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.

Bethlehem Soccer Dynasty to Be Recognized Today

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.”

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.

For the Steel-inspired jersey, the Union replicated Steel’s black and white color scheme with a bold, white B for Bethlehem. The club’s emblem and active years are also included on the jersey.

Until a referee ejects him, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan will be at tonight's game.

“For nearly 100 years, Bethlehem meant steel to the rest of the world,” Callahan said. “We cherish our history and it’s an honor to have it recognized by an organization like the Union.”

Dangerous Soccer Kids Exposed

Coach Corlette ties shoe of hardened criminal.

A group of Bethlehem Township residents have told Commissioners twice, on October 3 and again on April 3, that a 6.59-acre pocket park at the end of the Anthony Drive cul-de-sac, should be reserved for them ... and only them.

In October, they objected to Lehigh Valley Magic, a girls' soccer team, that conducted games and tournaments every weekend, leading to lots of noise and traffic congestion.

Now, the FC Falcons's 10U boys use the park for practices, and just two nights a week. No games. Some residents complained anyway. Amazingly, they claim parks don't belong in residential communities, decrease property values and lead to increases in crime.

But Kim Kanopka, a Township resident whose 10 year-old son Kenan plays for the Falcons, thinks these complaints are "a little ridiculous. To find there's animosity in our own Township is a little disappointing,:" she said as she watched her son practice on April 4.

Adam Kostenbader demonstrates his skills.

According to team manager John Kostenbader, the team consists of ten boys, all from the Township. In fact, two come from the exclusive Bethlehem Estates development, where the park is located.

"I'm not sure how these little boys are going to cause a lot of crime," he said, as Coach Ivor Corlette tied one of the boys' shoes. Kostenbader and Corlette both stated they use the field for practices only, and that their home games are played in Allentown.

"We tried to do everything right," Kostenbader stated, noting there was even a petition supporting the practices, signed by about thirty residents of Bethlehem Estates. He added that the boys are under constant adult supervision.

The boys loved the attention. As a WFMZ-TV camera van sat in the cul-de-sac, nine year-olds Adam Kostenbader and Omar Silva put on their best moves.

Does this boy look like a burglar?

"We're going to be on TV!" they assured each other.

In the distance, a lawnmower could be heard. It was louder than these boys, just as Parks and Recreation Chairman Barry Roth told Commissioners on April 2..

A travelling team, the Falcons have won five of the six tournaments in which they've played this year.

But they lost on April Fool's Day. Coach Corlette blamed the weather.

Return of the Anti-Soccer Moms

Paul Weiss discusses park use

In October, it was eleven year-old girls, and they were bad enough. Now, it's something far more sinister and dangerous - ten year-old boys.

Residents of Bethlehem Estates, one of Bethlehem Township's swankier neighborhoods, resent the use of a 6.59-acre park nestled at the end of Anthony Court for kids's soccer. In October, it was the girls, playing games every Saturday with Lehigh Valley Magic. Commissioner Tom Nolan agreed at the time that the weekly traffic "does saturate that little area."

Township Manager Howard Kutzler said the girls would only be there for one season.

Now, the FC Falcons' 10 year-old boys use this pocket park for soccer practice. Many of them are Township residents. To eliminate traffic and  noise concerns. no scrimmages or games are permitted. But this is still too much for residents like Douglas Drive's Ronald Meldrum.

At their April 2 meeting, Meldrum told Commissioners that practices are "noisy" and make it difficult for him to take a nap. What bothers him most is that the people using the field "are not from my neighborhood."

Anthony Drive resident John Murphy reminded Commissioners that his is a wealthier neighborhood. "Do you guys have any idea how much taxes we pay in that community there?" he asked. "I guarantee that, with five houses, we're talking $60,000 a year."

Murphy called the park an "aggravation" that will lower property values.

"That park was there when you bought the property, wasn't it?" asked Commissioner Michael Hudak.

"You should not have a park in a residential community," sidestepped Murphy.

Kathy Vaught's home burglarized

Kathy Vaught, whose home is located close to the park, was before Commissioners last October, too, about the girls. At that time, she said she never would have invested $700,000 for a home next to a soccer field. "I'm not anti-Soccer mom," she assured everyone, but claimed Commissioners promised her in 2005 that the park would never be leased and would be for her community.

"Are you that big of an idiot that I didn't think what it would be? I came here," she told the Board.

