The Year in Americn Soccer: 1961
David Litterer
The Year in American Soccer - 1961
Written by Steve Holroyd "(socce...@erols.com) , with supplemental materials
by Dave Litterer
The American Soccer League
Picking up right where they left off at the conclusion of the 1960 season, the
Ukrainian Nationals of Philadelphia continued to cut a wide swath through United
States professional soccer, dominating both league and U.S. Open Cup play to
earn the "double." From the opening tap on October 2, 1960, the Ukes took firm
control of the American Soccer League schedule, jumping into first place and
going wire-to-wire with the lead. En route to their first-place finish, the
Quaker City club went undefeated, with only two draws marring a perfect season.
While doing so, the Ukes stretched their two-year ASL unbeaten string to 23 wins
and 4 draws, a league record.
The Ukes dominated opponents on both sides of the ball. Herman Niss, Ricardo
Mangini, and league MVP Mike Noha contributed to the club's league-leading sixty
goals scored, while goalkeer Al Didriksen anchored the ASL's stingiest defense.
Ironically, Philadelphia's other club, Uhrik Truckers, had become the league
doormats, finishing 1-12-1. Finishing just above the Trukcers was Baltimore
Pompei; the Baltimore club would fold by the end of the season. Due to foul
weather, an inordinate amount of snow in particular, the ASL schedule stretched
into the summer months. A bigger casualty of the weather was the Lewis Cup,
which was postponed. The weather did cooperate enough to allow the ASL All-Stars
to face off against Red Star of Belgrade on December 4, with the Yugoslavians
winning handily.
Besides overwhelming the league competition, the Ukrainian Nationals also
stormed their way to a second consecutive U.S. Open Cup. Manager Marion
Kozeniowski's lads continued a string of dominance dating back to October of
1959, going unmolested though the early rounds and storming their way to the
Open Cup final. Against Los Angeles Scots, the Ukes drew 2-2 out west, relying
on two markers from Stan Dlugosh, before returning home and trouncing L.A. 5-2
before 6,000 fans at LaSalle Stadium on June 25. Herman Niss scored a hat-trick,
while Dlugosh and Carl Yakovino added one goal each.
Although Fall river worked their way to the Cup quarterfinals before losing to
the German-American League's New York S.C, 6-0, the other ASL clubs did not make
a very strong showing in the Cup. For his fine work with the new Inter S.C.
club, Enzo Magnozzi was awarded the league's Coach of the Year honors.
Final League Standings, 1960-61
Before the season, Inter SC was added. After the season, Baltimore Pompei
withdrew.
G W T L GF GA PTS
Ukrainian Nationals 14 12 2 0 60 10 26
Falcons SC 15 8 2 5 35 21 18
New York Hakoah 14 8 1 5 27 25 17
Fall River SC 16 8 1 7 27 35 17
Galicia 14 6 4 4 27 23 16
Inter SC 15 6 3 6 30 28 15
Newark Portuguese 16 5 2 9 30 43 14
Brooklyn Italians 14 4 3 7 17 23 11
Baltimore Pompeii 6 4 1 1 26 38 9
Uhrik Truckers 14 1 1 12 18 42 3
CHAMPION: Ukrainian Nationals.
Ukrainian Nationbals also completed a "double" by also winning the
National Open Challenge Cup in 1961.
Leading scorers:
Herman Niss, Ukrainian Nationals 17
George Kulich, Falcons 12
Ricardo Mangini, Ukrainian Nationals 10
William Silva, Fall River SC 9
The final season goal scoring leader was Pete Millar, Inter SC.
Most Valuable Player: Miguel Noha, Ukrainian Nationals
Coach of the Year: Enzo Magnozzi, Inter SC
The International Soccer League
Once again, summertime in New York found teams from all over the world
participating in the second edition of Bill Cox' International Soccer League.
Following the success of the inaugural edition, Cox broadened his reach,
inviting some of the world's up-and-coming young clubs to the competition. In a
rare showing of support, the American Soccer League only scheduled one
summertime exhibition, so as to avoid drawing from ISL crowds.
