Showing posts with label World Cup 1930. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Cup 1930. Show all posts

Wednesday, 28 September 2022

BOOK PREVIEW: MUD, BLOOD & STUDS BY JAMES BROWN

[Note: Here, below, my good friend James Brown provides a synopsis of his newly published book, Mud, Blood and Studs, One Family's Legacy in Soccer and Rugby Across Three Continents. Primarily a story about his grandfather and fathers footballing legacy its much more than that. Its an ode to an extraordinary family of sporting talent.

I've been collaborating with James for a few years now and he gives me some credit in helping him with his research for his book, specifically around the 1930 US team but its perhaps more credit than I deserve but thats James for you, very kind and humble and one of the most generous people I have ever met. - Dean Lockyer, World Cup 1930 Project]


 

 

I embarked on this adventure some 6 long years ago. At year 5, I met my good friend Dean, and he was already deep entrenched by the mystique of the 1930 World Cup since years. I was eager to find out about the careers that I grew up hearing stories about. I needed to see photos, articles, programmes. Whatever I could. I had just jumped in with both feet, searching worldwide everywhere I could to find out information on every member of my sporting family over 3 different generations of football and rugby players: libraries in Bayonne and Plainfield, New Jersey; online archives & British Newspaper sources; English & Scottish Premiership & other league clubs like Plainfield Soccer Club, Bayonne Rovers, Newark Skeeters, NY Giants, Brooklyn Wanderers, Newark Americans, Newark City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Guildford City, Clyde, Ipswich Town, Glenburn Rovers, Shawfield, Clyde, Hibernian, Dundee, Dreghorn Juniors, Kilmarnock, Troon Athletic, Partick Thistle, Chester, Swindon Town, Lovell's Athletic, Distillery (N. Ireland) and national junior and senior team sides in the United States, England and Scotland. Then over to the rugby side of the Brown and Lambie families with Jonsson College Rovers, West of Scotland, Natal, Sharks, Guy's, Kings and St. Thomas' Rugby Football Club, Sharks, Racing 92, Gala, Western Province, Marr College FP, Glasgow District, England, Scotland, South Africa Springboks, British and Irish Lions…That’s an extensive and proud list. 


6 years-worth - a mountain of research articles, documents, photos, books, etc. 

Family letters, photos and albums, interviews, memories and recollections were essential to collect, arrange and weave into this story that I spent 6 fantastic years working on. Along the way, I’ve made wonderful friendships throughout the world on all continents with soccer geeks, kindred spirit,  passionate men and women for all walks of life – but all linked to association foot-ball, soccer, football, etc – to The Beautiful Game. While I went on a search for any online references or through collections, online sales – I stumbled upon a podcast where a roundtable was taking place, talking about early US soccer and that’s when I first heard Tom McCabe and David Kilpatrick, both professors at the time in the NY/NJ area. David was talking about players’ rights and that he had a paper somewhere in his neatly organized mess of an office! And that is was about the NY Giants in 1930 having gone on strike because of pay concerns and that a young lad by the name of James Brown was the only player on the team who didn’t agree with the settled amount.  

To learn more about America’s rich soccer history, go to The Society for American Soccer History


I quickly made contact with both of them and from there, learned more about The Society for American Soccer History (S.A.S.H) and their efforts to revitalize, correct, do more research and help to educate those who wanted to know about US soccer’s rich history dating back to the 1880s. The other major reason for diving into US soccer history was coming across SASH member, Zach Bigalke’s PhD thesis called, “Anything but Ringers”, a deep analysis about the soccer lanscape in the 1920s building up to the 1930 World Cup and the US Men’s National Team with my grandfather being one of those players. The thought was that since the US was not a big player on the recent international stage (2 dismal showing at the Olympic Games 1924 and 1928) and not getting out of the pool rounds. Their run in the 1930 World Cup that got them out of the pool stage at the top of the table with 2 cleansheet wins against Belgium and Paraguay to the semis and ending with a crushing, unjust loss to Argentina, was acccentuated with suspicions because of USMNT’s drastic change in performance and british accents. Hence, federations and reporters thought the US bought their way to 3rd place, when in fact, the US players with Scottish and English origins had actually lived in the US since their teens, with my grandfather being the last immigrant to join the team when he moved to the US in 1927. Their accents always remained. You can take a man out of Scotland but you can never take Scotland out of the man!   

