Immigrant Influence

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.

In this episode of It Was What It Was, Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson dive into the early history of soccer in the United States. They look at efforts to establish professional leagues, the influence of immigrant communities, and the geographic and cultural factors that made it difficult for football to gain a foothold - compared to rival American sports. This episode is the first of a three-part series. Join us on Friday as the story continues! If you’re enjoying the podcast, please subscribe and consider leaving a five-star review to help others find the show. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to American Soccer 01:08 Early History of Soccer in the USA 02:00 Challenges and Attempts to Establish Soccer 02:38 Soccer's Struggle for Popularity 06:06 The Role of Universities in American Football 17:16 Immigrant Influence on American Soccer 17:43 Regional Hotbeds of Soccer 24:18 Formation of Early Soccer Leagues 27:43 The Rise of Fall River and Early American Football 28:31 Economic Challenges and League Suspensions 29:18 Comparing Football Cultures: UK vs. US 33:11 Baseball's Influence on Early American Soccer 38:53 The Birth of the US Football Association 41:36 Challenges and Growth of Early US Soccer 46:52 Bethlehem Steel and the Industrial Influence 51:01 The Challenge Cup and Regional Rivalries 52:09 Concluding Thoughts and Future Prospects Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.