New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
ArmyM
Give Bethlehem
Football Title
Champion Fall River Rovers
Chances Saturday Depend
on Men in Service
By c. A. Lovett

Uncle Sam-none less-may decide
the soccer championship of the United
States this week. Just at this time
U. S. holds the signed contracts of
three of the stars of the national
champions of the kicking game, the
Fall River (Mass.) Rovers. If special
dispensaton is not made for these
three soldier-kickers the supremacy of
the country's association football in
all likelihood will pass to the former
title holders of the Bethlehem Steel
Company.
At best, the champions will not be
at their strongest. Captain Tommy
Swords. mainstay of the forward line,
has been sufferer from the grip for
a number of weeks, has not been able
to practise regularly and Is not likely
to be himself against the Pennsylva-
mans this time. 1t was Swords who, in
the first minute of play of last years
title match, swept the then two-time
champion Bethlehems off their feet
and off their throne as well--with a
daring goal that proved to be the only
tally of the ninety minutes of tense
play.
Thomas Underwood, the Rovers'
right fullback, is conceded to be lost
to the team for the crucial game. His
army camp is so far removed from the
scene of the contest that he is not be-
ing counted upon by the Fall River
clubs management.
Gideon LaPierre, the stellar half
! back of the champions, and one other
oh cto ho of !,
! Rovers are in training for a greater
/ game overseas, and only recently their
regiment was moved to port of en-
barkation on the Atlantic coast. They
were able to obtain furloughs for the
semi-final a week ago at Fall River,
when the Rovers defeated the West
! Hudsons, of Harrison, N. j., by goals
to 1, but, even if they still are at the
port the latter part of this week, it
is improbable that they will be per-
mitted to absent themselves to par
Challenge trophy.
Challengers Unweakcned
/ While the puissance of the Rovers
! thus is sapped by the call to the colors,
tie powerful Bethlehem machine has
i remained intact, and it's management
has made every effort in preparing to
reclaim the championship next Satur-
J day. The game is to be played on the
/ the scene Of last years final and of
various earlier football classics.
The match will be test of the
sharp, dashing, aggressive American
style of play-for the Rovers are a
native-born ggregation-against the
highly skilled. precise, technical "old
country" method of football, of which
the Bethlehem eleven is the foremost
exponent on this side of the Atlantic.
For individual honors Swords will
have opposed to him the great outside
left, Thomas Fleming, Of the steel
workers. conceded to be in the front
rank of footballers imported to this
country. Fleming and Swords are the
highest goal scorers in the United
States.
Charles, f. Creighton, of New York
City, has accepted the appointment to
referee the title match Joe Booth, of
bridgeport, Conn, secretary of the
Connecticut State +. A., and Samuel
McLerie, a Boston soccer authority
will be the linesmen, while Andrew NJ.
Brown; Of Bayonne, N. j., and Thomas
: w. Cahiil, y. S. +. A., secretary, will
represent the national body at the
game.
1t will be the third meeting of the
participating teams for the national
crown. They have divided honors in
tn two earlier clashes.
Zen thousand fans Is the record for
football attendance in New England
but plans are being made to handle
from $4,000 to $1,000 at this years
final.
Several Of the stars of the Bethle.
hem eleven have received permission
to participate In the international
match scheduled for Clark's Field,
East Newark, N. j., on the morning of
I May 8. Scotland meets America at
that time for the benefit of the Foot
/ ballers' Protective Association.
with substitutes in the places OF
fiyc OF the team's stars, the Chinese
Studcnts' Soccer Club defeated the
fast stuyyesant High School eleven,
10, at Lcnox Oval last wsck. Captain
Tommy Lee of the Orientals scored the
lone goal.