I must confess that once soccer moved into color from a photography perspective, I kind of stopped being interested, so from 1960 onwards! My main focus is from 1920s to the end of the 1950s. It was a period where sandlots were the main recruiting terraces and strong waves of immigration helped bolster leagues, especially on the East Coast. Balls were made of heavy leather and laced up causing a bump and often inflicting damage when heading, even-more-so when it rained the ball became a medicine ball waiting to send you to the emergency room or asylum for an early retirement – just ask Wee Willie! Boots were tough, heavy and felt like today’s security steel-toed boots.  You had to be tough, determined and ready to win at all costs back then. With S.A.S.H, I find so much joy in helping individuals or historical soccer societies find out more about their past players or relatives who played in the 1920s, ‘30s, etc or journalists who need some help gathering more info for a story.  

I’ve worked with people from North and South America to EU (Western & Eastern Europe), UK, South Africa and North Africa I’ve found my stride in researching backgrounds of players and I get such a rush from unraveling that little bit of info, photo etc that completes the puzzle of one’s career back in the day. Roger Alaway, the foremost US soccer historian recently referred to me as the Sherlock Holmes of Soccer! That’s a compliment that I can run with and I feel so fortunate to have kindred spirit in the soccer history world. Dean does some of the most in-depth analysis of the 1930 World Cup overall, and I’m astounded by what he finds and posts every week on Twitter and on his blog. I owe so much of what I know today because of him and it’s great to collaborate with him.  Whenever I send him an email with an item or tidbit I’ve come across, I always start off saying “you probably already have this…” and 9 times out of 10 he already had it!  


James with son, Aidan, in Paris, 2019


So, what started off as a pure family tree set of papers that I wanted to assemble for my son, Aidan so that he knew where he came from, from a sporting perspective, turned into something bigger, better and gave me a new focus in life. He now has a definitive look at the paternal side of the Brown. Soccer has always been in my blood and I’m just so happy to be able to share my love for the the Beautiful Game with you all and collaborate, exchange ideas and help resolve those mysteries from early periods of soccer. The main challenge in the US is finding family’s of former players to see what was passed down; see the state of preservation and help the family understand what their options are for the collection and then organize with museums, private collectors, universities, etc. 

In any event, I look forward working on 2 more books about the USMNT for 2026 and am so happy to be able to give back to a sport that I cherish so! 


You can buy the book in hardcover or Ebook - Kindle - through the following distribution points

UK – delivery already started since Sept. 1

https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/mud-blood-and-studs


North & South America – Amazon.com (Delivery starts Dec. 1, 2022) 

Amazon.com


If you need any research help about soccer teams, clubs, players, federations – don’t hesitate to contact me on Twitter @ 1930WorldCup or by email at robyburns@hotmail.com. Of course, Dean is always keen as well digging for 1930 World Cup research, especially when relatives of players from that World Cup contact us. 




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Saturday, 10 August 2019

Podcast: USA at World Cup 1930

@WC1930blogger

 Check out this Outside Write podcast with my friend James Brown @1930WorldCup, as he discusses the US team at the 1930 World Cup and his own personal connection and journey in researching that historic team that finished third.

Podcast: USA at World Cup 1930


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Tuesday, 21 May 2019

Fall River's Greatest & The 1930 World Cup

@WC1930blogger

 When the United States team took part in the 1930 World Cup their squad contained two young players from Massachusetts club, Fall River Marksmen, Billy Gonsalves, and Bert Patenaude. They were instrumental in leading their country to the semi-final of the first ever World Cup. 

 Bert Patenaude made history when he scored the first ever hattrick in the World Cup against Paraguay on 17th July 1930. Billy Gonsalves is considered one of the greatest players in American soccer history. Recently, I wrote a collaborative piece about the pair and their emergence on the soccer scene with the Marksmen and the role they played on that US team that finished third in Uruguay. I did this with the help of James Brown @1930WorldCup, whose grandfather, Jim Brown, played on that same US team in Montevideo, and this article appears on the club website of the Fall River Marksmen. 

 Below you will find links to some of the sources used to write this piece entitled, Fall River's Greatest & The 1930 World Cup.






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Friday, 20 July 2018

Match Report - Brazil vs Bolivia; Paraguay vs Belgium (English translation from La Nacion)


This match report covers the two games that were played one after the other on the 20th July between Brazil-Bolivia and Paraguay-Belgium at the Estadio Centenario.
Written by an anonymous reporter (most likely South American) working for cable news agency this clipping was published in the Madrid based La Nacion (21 July 1930). You can the read original report here.
All contributions are welcome to help improve the translation of this report which was interpreted via google.
Note: There are discrepancies with the spelling with some of the players' names and the identity of the goalscorers.