After the October meeting, when Vaught first went public with her concerns, her home was egged. Then it was burglarized and there are now car break-ins as well. None of this ever happened before soccer was being played at the park, Vaught declared. She urged Commissioners to restrict park use to her community, make it a kiddie park with swings and playground equipment, or at least give her the option of leasing it herself to prevent its use by other communities.

She also complained her dog barks the entire two hours of every practice.

"That's not just for your community. That's for the entire Township to use," Hudak told Vaught. "All parks are open to every taxpayer in the Township. ... You're welcome at any park in the Township. No one can kick you out."

But Vaught attempted to kick some older teens out of the park herself, she told Commissioners. She called them "punks" from another community, there to deal drugs or exchange alcohol.

"Did you call the police? asked President Paul Weiss.

"Sir, I'm not the park police," answered Vaught, getting angry.

"I think we're done with this conversation," stated Weiss. "I don't think we're done with the conversation," replied Vaught, as she returned to her seat.

Barry Roth: lawnmowers louder than the kids

Manager Howard Kutzler and President Paul Weiss both stated that they asked Township police to review statistics, and no crime data demonstrate any increase in crime with the use of the park by a youth club soccer team. Kutzler also mentioned that Commissioners had received a petition supporting the soccer program, but George Vaught claimed nobody had "validated" the signatures.

Barry Roth, who chairs the Township's Parks and recreation Board, told Commissioners he's been to a few practices, and the lawnmowers are louder than the boys. "Organized sports do not draw kids that are gonna' come back to rob anybody," Roth stated. "These kids are more worried about keeping their school grades up, learning what they need to learn, and making something out of themselves."

After the meeting was over, Kutzler stated, "We will not have a litmus test as to who can use our parks." Commissioner Martin Zawarski agreed, stating the parks should be open to every Township resident.

Invasion of the Anti-Soccer Moms

They complained to police to no avail. So on October 3, a group of Bethlehem Township residents marched into the Municipal Building and demanded Commissioners to do something. Kathy Vaught even presented a petition signed by 45 people who live in Bethlehem Estates, one of the Township's swankier neighborhoods. As she spoke, several of her supporters shouted out from the peanut gallery.

What has them all up in a lather?

Eleven year-old girls.

These young ladies, and some of them are even younger, play soccer with Lehigh Valley Magic every Saturday at a 6.59-acre park nestled at the end of Anthony Court in Bethlehem Estates. There's a small parking lot at the park, and those unable to fit in there are forced to park up and down the street.

It's a situation you see every weekend in many Lehigh Valley neighborhoods, especially the landlocked older boroughs. And guess what? The people who live there love it! It's what makes a neighborhood a neighborhood.

Vaught told Commissioners that before spending over $700,000 to buy her home, she was concerned about the small park located next to it. She was assured it was for open space. "If I had known that 150 people are going to be there every weekend, I never would have bought," she complained, adding that "the noise is absolutely ridiculous on weekends."

Games start at the ungodly hour of 1:30 PM.

Perhaps Vought would prefer the open space brought by a heavily-manured cornfield, especially when the wind is blowing her way. How about a skatepark frequented by kids with purple hair, piercings and tattoos? I doubt Vaught and her $700,000 neighbors would have to worry about all those bothersome parents.

Vaught is particularly troubled by a portable toilet located in the the small parking lot. Apparently, little girls who play soccer occasionally use a toilet.

As a result of her own investigation, Vaught learned that the Township only charges $20 per week to rent the field. She told Commissioners that was a ridiculously low rental. "If the Bulldogs [a youth football program] get a hold of something like this, I don't know what will happen."

They might use two port-a-potties. Or worse, none.

Township Manager Howard Kutzler explained that an arrangement was made with LV Magic for one team of 11-and-under girls to play at that pocket park for one season because they were too late for the main soccer fields on Farmersville Road.

"It does saturate that little area," remarked Commissioner Tom Nolan, referring to the parking situation and not the use of port-a-potties.

Maybe the rules are different for people who live in $700,000 homes and wealthy neighborhoods, but isn't a park intended for the public? Is the laughter and screams of 11-year old girls, and the cheers from their parents, all that annoying? One afternoon a week? Shouldn't we encourage our children to engage in this kind of healthy activity, even if it is next to a $700,000 home?

Let the kids play. It's good for them, and Vought might learn that the sense of community could make her $700,000 house seem more like a home.