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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, March 28, 2016

Bethlehem Steel - Forefathers of American Soccer




The Bethlehem Steel Football Club, which played from 1911 to 1930, is one of the most successful teams in American soccer history. They won 20 titles, including five U.S. Open Cups. A 1914 article from the New York Times points to Steel President Charles Schwab who “spared no expense to get together a team which promises to surpass any soccer team in this country.”

Bethlehem Steel, at one time the world's largest corporation, is indisputably the forefather of American soccer.

In honor of that team, Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union will sport a replica jersey during an exhibition match tonight against England's Stoke City Football Club, and during other games this season.

Bethlehem Steel Field, located at Center and Elizabeth Avenue, is where they played and was in its time the largest soccer stadium in the country.

Fifteen members of the Bethlehem Steel Football Club have been inducted into the American soccer Hall of Fame.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you know where they Played their "Home Games"? Very interesting piece of History. I never realized that we had soccer team that was "world renowned".

Bernie O'Hare said...

I told you where they played - Steel Field. Center & Elizabeth. Currently home to Moravian College.

George Best said...

the union wore the steel kit 2 years ago. It is fantastic

Anonymous said...

Please advise if there is a bus leaving from Easton so the Red Rovers can attend the Three Stooges Convention.www.threestooges.com.

Radisson Philadelphia Northeast
April Fool's weekend
April 1st,2nd,3rd 2016

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