American Soccer Development

In today's It Was What It Was, Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson continue to explore the fascinating story of soccer in the United States. Highlighting the pivotal role of immigrant communities in the sport's development, the episode also examines key figures like Bela Gutmann and the significant tours by foreign teams that attracted huge crowds. Join us for the conclusion of this three-part series on Tuesday. 00:00 Introduction to Bela Gutmann's New York Era 00:51 The Pre-History of American Soccer 01:36 Challenges in Establishing Soccer in the U.S. 02:26 The First Professional Soccer League 04:24 Financial Struggles and League Dynamics 07:16 Formation and Early Years of the American Soccer League 20:53 Innovations and Comparisons with Other Sports 24:19 College Football's Dominance and Soccer's Struggles 25:39 The Role of Universities in American Sports 26:14 Challenges in Early American Soccer 26:53 The Rise of the New York Giants 27:44 Fall River Marksmen's Dominance 28:25 Economic Struggles and Soccer's Impact 29:29 The League's Early Successes and Challenges 30:14 Expansion and New Teams 31:13 Player Transfers and Immigration Issues 33:19 The American Menace and Scottish Football 34:49 International Influence and Jewish Tours 41:07 The Impact of Jewish Players and Fans 44:23 The Maccabees and Tactical Evolution 47:49 The League's Growing Popularity and Issues 50:32 Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.