1915–16 American Cup

Soccer tournament August 2023 The 1916 American Cup was the annual challenge cup held by the American Football Association. The 1916 edition included 37 teams. The title was won by Bethlehem with a 3–0 win over the Scottish Americans courtesy of a hat trick by Neil Clarke making Bethlehem the first team to win the American and National cups in the same season. American Cup 1915–16 AFAball.jpg 100px United States October 1915 – June 1916 37 Bethlehem 2 Scottish American 1915 1917 Preliminary round The draw for the preliminary and first rounds was held October 2, 1915 at the Continental Hotel in Newark, NJ. The Preliminary round was to be played by October 17 and the First round by October 31."Soccer Enemies Caught In Draw". (October 3, 1915). The Sunday Call, p.18 col.1 The Celtic club of New Bedford withdrew. New England District October 17, 1915 Springfield FC w/o "No Opponent For Local Soccer Club". (October 15, 1915). Springfield Union, p.23 col.2 Celtic Springfield, MA October 31, 1915 General Electric (MA) GillispieTaylorLaw SmithHarrison 3–2 "General Electric Wins First Round National Cup". (November 1, 1915). Daily Evening Item, p.6 col.6 Smithfield Avenue Little River, Lynn, MA 500 Scott New Jersey District October 17, 1915 Bunker Hill PC 0–0 Doc (October 18, 1915). "Sport Notes". Paterson Evening News, p.6 col.3 West Hudson Juniors Olympic Park, Paterson, NJ C. Ward replay October 24, 1915 West Hudson Juniors 5' Allen30' McCallum 2–0 "West Hudson Jrs Win Cup–Tie game". (October 25, 1915). Newark Evening News, p.22 col.2 Bunker Hill PC Clark Field, East Newark C. Ward New York District October 17, 1915 Degnon Boys 0–0 "Opening Game For A.F.A. Cup". (October 18, 1915). Brooklyn Daily Eagle, p.2 col.5 IRT Strollers Degnon Field, Long Island City A. Burnside replay November 7, 1915 IRT Strollers 2–1 "With The Soccer Elevens". (November 8, 1915). The Sun, p.10 col.8 Degnon Boys Lenox Oval, Manhattan Philadelphia District October 16, 1915 Wanderers Weldon (3)Graham (1) Lunn 4–1 "Wanderers Defeat The Rangers". (October 17, 1915). Philadelphia Inquirer, p.14 col.3 Rangers Philadelphia, PA Benjamin Groves First round The Chicopee Rovers forfeited to Fore River of Quincy, MA while New York Hibernian forfeited to General Electric of Schenectady, NY. The Greenville Sporting and Soccer club had to replay the Olympic club of Paterson after the game was protested. The IRT Strollers protested the replay against Brooklyn for an ineligible player and proceeded to play a third game. Yonkers protested their replay because Clan MacDonald did not have an enclosed field so no gate was taken and a third game was ordered. New England District October 23, 1915 Chicopee Rovers LoganLowe 8' HarrisonWood 2–2 "Rovers Play Draw With Fore River". (October 24, 1915). Springfield Union, p.2 col.1 Fore River Rovers Imperial Park, Chicopee, MA Sam Irvine (Holyoke) October 30, 1915 Farr Alpaca 48' Hall 88' Austin 1–1 "Alpacas In A Tie". (October 31, 1915). Springfield Sunday Republican, p.6 col.3 Bridgeport City Berkshire St. grounds, Holyoke, MA 600 Sam Irwin (Holyoke) October 31, 1914 Pan–American 50', 87' Tom Adams 2–0 "Pans Win From Springfields". (November 