The following article is about notable events in American soccer during the 1860s.
The 1860s were widely considered[1] the first decade where organized forms association football codes were played in the United States, although it is uncertain whether or not it was variants of modern-day rugby football, American football or association football. The first reported types of organized ball kicking originated during the American Civil War, and following the Civil War the first official match reports for association football were reported.
Pre-1865
editOneida Football Club
editThe Oneida Football Club was established in 1862 by Gerrit Smith "Gat" Miller, a graduate of the Latin School of Epes Sargent Dixwell, a private college preparatory school in Boston.[2] At the time there were no formal rules for football games, with different schools and areas playing their own variations. This informal style of play was often chaotic and very violent, and Miller had been a star of the game while attending Dixwell. However, he grew tired of these disorganized games, and organized other recent preparatory school graduates to join what would be the first organized football team in the United States.
The team consisted of a group of Boston secondary school students from relatively elite public (state) schools in the area, such as Boston Latin School and the English High School of Boston. Organization served the club well, and it reportedly never lost a game, or even allowed a single goal.
1866
editInternational matches
editNo international matches were played during the 1866 calendar year.[3]
Club matches
editThe following are known American soccer club matches that were played in 1866.
| October 11, 1866 | Carroll College | 5–2 | Waukesha Town Club | Waukesha, Wisconsin |
| Report | Stadium: Carroll College |
| October 18, 1866 | Carroll College | 3–5 | Waukesha Town Team | Waukesha, Wisconsin |
| Report | Stadium: Waukesha County Fairgrounds |
| October 20, 1866 | Trinity College Class of 1869 | 1–1 | Trinity College Class of 1870 | Hartford, Connecticut |
| Report | Stadium: Washington & Baker Streets Grounds |
Another match between Waukesha Town Club and Carroll College was played on October 23, 1866, but the score of the match is unknown.[4]
1867
editInternational matches
editNo international matches were played during the 1867 calendar year.[3]
Club matches
editNo club matches were reported during the 1867 calendar year.[5]
1868
editInternational matches
editNo international matches were played during the 1868 calendar year.[3]
Club matches
editThe following are known American soccer club matches that were played in 1868. The only reported soccer fixtures in the United States occurred in the Salt Lake City and New Orleans metropolitan areas.
| February 22, 1868 | Salt Lake City Team A | Unknown | Salt Lake City Team B | Hot Spring Lake, Utah |
| Report | Stadium: Hot Spring Lake Field |
| June 10, 1868 | West Jordan Lower Branch | Unknown | West Jordan Middle Branch | West Jordan, Utah |
| Report | Stadium: Utah Field |
| July 12, 1868 | New Orleans St. Joseph's Association | postponed | Challenge Team | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Report | Stadium: Oakland Riding Park | |||
| Note: Match was not played and postponed. | ||||
| July 19, 1868 | New Orleans St. Joseph's Association | Unknown | Challenge Team | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Report | Stadium: Oakland Riding Park |
| July 21, 1868 | New Orleans St. Joseph's Association | Unknown | Challenge Team | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Report | Stadium: Oakland Riding Park |
1869
editInternational matches
editNo international matches were played during the 1869 calendar year.[3]
Club matches
editThe following are known American soccer club matches that were played in 1869. Reported matches primarily consisted of men's college soccer teams, mostly of Ivy League schools and military academies.
| May 21, 1869 | Columbia University | Cancelled | Brooklyn Poly Prep/Adelphia Academy | Brooklyn, New York |
| Report | Stadium: Capitoline Grounds |
| June 2, 1869 | Columbia University | Cancelled | Brooklyn Poly Prep/Adelphia Academy | Brooklyn, New York |
| Report | Stadium: Capitoline Grounds |
| October 23, 1869 | Washington & Lee University | Cancelled | Virginia Military Institute | Lexington, Virginia |
| Report | Stadium: Washington & Lee Drillfield |
| November 6, 1869 | Rutgers University | 6–4 | Princeton University | Princeton, New Jersey |
| Report | Stadium: College Field |
| November 13, 1869 | Princeton University | 8–0 | Rutgers University | Princeton, New Jersey |
| Report | Stadium: College Field |
The two matches between Rutgers and Princeton are generally regarded as the first ever games of American Football.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Smith, Melvin I. (November 6, 2008). Evolvements of Early American Foot Ball: Through the 1890/91 Season. Bloomington, Indiana: Smith Books. p. 50. ISBN 9781434362469.
- ^ Bundgaard, p. 49.
- ^ a b c d "World Football Elo Ratings: United States". ELO Ratings. EloRatings.net. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ "Friendly - 1866-1867 - Waukesha v. Carroll College". Evolvements of Early American Foot Ball: Through the 1890/91 Season. SoccerStats.us. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ "US Soccer Results and Standings for 1867". SoccerStats.us. Retrieved December 27, 2012.