Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-28
HUNDRED SOCCER
CLUBS CATER TO
$4,000 FANS HERE
Fifteen Leagues Shaping
Strong Teams for I'm
precedented Year
ACTIVITIES OF COLLEGES

Before the Pilgrims and Corinthians Of
,england visited america several years
sro. and played a number of soccer
matches in this city. the association game
was conducted here IN but a half hearted
manner. After these teams concluded
their series public interest was aroused
40 a high pitch, and in recent years II
has increased TO such an extent that at
the present time there are no less than
Is soccer leagues In PHILADELPHIA. Each
league Is composed Of from six to eight
clubs, making about 100 clubs In all, and
A fair estimate of the number of people
who either play or watch local soccer
matches on Saturdays and holidays would
place the figure at 10000.
Chief interest here centres in the inter
collegiate matches played by the T'niver-
slty of Pennsylvania and Haverford Col
iege; In the two divisions Of the Cricket
Club League and In the public school
games. The fastest organization is the
american League of Association Football
Clubs, but in this interest is not sus-
tained throughout the entire schedule
owing TO the fact that three of the teams
are much stronger than the others.
lf1SStOu
and the Hibernians play one another n
good crowd is drawn; but when they on
pose either Victor Talking Machine Com
pany, the Rangers, or Boys Club interest
wanes Bit and when two of these three
teams are scheduled to play interest al
most dies. This situation has existed in
the American League for several years.
and its officials should know that such
q condition does not make for complete
success.
INTEREST AT SCHOOLS
The popularity of soccer at schools and
colleges has increased with leans and
bounds. and before very long it win he
necessary for the intercollegiate League
composed of teams from Harvard. Vale
Princeton, Cornell, Haverford, Columbia
and Pennsylvania. to form sectional divi-
slons so that all the institutions that are
clamoring for recognition may be taken
care of. The formation of a league of New
England colleges, another of schools from
western Pennsylvania and New York
State, and a third from the Middle At
lantic section, probably will result AT
the close of the regular schedule the
winner of the three divisions could NAV
series of games to decide the inter
collegiate championship. This title is
now held by the Univ ersty of PennsvI-
yanIa, and since the inception of the
league, the Red and Blue has ALWAYS
turned out a strong team.
OF late Haverford College has not been
very successful at soccer. This is dine
to the fact that a majority of the soc
cerites are members of the varsity foot
ball team, and hence lose the early sea
son practice that the other teams are able
10 obtain.
There are two public school leagues
one formed from among the grammar
schools of the city and the other Is tha
high schools league. A number of good
players of the present day began SOC
Ger while attending grammar school. An
example of this is the Putnam eleven.
which won the Allied League Champion
ship last year. Five years ago the Put
nam club was representing the Potter
School in the Grammar School League.
ALLIED LEAGUE STRONG.
Kensington, Richmond, Bridesburg. Ia
cony and Frankford are the real strong
holds for soccer 1t is this section that
furnishes the rank and file of soccerites
both players and followers. 1t is the
home of the Allied League, which has
four divisions, and a fifth playing as the
kensngton Junior Church League, and
which is credited with being one of the
Strongest organizations in the land. This
year professionalism has crept into the
Allied ranks, and as professionalism has
worked harm in many other sports the
leagues affairs must be carefully handled
90 that this condition will not breed dis
content among the amateurs.