1860s in American soccer

The following article is about notable events in American soccer during the 1860s.

The 1860s were widely considered[1] the first decade where organized forms association football codes were played in the United States, although it is uncertain whether or not it was variants of modern-day rugby football, American football or association football. The first reported types of organized ball kicking originated during the American Civil War, and following the Civil War the first official match reports for association football were reported.

Pre-1865
Main article: History of soccer in the United States

Oneida Football Club

The Oneida Football Club was established in 1862 by Gerrit Smith "Gat" Miller, a graduate of the Latin School of Epes Sargent Dixwell, a private college preparatory school in Boston.[2] At the time there were no formal rules for football games, with different schools and areas playing their own variations. This informal style of play was often chaotic and very violent, and Miller had been a star of the game while attending Dixwell. However, he grew tired of these disorganized games, and organized other recent preparatory school graduates to join what would be the first organized football team in the United States.

The team consisted of a group of Boston secondary school students from relatively elite public (state) schools in the area, such as Boston Latin School and the English High School of Boston. Organization served the club well, and it reportedly never lost a game, or even allowed a single goal.

1866

International matches

No international matches were played during the 1866 calendar year.[3]

Club matches
Further information: 1866 college soccer season

The following are known American soccer club matches that were played in 1866.

October 11, 1866 Carroll College 5–2 Waukesha Town Club Waukesha, Wisconsin
Report Stadium: Carroll College
October 18, 1866 Carroll College 3–5 Waukesha Town Team Waukesha, Wisconsin
Report Stadium: Waukesha County Fairgrounds
October 20, 1866 Trinity College Class of 1869 1–1 Trinity College Class of 1870 Hartford, Connecticut
Report Stadium: Washington & Baker Streets Grounds

Another match between Waukesha Town Club and Carroll College was played on October 23, 1866, but the score of the match is unknown.[4]

1867

International matches

No international matches were played during the 1867 calendar year.[3]

Club matches

No club matches were reported during the 1867 calendar year.[5]

1868

International matches

No international matches were played during the 1868 calendar year.[3]

Club matches

The following are known American soccer club matches that were played in 1868. The only reported soccer fixtures in the United States occurred in the Salt Lake City and New Orleans metropolitan areas.

February 22, 1868 Salt Lake City Team A Unknown Salt Lake City Team B Hot Spring Lake, Utah
Report Stadium: Hot Spring Lake Field
June 10, 1868 West Jordan Lower Branch Unknown West Jordan Middle Branch West Jordan, Utah
Report Stadium: Utah Field
July 12, 1868 New Orleans St. Joseph's Association postponed Challenge Team New Orleans, Louisiana
Report Stadium: Oakland Riding Park
Note: Match was not played and postponed.
July 19, 1868 New Orleans St. Joseph's Association Unknown Challenge Team New Orleans, Louisiana
Report Stadium: Oakland Riding Park
July 21, 1868 New Orleans St. Joseph's Association Unknown Challenge Team New Orleans, Louisiana
Report Stadium: Oakland Riding Park

1869

International matches

No international matches were played during the 1869 calendar year.[3]

Club matches

The following are known American soccer club matches that were played in 1869. Reported matches primarily consisted of men's college soccer teams, mostly of Ivy League schools and military academies.

May 21, 1869 Columbia University Cancelled Brooklyn Poly Prep/Adelphia Academy Brooklyn, New York
Report Stadium: Capitoline Grounds
June 2, 1869 Columbia University Cancelled Brooklyn Poly Prep/Adelphia Academy Brooklyn, New York
Report Stadium: Capitoline Grounds
October 23, 1869 Washington & Lee University Cancelled Virginia Military Institute Lexington, Virginia
Report Stadium: Washington & Lee Drillfield
November 6, 1869 Rutgers University 6–4 Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey
Report Stadium: College Field
November 13, 1869 Princeton University 8–0 Rutgers University Princeton, New Jersey
Report Stadium: College Field

The two matches between Rutgers and Princeton are generally regarded as the first ever games of American Football.

See also

References
  1. Smith, Melvin I. (November 6, 2008). Evolvements of Early American Foot Ball: Through the 1890/91 Season. Bloomington, Indiana: Smith Books. p. 50. ISBN 9781434362469.
  2. Bundgaard, p. 49.
  3. "World Football Elo Ratings: United States". ELO Ratings. EloRatings.net. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  4. "Friendly - 1866-1867 - Waukesha v. Carroll College". Evolvements of Early American Foot Ball: Through the 1890/91 Season. SoccerStats.us. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  5. "US Soccer Results and Standings for 1867". SoccerStats.us. SoccerStats.us. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
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