1, 1915). Evening Herald, p.6 col.6–7 Springfield FC Athletic grounds, Fall River, MA 200 Smith (Fall River) January 8, 1916 Fall River Rovers 31' Jack Dalton43' Tommy Swords 2–0 "Rovers Turned Current On And Blanked The Electrics". (January 10, 1916). Fall River Daily Globe, p.6 col.6–7 General Electric (MA) Athletic grounds, Fall River, MA 700 Thomas Lambie (Boston) replays October 30, 1915 Fore River Rovers w/o "Some Great Soccer Games Being Played". (November 22, 1915). Boston Globe, p.7 col.3 Chicopee Rovers Quincy, MA November 7 , 1915 Bridgeport City SatterwaithHappinstall 2–0 "Cites Trounce Farr Alpacas In 1st Round". (November 8, 1915). Bridgeport Evening Post, p.15 col.1–2 Farr Alpaca Aerodrome, Bridgeport, CT 600 J. Miller (New Haven) New Jersey District October 31, 1915 Alley Boys 3' Del Brierly Hemsley (2)Gradwell 1–3 "Scottish–Americans Down Alley Boys". (November 1, 1915). Newark Evening News, p.28 col.2 Scottish Americans Clark Athletic Field, East Newark Charles Creighton October 31, 1915 West Hudson 10' Ward 87' Harry Neil 1–1 "Jerseys Hold West Hudsons To A Tie". (November 1, 1915). Newark Evening News, p.28 col.3 Jersey A.C. Federal League Park, Harrison Alan Montgomery October 31, 1915 Haledon Thistles 17' White 7' MeduskeyMeduskey55' J. Sherlock 1–3 "Thistles Lose Cup–Tie Game". (November 1, 1915). The Morning Call, p.3 col.5 Kearny Athletics Olympic Park, Paterson, NJ C. Ward October 31, 1915 Babcock & Wilcox 35' Bert Holden2H' Ted Finn 15' Jack Parkinson 2–1 "Babs Take American Cup Contest". (November 1, 1915). Evening Review, p.3 col.3–4 Greenville Rovers Bayonne, NJ Andrew Laurie replay November 7, 1915 Jersey A.C. 40' James Ford 1–0 "Jerseys Win Cup Tie Replay Game". (November 8, 1915). Jersey Journal, p.8 col.2 West Hudson Jersey City Baseball Park Allan Montgomery New York District October 31, 1915 Yonkers 55' Carver 12' Elliot 1–1 "Exciting Game Here For A.F.A. Cup". (November 1, 1915). Yonkers Herald, p.10 col.6–7 Clan MacDonald Tibbets Field, Yonkers, NY A. Burnside October 31, 1915 Columbia Oval 10' O'Hare30', 55' Ellis 0–3 "Brooklyn Celtics Win Soccer Cup Tie". (November 1, 1915). New York Tribune, p.15 col.8 Brooklyn Celtic Lenox Oval, Manhattan W. Hollywood October 31, 1915 Continentals H.HayesLonie (2) 3–0 West Hudson Junior Harlem Oval, Manhattan Vaughn E. Williams November 8, 1914 General Electric (NY) w/o "Soccer Football Card Varied One". (December 16, 1915). Passaic Daily Herald, p.7 col.3 Hibernian Bayonne, NY M. Charles Ward November 21, 1915 Brooklyn 15' Dickson75' Vandeweghe 17' Young35' Reilly 2–2 "Brooklyn Sockers Draw In Cup Ties". (November 22, 1915). Brooklyn Daily Eagle, p.2 col.3–4 IRT Strollers Lenox Oval, Manhattan Allan Montgomery replays November 7, 1915 Clan MacDonald 70' Elliot 1–0 "Local Clean Up On Soccer Fields". (November 8, 1915). Brooklyn Daily Eagle, p.3 col.4 Yonkers Taft's Oval, Brooklyn, NY A. Burnside November 28, 1915 IRT Strollers Spicer (2)Shanholt 0–3 "Spicer Stars For Brooklyn". (November 29, 1915). Brooklyn Daily Eagle, p.3 col.2 Brooklyn West Side Park, Jersey City A. Montgomery January 9, 1916 IRT Strollers 10'Hunziker 0–1 "Brooklyn Reaches Second Cup Round". (January 10, 