USMNT First International - 8/20/16

[bert patenaude]

The USMNT is 87 years old today. The friendly against Sweden was the first international recognized by the USSF. Internationals had been played in the 19th century but this was the first national team appearance since the formation of the USSF and its entry into FIFA in 1913.

The team was coached by Thomas Cahill. There were 14 players on the 1916 team.

George Tintle (Independent FC - Harrison, NJ)
Charles Ellis (Brooklyn Celtic)
Thomas Murray (Bethlehem Steel)
Neil Clarke (Bethlehem Steel)
James Robertson (Brooklyn Celtic)
C.H. Spalding (Disston Athletic Assoc. - Philadelphia)
Albert Blakey (Putnam FC - Philadelphia)
Walter Burgin (Philadelphia Wanderers)
James Ford (Ryerson FC - Kearny, NJ)
Thomas Swords (Capt.) (Fall River Rovers)
John Hemingsley (Scottish-Americans, Newark)
Clarence Smith (Babcock & Wilcox - Bayonne, NJ)
Harry Cooper (New York Continentals)
Matt Diedrichsen (Innisfails FC, St. Louis)

They played as the "All-American Soccer Football Club". Lineup listed as Tintle, Robertson, Spalding, Murray, Clarke, Ellis, Swords, Hemingsley, Diedrichsen, Cooper. They played in a light rain with King Gustav V in attendance.

Scorers: Swords (35th minute), Ellis (60th minute), Cooper. US won 3-2.

Nice account of the game -
http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/century.html

Profile of the USMNT's first goal scorer and captain:
http://www.soccerhall.org/famers/thomas_swords.htm

[KLECKO73]

Thanks for the info. Does anyone else think that the club names in those days were way better than the ones we have today?

[bert patenaude]

Yes. Can you imagine the Metrostars changing their name to the Harrison Alley Men once they build the stadium?

It's too bad that the founders of MLS did not consult their soccer history books.

[jamison]

Note: we got screwed by the Jamaican referee that day. It should have been 4-2.