Along with 1960 finalists Bangu and Kilmarnock, Cox brought over a number of
fine clubs. While by no means the world's best teams, Cox did have an uncanny
knack of selecting young sides on the brink of major success. Among these clubs
were the Dukla Prague club, as well as Everton.
Again attempting to provide some American flavor, Cox entered another "New York
Americans" side. Still a second-team English all-star squad, the Americans did
include Gene Vinyei from the Ukrainian Nationals, and Alex Chantraire and Ben
Zim of New York Hakoah of the American Soccer League. Most of the club's spark
was provided by its imports, however, Leeds Unites striker John McCole in
particular.
In an attempt to justify the "International" in the league's name, Cox staged a
handful of games in Montreal to complement to other matches, all played in New
York's Polo Grounds. Reprsenting the Canadian city was Montreal Concordia, a
respectable side that earned more ink for the fact that it carried players from
five different countries than for its play. Along with eight Canadians, the team
included players from Italy, England, Brazil, and El Salvador. The El Salvadoran
representative was Hector Marinaro, father of the future Canadian international
and indoor great.
Again, the ISL was divided into two sections, with Montreal the only team
participating in both. Everton dominated the competition during the first
schedule of games, played through May and June, with only a single loss to
defending champion Bangu marring a perfect record. Along with top scorers Bobby
Collins and Billy Bingham, Everton was represented by a young Jimmy Gabriel,
future coach of the North American Soccer League's Seattle Sounders in the
1970s. Bangu's Walter Dos Santos was later named the tournament's MVP for his
exciting play.
Section II, played through July, found the Amercian audiences being treated to
the fine play of one of the best sides ever seen on U.S. soil at the time. The
Dukla Prague club dominated all comers, with only a draw against the plucky
Montreal club keeping the Czechs from going a perfect 7-0-0.
The final, played in early August as a two-leg match, was anti-climactic. Dukla
Prague slaughtered Everton in the fist match, as Rudolf Kucera scored three
goals en route to a 7-2 rout. Also scoring for the Czechs was Josef Jelinek, who
would later play with the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos,
Rochester Lancers, and Boston Minutemen. Everton rebounded in the second match,
but Dukla Prague coasted on its huge aggregate advantage, not pressing very
often but still earning a convincing 2-0 win to take the Dwight D. Eisenhower
Trophy. The ISL averaged over 15,000 a match for the two game final.
Final League Standings, 1961
GP W T L GF GA Pts
Section I
Everton (England) 7 6 1 0 22 5 12
Bangu (Brazil) 7 4 2 1 18 8 9
New York Americans (USA) 7 4 3 0 13 18 8
Karlsruhe (West Germany) 7 3 3 1 16 17 7
Kilmarnock (Scotland) 7 2 3 2 12 13 6
Montreal Concordia (Canada) 7 2 4 1 7 11 5
Dinamo Bucharest (Romania) 7 1 3 3 8 14 5
Besiktas (Turkey) 7 1 4 2 8 19 4
Section II
Dukla Prague (Czechoslovakia) 7 6 0 1 36 6 13
Montreal Concordia (Canada) 7 3 0 4 17 10 10
Monaco (France) 7 4 3 0 18 13 8
Red Star Belgrade (Yugoslavia) 7 3 3 1 24 17 7
Espanol (Spain) 7 3 3 1 15 19 7
Rapid Vienna (Austria) 7 2 4 1 12 18 5
Shamrock Rovers (Ireland) 7 1 4 2 12 26 4
Petah Tikva (Israel) 7 0 5 2 6 31 2
EISENHOWER TROPHY CHAMPIONSHIP:
Aug. 2: Dukla Prague 7, Everton 2
Aug. 6: Dukla Prague 2, Everton 0
Dukla Prague wins on 9-2 aggregate. Combined attendance for both games:
31,627.
Games played at the Polo Grounds, New York.