1916). Brooklyn Daily Eagle, p.3 col.3 Brooklyn Harlem Field, New York A. Montgomery January 16, 1916 Clan MacDonald 15' Madden35' N. Agar70' Harrower Ernie Garside (pk) 3–1 "Clan MacDonals Clinch It". (January 17, 1916). Brooklyn Daily Eagle, p.3 col.1–2 Yonkers Olympic Park, Paterson, NJ Ward Pennsylvania District October 30, 1915 Henry Disston BurrowsWareRodgersKirkpatrick Wislon 4–1 "Disston Squelch Wanderers' Hopes". (October 31, 1915). Philadelphia Inquirer, p.20 col.8 Wanderers Tacony Ball Park James Kerr October 30, 1915 Bethlehem 23' McDonald65' Fleming (pk)DeanPepperFleming 35' Irwin Jones (og) 6–0 "Bethlehem Eliminates Hibernian". (November 2, 1915). Bethlehem Globe, p.7 col.1 Hibernian East End Field, Bethlehem, PA George Allen October 30, 1915 Feltonville 2' H.Derbyshire70' Phillips86' Shaw 22' Foster (pk)32' Foster (pk)Clegg 3–3 "Feltonville Ties Falls". (October 31, 1915). Philadelphia Record, p.# col.5 Falls CFC Stenton Field, Philadelphia, PA James Steele replay November 6, 1915 Falls CFC 25' Clegg65' MellorsClegg68' KendallMellors 27' Tom Derbyshire2H' Tom Derbyshire 5–2 "Falls Outplays Feltonville". (November 7, 1915). Philadelphia Press, p.3 col.7 Feltonville Northeast Manual HS Grounds, Philadelphia James Steel Second round The draw for the second round was held November 6, 1915 at the Continental hotel in Newark, NJ. Matches were due to be played on or before November 28."Jersey Teams Draw Home Games In Second Round". (November 7, 1915). The Sunday Call, p.18 col.2 The Falls Cricket and Football Club forfeited to Pan–American of Fall River, MA. November 27, 1915 Fore River Rovers Daley80' Harrison 30' MillarFinn 2–2 "Plays Star Team To Tie". (November 29, 1915). Quincy Daily Ledger, p.5 col.3 Babcock & Wilcox Quincy Point 500 Catto (Quincy) November 28, 1915 Continental 15' Van den Eynden 10' Ellis30' Crone65' Ellis 1–3 "Brooklyn Celtics Beat Continentals". (November 29, 1915). The Sun, p.8 col.4 Brooklyn Celtic Harlem Oval 1500 David M. Whyte November 28, 1915 Falls CFC w/o Pan–American November 28, 1915 Kearny Athletics 50' Tommy Gradwell75' Johnny HemsleyTom Stark88' Alec Bell 0–4 "Scots Gain Third Round". (November 29, 1915). Newark Evening News, p.6 col.5 Scottish American Clark's Field, East Newark 1000 C. Ward December 25, 1915 Jersey A.C. Kempe 88' Lewis 1–1 "Jersey A.C. 11 In Another Draw". (December 27, 1915). Jersey Journal, p.7 col.7 General Electric (NY) West Side Park, Jersey City Charlie Ward (Passaic) January 23, 1916 Bridgeport City GriffinWaiteHeppinstall 30' Crompton 3–1 "Brooklyns Go Down Before City Attack". (January 24, 1916). Bridgeport Evening Post, p.12 col.1 Brooklyn Newfield Park J. Miller (New Haven) January 29, 1916 Bethlehem Steel PepperBrown 2–0 February 5, 1916 Soccer Cup Competitions Sporting Life 66 23 23 Clan MacDonald East End Field, Bethlehem, PA 6000 Allen Montgomery (Newark) April 24, 1916 Henry Disston 16' Tommy Swords 0–1 "Disstons Beaten In Cup Contest". (April 25, 1916). Bethlehem Globe, p.12 col.6 Fall River Rovers Tacony Ball Park, Philadelphia, PA George Young replays December 26, 1915 Babcock & Wilcox 1H' Harding55' Aitken75' Millar 3–0 "Babs Trim Fore River". (December 27, 1915). Evening