The Washington times., 1929-12-09

CLlO zeal Va NANA 4IAAAJSOA ""AA1
his co-workefs in the playground
department.
Organized soccer first came
about with the formation Of
the elementary school
leagues with divisional games
in 1914. The first citywide
elementary school soccer
championship was decided
the next year with Hyde
School scoring over Monroe
in the finals. On that Hyde
team was Duke" McIntrye
who played with the British
Uniteds last year but has been
on the shelf this season be-
cause Of injuries.
In that 1915 elimination series
was Jess Burton, jr., recognized To-
day as the outstanding soccer
player of this area. Burton played
on the Curtis team which lost out
in the preliminary rounds. He
is one Of the present ranking
stars of the British Uniteds OF
the washington Soccer League.
Burton plays the old-country style
though he learned the game in
this country. coming here Wnen
about 10 years old. His English
soccer characteristics are in
herent, as his father was star
player on the other side.
When the elementary school
leagues were organized in 1914,
players on the British Embassy
aided in teaching the game.
John Gum, another soccer
pioneer and present manager OF
the Silver Spring team Of the
Capital City League, assisted with
this missionary work OF intro
ducing a foreign game to youths
endeared to baseball. ,oo-
At that time and up to 1928
there we're two or three independ-
ent teams but no leagues other
than those conducted by the
Fairgrounds. Free,lance teams,
besides the British Embassy, then
were the Hibernians ard Germ an
Club, The HibernianS dropped
Iby the wayside and the British
Embassy team is now known as
| the British UnltedS. Formerly
players were restricted to only
PERSONS connected with the en-
bassy. but now outsiders can be
used. The German Club is now
the Concord Club.
Dick TennySOn first came
into playground soccer work
as a referee in 1918 while
student at the old George
town Prep School. He was
taught the game by Leo
Lecky, an IriShman who
fought for England in the
world war. Leckey returned
TO his home here after the
armistice, suffering from she'll
shock. He disappeared three
years ago and his parents
have never learned his where
abOutS.
Tennyson became director Of
boys playground activities in
1928. Two years ago playground
soccer had advanced to a high
point and Junior leagues were
formed so that now a Junior
championship is contested as well
as a senior one. The prelimi-
nary rounds are now in progress
and it is estimated that $500
bows are taking part in the series
The first independent soccer
league was given birth in 1925
and was called the washington
Soccer League. Monroe, which
had won several playground
championships, was the only
team in the league consisting en-
tirely of young American players
A great transition has
taken place as most Of the
"old country" players are
fast being SuppIanted by
graduates of the playground
elementary school and Mary
land county leagues. The
majority of members on the
RosedaIe and Fashion Shop
teams are from the play.
grounds and a few are sprink-
led with the British UnitedS.
Soccer interest has mounted
There are four independent
leagues operating together with
a Recreation League, supported
by the playground officials. 1t
has been predicted that the high
schools will soon put soccer on
their sports curriculum.
George Youngblood has been
another hard worker for the ad'
vancement of soccer here, He is
a close observer of the game and
an able coach, possessing sound
knowledge of the game. Young
blood first handled the Rosedal9
team of the Washington Soccer
League and served as president OF
the Capital City League. This
year he organized the Junior
American League. open only to
former Junior high players
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