Leading scorers:
Rudolf Kucera, Dukla Peague 15
Bobby Collins, Everton 8
John McCole, NY Americans 7
Reinhold Wischnowsky, Karlsruhe 6
Borivote Kostic, Red Star 6
Muhammed Mujic, Red Star 6
Frank O'Neill, Shamrock Rovers 6
Josef Jilinek (Dukla Prague) 5
Lucien Cossou (Monaco) 5
Rudolf Flogel (Rapid Vienna) 5
Humberto Gambaro (Montreal) 5
Ademir Da Guia (Bangu) 5
Senol Birol (Besiktas) 5
Billy Bingham (Everton) 5
(B)Eisenhower Trophy (MVP): Walter Dos Santos, Bangu
Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League
This new circuit was started by a group of businessmen who wanted to provide a
more professional atmosphere for premier teams in the existing semi-pro National
Soccer League, and was envisioned as a first step towards creating a fully
professional national league. The team roster included defending CNSL champion
Toronto Italia, and 4th place Montreal Concordia, as well aslocal semi-pro teams
Toronto City and Hamilton Steelers. Montreal Cantalia defeated Toronto Italia
1-1, 2-1, and 3-0 in the championship series.
Final League Standings, 1961
GP W T L GF GA PTS
Toronto City 24 11 3 10 45 41 25
Montreal Cantalia 24 10 5 9 47 44 25
Hamilton Steelers 24 9 6 9 45 50 24
Toronto Italia 24 9 4 11 43 45 22
Toronto won the regular season championship based on goal average over Montreal.
Semi-finals: Montreal defeated Hamilton 4-1, 4-1.
Italia defeated City 0-0, 2-1, 4-2 (OT)
CHAMPIONSHIP: Montreal defeated Italia 1-1, 2-1, 3-0.
Indoor Soccer
In gymnasiums and armories across the country, indoor soccer continued to grow
as a popular supplement to the full slate of outdoor games many leagues played
throughout the year. Although the American Soccer League still eschewed a full
indoor schedule, many of the country's top "minor" leagues were more than happy
to fill the gap.
Following a one-year absence, Chicago's National Soccer League staged its
eleventh full indoor season at the Chicago Avenue Armory. Playing with a Major
Division and a First Division, the NSL saw 18 teams participate in the indoor
schedule, with ten teams in the Fist Division. The Maroons went undefeated,
going 5-0-2, to earn promotion to the Major Division for 1962, while Eagles took
the Major Division crown, losing only one match. Wlodz Koscieny of the Eagles
tied the NSL indoor scoring record with 13 goals.
The Detroit Soccer Football League also played an indoor schedule in 1961. A new
experiment for the Detroit League, the indoor games were well-received by fans,
but not in sufficient numbers to make the indoor session a financial success.
The powerful St. Andrews Scots club withstood a challenge from Carpathia Kickers
to win the indoor crown.
The US National Team
Almost inactive this year, the US National team played but a single game, a 2-0
loss to Colombia in a friendly on February 5, at Bogota.
Amateur Leagues
German-American Soccer League
Final Standings, Major Division
GP G D L Pts
Hungaria 21 17 2 2 36
Giuliana 23 16 2 5 34
BW Gottschee 27 14 6 7 34
Ukrainian 25 14 3 8 31
SC New York 25 14 3 8 31
SC Hota 26 13 5 8 31
German-Hungarians 26 11 4 11 26
Greek-Americans 25 10 3 12 22
DSC Brooklyn 26 8 5 13 21
SC Eintracht 26 5 4 17 16
Champion: New York Hungaria
National Soccer League (Chicago)
The Chicago All-Stars went 4 for 5, defeating the Wisconsin All-Stars 4-0, the
Michigan-Ontario Stars 6-2 (in detroit), and 7-1 (in Windsor), and losing to St.
Louis Kutis 3-2. They also lost to the North German All-Stars. Schwaben defeated
the visiting Nurnberg (Germany) Amateur Club 2-1. In a major attractin in
Chicago, Sheffield United defeated Saarbrucken 2-0.
Major Division final standings
GP G D L Pts
Chicago Maroons 13 10 1 2 21
Eagles 14 8 0 6 16
Schwaben 13 5 4 4 14
Hansa 14 6 2 6 14
Lions 14 4 6 4 14
Fortuna 13 4 5 4 13
Slovaks 14 4 4 6 12
Wanderers 14 3 0 11 6
Peel Cup (Chicago): Kickers
National Soccer League of New York: Gjoa won over Brooklyn Scots following tie
in regular season standings.