Review, p.3 col.6–7 Fore River Rovers B&W park, Bayonne, NJ 400 David M. White (Brooklyn) January 9, 1916 Jersey A.C. 25' Jack Neilson 1–0 "Jersey A.C. 11 Trim Electrics". (January 10, 1916). Jersey Journal, p.7 col.2 General Electric (NY) West Side Park, Jersey City Charles Ward (Passaic) Third round The draw for the third round was held December 4, 1915 at the Continental hotel in Newark, NJ."Ford Acquitted By A Single Vote". (December 5, 1915). The Sunday Call, p.16 col.2 January 9, 1916 Scottish American 20' Rabbit Hemsley21' Archie Stark 83' Charlie Ellis 2–1 "Scots Eliminate The Celtics". (January 10, 1916). Newark Evening News, p.6 col.3–4 Brooklyn Celtic Clark's Field, East Newark 1500 William Hollywood (New York) April 2, 1916 Bridgeport City Satterwaite 17', 20' Robert Millar 2–1 "B–W Eleven Trims Cities By One Goal". (April 3, 1916). Bridgeport Evening Post, p.12 col.6 Babcock & Wilcox Newfield Park, Bridgeport, CT 3000 J. Miller (New Haven) April 30, 1916 Jersey A.C. 23', 46' PepperNeil ClarkFlemingMacDonald 0–5 "Jersey A.C. Out Of A.F.A. Contest". (May 1, 1916). Jersey Journal, p.4 col.4 Bethlehem Steel Federal League Park, Harrison 3000 C.E. Creighton (New York) May 13, 1916 Pan–American 37' Tommy Swords82' Jack Dalton 0–2 "Rovers Again Hand Defeat To P.A's.". (May 15, 1916). Evening Herald, p.6 col.1–2 Fall River Rovers Athletic Park, Fall River, MA 3000 George Mitchell (New Bedford) Semifinals May 20, 1916 Fall River Rovers 36' Swords 30' Brown37' McKelvie80' Brown 1–3 "It's All Over For The 1916 Rovers". (May 22, 1916). Evening Herald, p.6 col.1–2 Bethlehem Steel Athletic Park, Fall River, MA 6000 Lambie (Boston) May 21, 1916 Babcock & Wilcox 60' Aitken 10', 17' GradwellHemsley 1–3 "Scottish–Americans Defeat Babs' 3 To 1". (May 22, 1916). Evening Review, p.3 col.1–2 Scottish American B&W Park, Bayonne, NJ 5000 Andrew Laurie (Newark) Final |right|400px The American Cup final took place in Taylor Stadium at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Scottish Americans, runners–up in the National Association Football League, were the defending champions of the American Cup and it was their fourth final appearance overall. Bethlehem Steel came into the final having played 32 games winning 28 with three ties and a single loss. They had scored 116 goals with 14 against. On May 6 they won the National Challenge Cup over Fall River. Their American Cup win was then followed up by an American League of Philadelphia title when they were declared joint champions along with Disston on June 15. Neil Clarke scored a hat trick for the Steelmen with a goal in the 15th minute followed by two more in the second half. June 10, 1916 Bethlehem Steel Neil Clarke (3) 3–0 "Bethlehem Eleven Wins American Cup". (June 12, 1916). The Globe, p.3 col.1–2"Local Soccer Champions Win Another Cup". (June 12, 1916). Bethlehem Times, p.# col.4–5 Scottish American Taylor Field, Bethlehem, PA 5000 David M.Whyte Champions |center|550px Bethlehem Steel Football Club, National and American Cup champions 1915–16. See also 1916 National Challenge Cup 1915–16 National Association Foot Ball League season 1915–16 Southern New England Soccer League season References 1915–16 Cup