrison Soccer Club
New York Field Club
Philadelphia Field Club
Fall River United
J & P Coats
Todd Shipyards Football Club
Jersey City Celtics

After only 5 games Jersey City folded, leaving the remaining 7 teams to compete the season. Philadelphia was backed by the powerful owners of Bethlehem Steel and was backed by large money and a history of greatness while playing in Bethlehem. It came as no surprise the small but growing soccer fan base that Philadelphia won ahead of New York and Todd Shipyards. Meanwhile Fall River and Holyoke languished at the bottom.

In the National Challenge Cup, organized by the USSF, ASL teams dominated the Eastern bracket, with Todd Shipyards winning the honor of appearing in the final. However they were disappointedly defeated for the cup by Scullin Steel a team from what was the other strongest league in the nation, the St. Louis Soccer League (SLSL).

The offseason saw the collapse of the flailing Falcos into bankruptcy and dissolution. The same fate nearly awaited Fall River, but they were suddenly purchased by local businessman Sam Mark, who renamed them the Marksmen and began pouring money into the team. Despite a finals appearance in the challenge cup Todds Shipyards also fell out of existence. Monetary issues plagued even the rich owners of Philadelphia who sold many players and moved their team back to Bethlehem where they enjoyed strong fan support. This allowed a new group of investors to form a new team called Philadelphia that got itself into the league. Meanwhile two teams that had not joined the ASL upon its founding signed on, Patterson FC and the Brooklyn Wanderers, bringing the league up to 8 teams.

Sam Mark's investment turned out well as the newly minted Marksmen finished 3rd, behind a still strong Bethlehem and J & P Coats, who ended up winning the league of Bethlehem Steel by a narrow margin. Despite a reputation for strength from their old leagues both Patterson and the Wanderers struggled. Meanwhile Philadelphia was the opposite of last season's as they languished at the bottom of the table. The challenge cup was won by Patterson over Scullin Steel, despite the former's poor performance in the ASL. Indeed Patterson was quick to dominate the defending champions.

Their ownership capitalized on this victory and moved them to New York City, renaming themselves the Giants. Meanwhile Harrison folded due to poor finances and ended up being replaced with the Newark Skeeters.

Sam Mark's investment in Fall River payed off in 1923-24, as Fall River sported an impressive lineup and cruised to victory in the league with a 6 point victory margin ahead of Bethlehem. Philadelphia, Newark and the Giants languished at the bottom.

In the challenge cup Fall River completed the first double in ASL history winning every game in the eastern bracket easily except a scare by Abbot Worsted, a minor Massachusetts team. They then defeated Vesper Buick of the SLSL to win the National Challenge Cup.

The ASL offseason saw the collapse of New York Field Club as well as the addition of 5 new teams. First was a well financed Boston team. Then there were the New Bedford Whalers, made up of the remnants of the team that had dissolved when Fall River United (Now the Marksmen) had formed. Indiana Flooring was actually a New York team to replace NYFC. A team in Providence was formed. The new teams were rounded out by Fleisher Yarn, a newly professional corporate team that had been an amateur power.

The season saw another win for the Fall River Marksmen, again ahead of Bethlehem Steel. The newer teams did relatively well, Providence, New Bedford and Boston all finished in the top half, though Fleisher found itself unable to adapt and Indiana Flooring found itself struggling as well.

The Challenge Cup nearly didn't happen. Disputes between Professional teams and the USFA over who exactly was the power in American soccer reared its head. Teams from the ASL, and the SLFL for that matter, wanted a higher percentage of gate revenue for the cup as well as compensation for transport costs. The USSF meanwhile sought to assert its control over the clubs, especially with FIFA breathing down its neck about the ASL's habit of luring British players to America with lucrative contracts. The two sides stood at an impasse until the ASL and SLSL threatened to hold their own championship. The USFA agreed to a last minute deal however[1], lowering their cut from 33% to 10%. The ASL agreed to attend, however the SLSL wouldn't budge, an action that would permanently damage the league's relationship with the USFA. In any event the dominant Fall River team stormed their way through the bracket to face the unheard of Chicago Canadian Club in the final, who they smashed 5-2.

However in their plan to boycott the Challenge Cup the ASL had created a league cup, called the Lewis Cup, for determining their representative against the SLSL. Liking the idea of more revenue however the teams proceeded to go through with it anyway. It ended with a shocking defeat to the heavily favored Fall River by the upstart Boston.

Soccer was now becoming more and more popular in America, battling Football for the prize of second place to Baseball.

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American Soccer Cup Terminology:

League Championship: Wins ASL Regular Season
League Cup: Wins the ASL League Cup
Challenge Cup: Wins the National Challenge Cup

Double: Wins Challenge Cup and League Championship
Cup Double: Wins League Cup and Challenge Cup
League Double: Wins League Championship and League Cup
Triple Crown: Wins League Championship, League Cup and Challenge Cup

*****
LibLine -> Books -> Historical Fiction -> The Widening Gyre by Jason Rosenberg

The Widening Gyre
Based off of real historical tales of Soccer teams that lasted one or so seasons before collapsing The Widening Gyre tells the story of Johnson Garments, a soccer team assembled by a textile baron in New Haven Connecticut. Brian Johnson uses his fortune in an attempt to build up a strong team. Starting with some local boys led by factory worker Billy Hatch the teams begins to rise from the cesspit local leagues to the top of the food chain. Conflict erupts with the arrival of Scottish star, Arthur Shilling. Shilling proves controversial and while the team keeps winning it starts to tear itself apart. All the while Johnson tries to maneuver his team into the American Soccer League while avoiding the black hole of bankruptcy.

Praise:

James Frasier said:
A fascinating read.

Jane Clarke said:
Brilliant work all around. An in depth tale of the ever futile, ever successful, ever present American dream

A must read for anyone interested in the shady origins of our favorite sport
*****

1: POD
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