Greater New Bedford City league (Mass.: Portuguese Sports
Interstate League (Mass.): Orioles of Tiverton, RI.
International Tours
Baden Amateur All-Stars, Germany: June 17, 1961 - July 2, 1962. Results: 5 wins,
0 draws, 1 loss.
Roster: Wolfgang Alker, Manfred Habitzrenther, Kurt Hildenbrandt, Karl-Heinz
Hoffman, Wolfgang Hofig, Bruno Horn, Hirst Knuzmann, Adolf Lutt, Sebastian
Marth, Manfred Orians, Hartmut Schafer, Lothar Schmidt, Karl Schottle, Waldemar
Stober, Richard Straub, Rolf Teichman. Trainer: Burkhard Pape.
6/17/61 Baden Amateurs 2, German American League Stars 3 (at new York City)
6/18/61 Baden Amateurs 12, Philadelphia Stars 1 (at Philadelphia)
6/22/61 Baden Amateurs 3, New Jersey Stars 0 (at New Jersey)
6/25/61 Baden Amateurs 9, Southern New York State Stars 0 (at New York City)
6/29/61 Baden Amateurs 4, New York Sports Club 1 (at New York City)
7/2/61 Baden Amateurs 7, Liederkranz Trenton 1 (at new Jersey)
VfB Stuttgart, Germany: 5/20/61 - 6/4/61. Results: 6 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses.
Roster: Rolf Blessing, Rolf Geiger, Oskar Harti, Theo Hoffman, Dieter Holler,
Erich Retter, Gunter Sawitzki, Gunter Seibold, Gerhard Strohmaier, Werner
Walter, Lothar Weise. Trainer: Kurt Baluses.
5/20/61 Stuttgart Kickers 5, Pittsburgh Indians (at Pittsburgh)
5/21/61 Stuttgart Kickers 8, Cleveland Stars 1 (at Cleveland)
5/28/61 Stuttgart Kickers 8, Milwaukee Stars 3 (at Milwaukee)
5/30/61 Stuttgart Kickers 12, Chicago Stars 2 (at Chicago)
6/2/61 Stuttgart Kickers 13, Detroit Stars 2 (at Detroit)
6/4/61 Stuttgart Kickers 1, Philadelphia Ukrainians 0 (at Philadelphia)
Rapid SC, Austria: No details available
Bangu, Brazil: No details available
Dukla, Czechoslovakia: No details available
All-England, England: No details available
Baden Amat, Germany: No details available
Bayern, Germany: No details available
Karlsruhr, Germany: No details available
Petal Tikva, israel: No details available
Shamrock Rovers, Ireland: No details available
Monoca, Monaco: No details available
Dynamo, Romania: No details available
Kilmarnock, Scotland: No details available
Espanal, Spain: No details available
Besiktas, Turkey: No details available
Red Star Belgrade, Yugoslavia: No details available
German-American League Junior All-Stars to West Germany. August 4, 1961 - August
30, 1961. Results: 4 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses.
Roster: Gunther Haug, Erich Roth, Siggi Stritzl, Herman Windischman (Gotschee).
Frank Heeg, (Brooklyn SC), Rory Finn, Bob Leuffen, Ewald PPollisch, John Vocila
(Erintracht), Dennis Dempsey, Richard Winklhardt (German-Hungarian), Ernest
Schuster (Kolping), Crew Holt, Phil Solomita (Kollsman), Bob feger (Minerva).
Manager: Bob Feger Sr.
8/4/60 Jr. Stars 1, Pirmassens 2 (at Pirmassens)
8/11/60 Jr. Stars 4, Union Bockingen 0 (at Hellbronn)
8/13/60 Jr. Stars 4, TSV Winnenden 0 (at Winnenden)
8/17/60 Jr. Stars 1, Stuttgart Kickers 3 (at Stuttgart)
8/20/60 Jr. Stars 5, VFR 1 (at Limborg)
8/27/60 Jr. Stars 3, Eintracht Frankfurt 4 (at Frankfurt)
8/30/60 Jr. Stars 5, Niederzeuzheim 0 (at Niederzeuzheim)
Schwaben of Chicago to Germany: June 6, 1961 - June 23, 1961. Results: 0 wins, 3
draws, 4 losses.