Brazil and Paraguay were the winners yesterday
MONTEVIDEO 21.-Yesterday, Sunday, two games were played for the world soccer championship, between the teams of Brazil and Bolivia and those of Paraguay and Belgium.
In the first game, the Brazilians won by four goals to one. Paraguay was the winner over Belgium, by a little to zero. (Associated Press.)
The superiority of Brazil
MONTEVIDEO 21.-In the first half of the game played between the teams of Brazil and Bolivia passed without great interest, although the Brazilians showed from the first moment to have a greater technique than their enemies.
Minutes after the game started, it was noted that the public was confused about the players that belonged to each team, because of the equality of the shirts, which were white for all players. In view of this, the match was interrupted, so that the Bolivians could change their uniforms. When they returned to the field they wore the blue jersey of the Uruguayan teams. The public, seeing the Bolivians appear dressed in such fashion, burst into a standing ovation.
Resumed the game, the game continued to develop without plays of great interest. Twenty-seven minutes into the first half, the Brazilian player Reco scored the first goal of the match.
The first half ended with a goal by the Brazilians, against their opponents.

The Brazilians showed more dominance and technique throughout the game than the Bolivians, a domain that grew as the game went on, despite the enthusiasm shown by the Bolivian players. Coelhonetto played magnificently, proving to be the most effective striker of the Brazilian team, marking the second and third goal in favour of his team. The fourth goal of the Brazilians was marked by Wisintainer. The match ended with the victory of the Brazilian team, by four goals to one.
The match was attended by some fifteen thousand people. The weather (*) somewhat tarnished the game, it was dishevelled and cold .- (Associated Press.)

 *Thank you to Ken Knight for this correction. See comments below.
Paraguayans and Belgians, bored.
MONTEVIDEO 21.-The second match of the afternoon was held between the teams of Paraguay and Belgium. The Paraguayan team lined up in the following way: Benítez; Flores, Olmedo; Benítez, Diaz, Garcete; Nessi, Romero González, Benítez Cáceres and Vargas Peña.
The Belgian team was composed of Badjón; Hoydonck, Dedecken; Braine, Hallemans, Moesenbal; Versyp, Delbeque, Nowens, Adams and Diden.
The Belgians started the first half with repeated attacks against the Paraguayan goal, whose defence acted well. However, shortly thereafter, midway through the second half, the forces remained balanced, after which a reaction was observed by the Paraguayan team, which twice put the Belgian gate in imminent danger.
The right wing of the Paraguayan team Nessi, at the moment of trying to score a goal, was given, driven by the impulse, a violent blow to the head against the post, falling to the ground vanished. The Paraguayans continued the game with only ten players on the field.
The public showed little interest in the game, withdrawing much of the competition before the end. The match ended with the victory of the Paraguayans by a goal against zero.
The only goal of the match was scored by Benítez Cáceres, thirty-seven minutes after the first half had started.
Although the Paraguay-Belgium party aroused little enthusiasm, it has been considered as a technical demonstration .- (Associated Press.)

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Thursday, 19 July 2018

Match Report - Argentina vs Mexico; Chile vs France (English translation from La Nacion)

@WC1930blogger

 This is a match report of the doubleheader that was played on the 19th of July 1930 at the Estadio Centenario. Chile played France around midday while Argentina defeated Mexico later that afternoon.

This article was written by an anonymous journalist working for the Associated Press that was published in the Madrid-based newspaper, La Nacion, on the 21st July 1930. You can read the original report here.

 Readers are welcome to offer any improvements on translation into English from Spanish which was converted via google. There was at least two spelling errors in regard to the spelling of players names. For instance, the Mexican player, Roberto Gayon is misspelt Gallardo and Zumelzu is written as Sumelzu. The reference to 'porteños' is a word associated with the inhabitants of Buenos Aires and in this context is generalized to refer to the Argentinians.

