The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-10
2Eg I5zx Sporting Section z
Soccer Enthusiasts See Prosperous And Golden
 Era For Sport In U. s.

oalldilCH ana IteStnlentdl anu SsANi sional competitions were conducted in France we'll as scores of exht- bition matches with teams represent ing units of the allied armies in the rest and training areas and In the service of supplies.
 In consequence of all of this many thousands of players and tens = thousands of fans have been created for soccer by the war. We will have resultant surplus of players In our seasons to come and new leagues must be formed. Through the army, the seed of soccer interest has been sewn in all section of the country, includ- ing those few new districts to which the game is new and strange and held by many in the light of an imported thing to be classed, for instance, with cricket.
 Hundreds of our players laid down their lives in foreign fields. Probably other sport contributed glori ously to the cause of freedom and righteousness. Hundreds upon hum dreds of other soccer players. club. league and association officials are returning now to civil life and to take up the game with renewed interest and increased confidence in its fu- ture.
 r OTluhl Iely COnneCIlCul was not dl- fected seriously by players paying the supreme sacrifice in the great war as tt writer has been notified of the death of about one dozen players who have been killed but the number of wounded soccer players is great but fortunately the majority of them are . fully recovered unless the effects of gas makes its after effects felt. Not only did the soccer players enlist from this state in large numbers but the officials of the State association also enlisted and left the continuance of the game to a selected few. The en- listing of Eddy Eversfield, the man. aser of the Bridgeport City club and treasurer of the Connecticut State Football association showed that there was patriotism in soCcerdom. Eddy tried hard to enlist but it is doubt ful whether he would be accepted at first owing to large area that he cov- cred bodily, finally he was accepted and he took a leading part in the &C., tivities. He sought revenge when a brother was killed and another one seriously injured and crippled for life. Fortunately Eddy is safe and sound and ell being well will be In this city ready for soccer activities around August 1, as he leaves England on the Saxonia July 2S.
 Another well known soccer official to throw aside his favorite sport Tor the greater game was Charlie Martin, the energetic secretary of the Connec- ticut Amateur League and an official of the State association. Charlie is also safe and sound and expected to ar rive home any time from England. via Canada with whom he enlist ed.
 In addition to State association of- ficials about 600 soccer players toon part in the war from this state and about 400 of this number have al- ready returned and anxiously await the return of the other 200 ere the 1S19-1920 season starts in Sep ternber.
 Soccer Footballs contribution to the United War Work Campaign fund, was great despite the fact that the games were played in the midst of the influenza epidemic, and less than s10,000 was raised throughout the country. In this respect Connecticut was sixth in the list of largest con- tributors and were only beaten by larger centers in Michigan, St. Louis, Philadelphia, New York and New Jer- sey. Of the States $500 Bridgeport alone was responsible for s270 and Hartford the remaining $30.
 To show that soccer did its part in the great war, can be judged by the fact that thousands of soccer balls were sent from this country to the battlefields in France for the soldier boys to enjoy themselves in their turns of rest. Out of every four foot balls used in France, three of them were soccer balls while the oval shape ball was only in demand on the re- maining occasions.
 Now that the peace terms have been signed we can look forward to the fu- ture with great prosperity although it may be several seasons before we get back our former strength, but once we get going there will be no. stopping as we are out to place the game on a par with baseball for the national pastime of the country. Be- fore the war such tearSs as Waverleys. New Haven, New Haven Rangers. Bridgeport Rovers Bridgeport Danes, True Blues, Bridgeport Rangers Bridgeport Celtics, 'Ansonia, AnsoniaE Academy, Waterbury. Naugatuck,o Norwalk, Manchester Glens, Manches-r ter United, Plainfield. Thompsonville, New Britain, Vikings, British Ameri- cans, Taftville and several others bu. the enlistment of players caused t.e whole of these teams to disband and we look forward to the recognition of these teams in the near future
 Now is the time for the officers of the State association to get busy with their propaganda work and place the game on it's pre-war basis and those who have been elected in office should realise the vast amount of work that they are expected to do. It es an hon. or for Connecticut to elect as it's State, association head none other than Jack Ross, who served in the terrible conflict and who was discharged with the rank of lieutenant (jg) after ser wing with Uncle Sam's navy for two