Roster: Jim Benedek, Leo DeFort, Raimond Eichhof, Rudi Getzinger, Armin Hohmann,
Walter Leonartowicz, Helmut Michel, Walter Ronge, Herbert Rothe, Norberth Rothe,
Addle Rotter, Manfred Schmidt, Karl Speiser, Herbert Teichert, Wolfgang Wostle,
Jack Ruschelnski. Manager: Frank Kutsch.
6/6/61 Schwaben 1, Pro-Bonn 2nd Division 1 (at Bonn)
6/7/61 Schwaben 1, City All-Stars (at Remscheid)
6/10/61 Schwaben 1, Amateur Champions, 1st Division 5 (Paterborn)
6/13/61 Schwaben 1, Bayern Hof. 1st Division 9 (at bayern Hof.)
6/16/61 Schwaben 0, League All-Stars 2 (at Landshut)
6/18/61 Schwaben 2, Straubling 2nd Division 2 (at Staubing)
6/22/61 Schwaben 2, 1st Division Amateurs 3 (at Nurmberg)
Holland SC (New York) to Holland: No details available
The College Game
The major upset this year was the dethroning of St. Louis by West chester in the
1961 NCAA Championship game, 2-0, before 6,500 fans at the St. Louis Public
Schools Stadium. This was the first time St. Louis had been defeated on their
home pitch and their first ever shutout. The upset was treated as a major event,
indicating the growth of the college game as a major factor in the promotion of
soccer.
In the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, Bridgeport defeated New York
University 1-0, West Chester defeated Maryland 4-2, Rutgers defeated Brockport
State 3-1, St. Louis defeated San Francisco 1-0. The semifinals saw West Chester
defeat Bridgeport 2-0, and St. Louis defeat Rutgers 6-1. West Chester upset St.
Louis 2-0 in the Championship game.
In 1961, the National Junior College Athletic Association, which has supervised
national sports programs among junior colleges, inaugurated their Invitational
Soccer Tournament. The first tournament was won by Dean Junior College.
Collegiate All-Americans, 1961
G - Andre Houtkruyer, CCNY
RF - Melmut Poje, Brooklyn
LF - Gerald Li, San Francisco State
RH - Neil Fagen, Navy
CH - Reiner Kemeling, Michigan State
LH - Harry Shirk, East Stroudberg
OR - Alvord Rutgerford, Williams
IR - Magid Kria, Washington
CF - Donald Williams, West Chester
IL - Robert Malone, St. Louis
OL - Kun Choo, California
Conference Champions:
California Intercollegiate Soccer Conference: San Francisco Community College
New England Intercollegiate Soccer League: Williams
Ivy League: Harvard
Metropolitan Intercollegiate Soccer Conference: Brooklyn
Atlantic Coast Conference: Maryland
New York State Athletic Conference: Brockport
Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate League: Air Force
Midwestern Conference: St. Louis
Ohio Collegiate Soccer Conference: Akron
Mason-Dixon Conference: Washington College
Southern California Soccer Association: UCLA
Middle Atlantic States Athletic Conference: Drexel Tech
NAIA Championship: Howard 3, Newark Engineering 2
National Junior College Athletic Association Championship: Dean Junior College
4, Orange County Community College 2
Other Action
1961 US National Challenge Open Cup Final: Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals of
the ASL repeated as champions, defeating the Los Angeles Scots 2-2 (June 11) and
5-2 (June 25). For the second straight year, the losing team was from Los
Angeles. The 1960-61 tournament had originally started with 113 teams.
1961 National Amateur Cup Final: St. Louis Kutis defeated the Hartford
Italian-American Stars in a two-leg series, 11-3 (July 15) and 3-3 (July 23).
The field started with 140 teams.
National Soccer Hall of Fame: In 1961, Matt Boxer and William Hennings were
inducted into the Hall of Fame.