The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-08
j. {. AHEAD
Of ENGLAND
IN SOCCER

ST. Louis. Mo-. APRIL THAT Eng
land. the cradle OF soccer football, has
been outs!rtrped by America in this
sport. is the belief Of Thomas w. Cahill.
founder OF soccer in the United States.
Mr.. CahiN. who Is secretary OF the
United States Football association.
which controls soccer in this country.
suggested that all-star e!cvcns of both
countries meet either in the United
States or abroad 70 decide the cham
pionsh!p and settle the question OF SOC
rcr supremacy between The two count
tries.
Discussing the merit Of the American
style Of soccer as played by American
born players. Cah!u stated that Amer
la was about ready TO pass the old
country in playing this game. which
Was imported from the British Isles.
Il believe" he continued, that T
could pick a team Of American born
players that could defeat any aN-British
team today"
when the Third Lanark team came
10 tn" United states last year for n
tour Of this country. It was made up Of
riCkcd intcrnationallsts--a strong com
binat.on. Yet one of our teams In the
.
, Ia q StardStill
Il made the suggestion 10 the I.anark
manager that we could beat England
and then I made him this offer: To pick
IN Ali-.imertcan team to play 4 picked
british team. I agreed to play abroad
II the Hritons would guarantee our cx-
pNnScS. Or ! would guarantee the cx-
pcnSeS of the British team 10 this coun-
try II they cared TO do that. lie has
not accepted the proposition
such game ought to he played
abroad because OF the immense interest
that would hc created. In Engiand the
international cup ties draw crowds of
moro than lO0.00O--twicc our maximum
totals in baseball. And still stand
ready I" so and believe tho United
,',,trS w"uld win.
They have stood stu In England or
gone back. The United States Is still
inferior in iincSSc. as the BrI,ons are
past masters NJ trapping and controlling
the bail. But team Of 10 second
mon breaks up this combination. In
America the game is played in high for
the entire contest, whereas N Eu-land
! they want 10 rciaN. In goal shooting.
speed aCGrcss!vencss and other factors
! America is equal 10 or better than the
! old country today.
| This opinion Is shared in Sweden,
! Norway and Denmark, clclcns from
I Wh.rh countries have met football
! t"tmS from this country and fro the
, British Isles, too Swedish authorities
; long ago told me that America had out
, striped England in football strength.
! believe IL"
M, r.,hiil also expressed the opinion
| that picked team from st. LOUIS
! could IN Tia" -A!-.hmcrican require
! mchts, although he said many nue Am.
| 'r!cdn-horm players were hCing dcvcl-
| rDed in the East. The scullin team
| Of 81. Louis holds the championship OF
! America.
Paying n tribute 10 England as tho
! HON" Ct soccer, Mr. Cahill concluded:
{ The United States owes a great de .,
/ n the old country boys who in the past
'"|" taught us the Fundamentals ana
! " II" are responsible in part 70" the
! resent standing OF tho game IN this
! country. There are many wonderful
| I'D country players on teams ia the
! tinted States today. Rut | think the
, american cgr'c;s are about ready tc
quit their nests"