New-York tribune., 1919-02-24
Soccer Has a Hans Wagner
In Ben Covier, of Chicago

An active soccer player for thirty
years, and member of teams in the
front rank for nearly twenty-five sea-
sons, Ben Govier, of Chicago, is in
class by himself in point Of continu-
Gus service in the kicking game. He
is the "Hans Wagner of soccer foot
ball." and more. At the age Of forty
three, Govier retired from the playing
end of the sport only last week, when,
at his own request, he was released
by the Bricklayers' and Masons' Foot
ball Club.
Naturally, Govier is one of the
greatest soccer enthusiasts in the
country. Now that he has unlaced for
the last time his booting shoe a brief
sketch of his remarkable career iE the
game may be in order.
Ben Govier was born of English
parents on January II, 1876, at Coat
bridge, Scotland. The family moved
to Hallside Newton, near Glasgow,
when he was about three years Of age.
At six he went to public school, and
soon thereafter began kicking a foot
ball around. At the age Of twelve
years he played as q member of juve-
nile team called the Hallside Ath-
letics. Ben played with the club for
three years, then, with his parents,
left for the United States in Decem-
ber, 1891.
Govier played his first game on this
side of the water for the Pullman team
against the Detroits. He weighed only
104 pounds at the time, but clippings
preserved to this day by his admirers
state that Govier put up phenomenal
game. After this contest several of
the big Chicago clubs wanted to sign
Govier. He played few more games
for Pullman, then signed with the then
famous Thistles, of Chicago. There
Govier and Dick Jarrett, who still is
connected with soccer in the Middle
West, formed the left wing. They
played together for several seasons,
the Thistles meanwhile winning the
Jackson Cup and Caledonian Challenge
Cup several times.
Jarrett went to st. Louis in 1895 to
play for the ST. Louis Cycling Club.
Two months later Govier followed to
the Mound City and they were together
again for two seasons, winning the
championship both years.
Govier went back to Pullman in 1898
and played with that team until 1901,
winning the jackson Cup again. In
1901 new league was formed by
Charles A. Comiskey, the present own
cr of the Chicago American League
baseball club, in union with other base
ball men of Milwaukee, ST. Louis, De-
troit and Chicago. The Chicago eleven
twice defeated Milwaukee. Govier cap
tanned the Chicago club. Owing to the
weakness of other cities in the league
the organization was disbanded and
Govier went back to the Pullmans again
for two seasons.
In 1Q0d Coy;o~ x,1o,,oJ Co. A.. uro.
derers Cricket and Athletic Club. From.
1905 to 1908, inclusive, he was back with
the Pullmans, the team taking the Peel
pennant incidentally. In 1909 Ben played
for the Woodlawns, winning the league
title and the Spalding Cup. In 1910 he
played for the Buxton Red Sox, and
from 1911 to 1916 was back with the
Pullmans, winning, during that period,
the championship of the West and of
the league, and the Peel Cup four years
in succession.
final Of the National Challenge Cup
competition, playing n draw game after
extra time against the famous BethIe-
hem Steel combination. In the replay
the Pullmans were defeated in the
last minute of the game.
In 1857, Govier played for the Pull
man professionals. and in 1878 for
the Joliet Steel eleven. which finished
second in the Chicago Soccer League,
was eliminated by Bethlehem in the
Western semi-final of the National
Challenge Cup competition at Bcthle-
hcm. and went into the semi-inal for
the Peel Cup. The Bricklayers' and
Masons' Club, from which he just has
procured his release TO retire from the
playing pitch, is the lone Illinois en-
try remaining in the national soccer
championships this season, being
drawn to meet Roses Field Club, Of
Detroit. in the fourth round at Chi
cago on March g.
At the end Of twenty-five years con-
tinuous service in the gamc in this
country. Peter J. Peel. of Chicago, new
president OF the United States Foot
ball Association, presented Govier with
statucttc In silver, striking rep
resentntion Of the veteran player, cas-.
from n. miniature statue in marble,
executed by the late Charles Mulligan
the noted director of sculpture Of tho
Art Institute of Chicavo