Fall 1931 American Soccer League. At the start of this season the American Soccer League

American Soccer League

The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...

 was in decline, suffering from the effects of the Great Depression

Great Depression

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...

. Clubs had begun to fold, merge and disappear. The eventual champions, New Bedford Whalers

New Bedford Whalers

New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...

, had been formed by Sam Mark

Sam Mark

Sam Mark is a former United States soccer club owner. During the 1920s and early 1930s he was the owner of Fall River Marksmen, one of the era’s most successful teams. Mark’s continued to own the team after it relocated and became the New York Yankees and then New Bedford Whalers. He also briefly...

 following the merger of Fall River F.C.

Fall River F.C.

Fall River Football Club, also referred to as Fall River Field Club, was the name used by two United States soccer clubs, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. Both played in the American Soccer League during the early 1930s. The name is often used incorrectly to refer to Fall River Marksmen, another...

 and New York Yankees

New York Yankees (soccer)

New York Yankees were a New York soccer team that played briefly in the American Soccer League. They were formed following the merger of Fall River Marksmen and New York Soccer Club. Although the Yankees survived only a short time, they beat Celtic in a prestige friendly and effectively won the...

. Long time ASL members Brooklyn Wanderers

Brooklyn Wanderers

The Brooklyn Wanderers was a U.S. soccer team which was a founding member of the National Association Football League in the late nineteenth century. It later joined the American Soccer League.-History:...

 folded before the season. However New York Americans

New York Americans (soccer)

The New York Americans were an American soccer club founded in 1931. Based in New York, New York, it played in both the first and second American Soccer Leagues.-History:...

, later to become a perennial contender in the second ASL, made their debut.

The season saw strong performances by New Bedford Whalers, New York Giants

New York Giants (soccer)

New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...

 and a resurgent Pawtucket Rangers

Pawtucket Rangers

J. & P. Coats was an American soccer club team of the J. & P. Coats Company based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island having been founded in 1900.The club played won the Rhode Island League in 1914 then was an inaugural member of the semi-pro Southern New England Soccer League...

. Hakoah All-Stars

Hakoah All-Stars

Hakoah All-Stars is a former United States football club that played in the American Soccer League between 1930 and 1932. The club was formed after the merger of Brooklyn Hakoah of the ASL and New York Hakoah of the Eastern Soccer League...

 improved markedly to take fourth place. Although the Whalers won this season, they lost the playoff series for the overall 1931 champion, being defeated by Spring 1931

Spring 1931 American Soccer League

-League standings: GP W D L GF GA PTS PCT New York Giants 17 10 2 5 42 28 22 .647 Brooklyn Wanderers 16 9 2 5 32 27 20 .625...

 champions New York Giants in a play-off. Whalers took the first game at home 8-3 before the Giants came back to win 6-0, taking the series on a 9-8 aggregate score.

Final table

Place	Team	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS	PCT
1	New Bedford Whalers New Bedford Whalers New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...	21	14	2	5	60	32	30	.714
2	New York Giants New York Giants (soccer) New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...	20	11	4	5	54	38	26	.650
3	Pawtucket Rangers Pawtucket Rangers J. & P. Coats was an American soccer club team of the J. & P. Coats Company based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island having been founded in 1900.The club played won the Rhode Island League in 1914 then was an inaugural member of the semi-pro Southern New England Soccer League...	20	13	0	7	58	42	26	.650
4	Hakoah All-Stars Hakoah All-Stars Hakoah All-Stars is a former United States football club that played in the American Soccer League between 1930 and 1932. The club was formed after the merger of Brooklyn Hakoah of the ASL and New York Hakoah of the Eastern Soccer League...	21	11	4	6	44	34	26	.615
5	Boston Bears	19	4	3	12	34	50	11	.289
6	New York Americans New York Americans (soccer) The New York Americans were an American soccer club founded in 1931. Based in New York, New York, it played in both the first and second American Soccer Leagues.-History:...	20	3	3	14	32	69	9	.225
7	Newark Americans Newark Americans Newark Americans were a team in the first American Soccer League. They were founded in 1930, but folded following the spring 1932 season.-Year-by-year:-Notable players: Jim Brown Bill Carnihan Archie Stark Johnny Jaap...	11	1	2	8	16	39	4	.183

Top goalscorers

Rank	Scorer	Club	GP	G
1	Bert Patenaude Bert Patenaude Bertrand "Bert" Arthur Patenaude was an American soccer player. Although earlier disputed, he is now officially credited by FIFA as the scorer of the first hat-trick in World Cup history. He is a member of the United States Soccer Hall of Fame.-Club career:...	New York Giants New York Giants (soccer) New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...	16	24
2	Werner Nielsen	New Bedford Whalers New Bedford Whalers New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...	21	16
3	Tommy Florie	New Bedford Whalers New Bedford Whalers New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...	19	15
4	Bob McIntyre	Pawtucket Rangers Pawtucket Rangers J. & P. Coats was an American soccer club team of the J. & P. Coats Company based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island having been founded in 1900.The club played won the Rhode Island League in 1914 then was an inaugural member of the semi-pro Southern New England Soccer League...	16	15
5	James Hogg	Pawtucket Rangers Pawtucket Rangers J. & P. Coats was an American soccer club team of the J. & P. Coats Company based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island having been founded in 1900.The club played won the Rhode Island League in 1914 then was an inaugural member of the semi-pro Southern New England Soccer League...	18	13
6	Rudolph Nikolsberger	Hakoah All-Stars Hakoah All-Stars Hakoah All-Stars is a former United States football club that played in the American Soccer League between 1930 and 1932. The club was formed after the merger of Brooklyn Hakoah of the ASL and New York Hakoah of the Eastern Soccer League...	19	11