1917–18 National Challenge Cup

American soccer tournament season August 2023 National Challenge Cup 1917–18 Dewar trophy 1914.jpg Dewar Challenge Cup United States December 25, 1917–May 19, 1918 Bethlehem Steel 3 Fall River Rovers West Hudson A.C.F. Joliet F.C. 1917 1919 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 Čechie team of Chicago lost every member of its roster to enlistment. The 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 end their dispute 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 U.S. 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."Boys Grateful For Gift Sent To Camp Devens". (November 16, 1917). The Evening Herald, p.13 col.3-5 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. Bracket Home teams listed on top of bracketUSOpenCup.comJune 2026 InternetArchiveBot Third Round Dec 25-Mar 23 Quarterfinals March 2–24 Semifinals Mar 30, Apr 20 Finals May 5,19 PA McKeesport F.C. 9 NY Rochester Celtics 0 PA Bethlehem Steel F.C. 2 PA Disston A.A. 1 IL Joliet F.C. 2-9 IL Scottish Americans 2-2 OH Cleveland F.C. 3 MI Corinthians 1 MA Lynn Hibernians 6 MA Fore River 1 MA Fall River Rovers 3 MA Pan-Americans 1 NJ West Hudson A.C.F. 4 NY New York F.C. 3 NY New York IRT 3 NJ Paterson F.C. 4 PA McKeesport F.C. 0 PA Bethlehem Steel F.C. 5 IL Joliet F.C. 4 OH Cleveland F.C. 2 MA Lynn Hibernians 0 MA Fall River Rovers 5 NJ West Hudson A.C.F 4-5 NJ Paterson F.C. 4-1 PA Bethlehem Steel F.C. 4 IL Joliet F.C. 0 MA Fall River Rovers 3 NY West Hudson A.C.F 1 PA Bethlehem Steel F.C. 2-3 MA Fall River Rovers 2-0 (*) replay after tied match Final First game May 4, 1918 Fall River Rovers (MA) 2–2 yes ReportTitle Unknown http://www.geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/gl050618.html https://web.archive.org/web/20091021204514/http://geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/gl050618.html 2009-10-21 dead Bethlehem Steel (PA) Sullivan 10Chadwick 45 Ratican 4 Fleming Fleming Murphy Heritage Park Fall River, Massachusetts 13,000 Charles Creighton, New York (USA) Replay May 19, 1918 Bethlehem Steel (PA) 3–0 ReportTitle Unknown http://www.geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/gl052018.html https://web.archive.org/web/20091021083053/http://geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/gl052018.html 2009-10-21 dead Fall River Rovers (MA) Ratican 30 Ferguson 75 FlemingPepper 32 Federal League Park Harrison, New Jersey 10,000 Charles Creighton, New York (USA) See also 1918 American Cup References External links National Challenge Trophy Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club, 1917-1918 (Archived 2009-10-20) HickokSports.com National Challenge Cup - Google News Archive United States Soccer Football Association Britanica Online Encyclopedia US Soccer History Page2 Category:U.S. Open Cup seasons Nat