Argentina defeats Mexico and Chile beat France.
MONTEVIDEO 19.-The match between the representative teams of the Argentine Republic and Mexico has been characterized by an overwhelming superiority of the porteños. Only the enthusiasm that the Mexicans have made throughout the game has been able to save them from a catastrophic defeat.
The first part of the game was extremely monotonous. The Argentines, confident of their superiority, seemed to play with reluctance. However, their superior combinations allowed them to jeopardize the other goal at all times. After eight minutes, as a result of one of these combinations, Stabile scored the first goal in favour of Argentina. Once again the ball was put into play, the porteños again advanced, and Sumelzu (Zumelzu) scored the second goal.
The game is parked in the field of the Mexicans and soon arrives the third goal, also by Stabile. This both encourages the Mexicans, who, chanted by the public, which is clearly favourable, endanger the Argentine goal. One of two porteños (full) backs contact the ball with the hand in the penalty area, and the referee orders the maximum punishment. Mexican player Lopez (it was actually M Rosas) is in charge of throwing him (of taking the penalty), who, from a magnificent shot, catches the ball in the Argentine goal.
Encouraged by this goal, the Mexicans carry live attacks, which put in serious danger at the opposite goal. His technical inferiority is evident; but their enthusiasm allows them to corner at certain moments the opponents, who played with a lot of apathy, and wins the sympathy of the public. Finish the first jalf with a three to one.
In the second half, the Argentines, without showing enthusiasm, take advantage of their superiority to score the fourth and fifth goals, seven and eight minutes after the game began. The authors of the many are Varallo and Zumelzu. The referee punishes the Argentines with a free kick (actually another penalty). Manuel Rosas is responsible for throwing it (for taking it), and sends the ball with good aim. Bossio rejects, but Rosas gets the ball again and scores the second goal for the Mexicans.

Despite the dominance of the Argentines, the Mexicans still manage to make some loose advances. In one of them, Gallardo (Gayon) manages to score for his team the third goal at twenty-nine minutes of play. The Argentines shake their apathy for a few moments, and the Mexican goalkeeper, Bonifiglio, has the chance to win an ovation by making a formidable stop within a shot of Varallo. After thirty-seven minutes of play, Stábile scored the sixth Argentine goal. The match completely lapses in interest, because the Mexicans are exhausted by the effort made, and the Argentines are dedicated to keeping the difference. The match ends, then: Argentina, 6; Mexico, 3

The French lose at a minimum.
More competitive, but also of mediocre quality, was the match that put the teams of Chile and France face to face. During the first half, the game was as early in one field as in another, but the decisive and energetic action of both defences messed up all the chances of scoring. It finished the first jalf with a draw.

Twenty minutes into the second half, the Chilean striker advances in an admirable combination of passes, which ends Schemberger (actual scorer was Guillermo Subiabre), scoring the first goal. The French make desperate efforts to score, and the fight acquires great emotion, within their mediocre class. The Chileans manage to reach the end, keeping the difference. Chile, 1; France, 0 .-- Associated Press.)
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Wednesday, 18 July 2018

Match Report - Uruguay vs Peru (English translation of El Heraldo de Madrid)

@WC1930blogger

 This is an English translation of Uruguay vs Peru match report that appeared in the Spanish newspaper El Heraldo de Madrid on the 19th July 1930. The match represented the opening of the newly built Estadio Centenario commensurate with the celebration of the centenary of the founding of the Uruguayan Constitution.
The report is anonymous but is written by a South American correspondent of the Associated Press news agency. You can read the original report here.
Google translation was used to convert the document and is clumsy in parts. Any Spanish speakers are welcome to offer their contribution to help improve the document.



THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF FOOTBALL
Uruguay Beat Peru by one to zero
MONTEVIDEO. - In the soccer match played between the national teams of Uruguay and Peru, the Uruguayans won by a little against zero.-Associated Press.
MONTEVIDEO.- The first half of the game played this afternoon between the Uruguayan and Peruvian teams ended without either side having scored so much, for which the audience whistled to the Uruguayan players, for not being satisfied with their performance.
However, the Uruguay team dominated all the time, but their attacks were stopped by the Peruvian defence, which played admirably. During this half the Peruvians made a formidable effort, not content with resisting the attacks of their adversaries, but, on the other hand, made frequent incursions into the Uruguayan field, which motivated, the intervention of the Uruguay goalkeeper.

At the end of the first half, the audience was surprised by the excellent performance of the Peruvian players, because they were considered enthusiastic men, but unable to oppose a serious resistance to their rivals, far superior in knowledge of the game.
In the second half, the Uruguayans managed to score the goal that gave them the victory, which was greeted with a great ovation by the public, which until that moment had not ceased to whistle.
In the course of this second half, the Peruvians continued to show their marvellous resistance to the Uruguayan attack, especially the defence, which succeeded in stopping the continuous Uruguayan attacks, carried out with the technique that is peculiar to them.
Among the Peruvian players stood out: the centre-half, Galindo, and the goalkeeper, Padrón, especially the latter, who, after a somewhat indecisive first half, stopped formidably countless shots. Of the forwards highlighted Lavalle, who led the line admirably and shot good shots.


The Uruguayans acted with insecurity during the first half, but, after the goal scored in the second half, they played brilliantly. He was animated by the public, who exchanged whistles in applause. Associated Press

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Tuesday, 17 July 2018

Match Report - United States vs Paraguay (English translation from El Sol)

@WC1930blogger

This is the English translation of the match report that appeared in the 18th July issue of Spanish newspaper, El Sol, from 1930 of the United States vs Paraguay game that was played at the Estadio Gran Parque Central, home of Montevideo based team, Club Nacional, that was played after the Yugoslav-Bolivia game on the 17th July.

The author of the article is anonymous but was written by a journalist working for Associated Press and is most likely a South American reporter on location in Uruguay.

Google was used to translate this document and is, therefore, subject to possible errors that would be better crafted by a professional translator. Spanish speakers are welcome to offer their opinions to help improve the text. You can read the original report here.

 This game is regarded by Fifa as the match where Bert Patenaude scored the first World Cup hattrick. However, this article lists the American goalscorers as Goncalves (2 goals) and Florie. But there are many reasons to believe this is incorrect. For instance, the players did not wear numbered shirts and many of these players were unfamiliar to the South American press corp. Mistaken identity was common.

 For further reading on the Bert Patenaude hattrick and the evidence to support it check out these previous articles:

Bert Patenaude and the First World Cup Hat-trick




How the Americans won.
MONTEVIDEO 17 (12 n.). In the match between Paraguayans and North Americans, the latter begins by opening an intense offensive and rejecting the counter-attacks carried out by the Paraguayan vanguard. In this first half, the American interior right Goncalves manages to score two goals for his team, without the Paraguayan goalkeeper can do anything to stop them.

In the second half, the dominance of the North American team is complete, except on rare occasions when the Paraguayan players manage to take the game to the ground of their opponents. The superiority of the North American team is accentuated more and more and in many occasions it manages to overflow the Paraguayan defence, developing a brilliant game and scoring a third goal, executed by Florie.
Throughout the match, the Paraguayans have been powerless to contain the rapid attacks of the Americans, who have played with an admirable cohesion. As in the previous performances of this team, the public has been favorable to their opponents; but it is especially in this case that today's defeat eliminates the Paraguayans from the fight for the title of world champion, and also because the Paraguayan players have defeated the previous Uruguayan team in the South American championship, which constitutes a forecast unfavorable for the picture of Uruguay. (Associated Press.)

The American role, on the rise

MONTEVIDEO 17 (12 n.). The victory obtained by the Americans over the Paraguayans, after an easy match, increases the impression existing in the public regarding the Yankees' chances in this world competition. (Associated Press.)

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Match Report - Yugoslavia vs Bolivia (English translation from El Sol)

@WC1930blogger

 This is the English translation of the match report that appeared in the 18th July issue of Spanish newspaper, El Sol, from 1930 of the Yugoslavia vs Bolivia game that was played at the Estadio Gran Parque Central, home of Montevideo based team, Club Nacional, that was played on the 17th July.

 The author of the article is anonymous but was written by a journalist working for Associated Press and is most likely a South American reporter on location in Uruguay.

 Google was used to translate this document and is, therefore, subject to possible errors that would be better crafted by a professional translator. Spanish speakers are welcome to offer their opinions to help improve the text. You can read the original report here.





The victory of Yugoslavia, over Bolivia
MONTEVIDEO 17 (12 n.).
At the meeting held this afternoon between the national teams of Yugoslavia and Bolivia, Bolivians began attacking strongly to their opponents and putting constantly threatens the Yugoslavian goal only due to the brilliant performance of their goalkeeper was not crossed by the Bolivian shots.

The Yugoslavs, faced with such continuous attacks, were forced to stay defensive at all times.

This dominance of the players of a Bolivia was maintained throughout the first half, but the referee marked the end of the period without either side having scored so much.

In the second half, the Yugoslavs begin a brilliant attack, which takes completely surprise to their opponents. The game is developed in inverse form to that of the first half. The Bolivian goalkeeper shows a lack of security and the whole team reveals that it lacks defensive technique. In these circumstances, the Yugoslavs mark four goals and undo all the Bolivian attacks, which were so brilliantly developed during the first half of the fight.



At the beginning of the match, the Bolivians surprised the public with an effective game, which always kept the ball in Yugoslav territory, to the point that in the minds of all the spectators was the belief that they would win. But a few minutes into the second half, the Bolivians began to waver and Yugoslav domination prevailed.

The Bolivian team played most of the game with ten players because the player Gomez had to be removed from the field with a fractured leg within minutes of having started the first half.
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