George McKelvey (soccer)
Encyclopedia
George McKelvey, also spelled McKelvie, (born Scotland
) was a Scottish-American soccer player who spent his entire professional career in the United States.
of the amateur Allied American Football Association. He remained with Bethlehem until 1921, when he scored a goal for Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock
in the team’s 4-2 victory over St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.
in the 1921 National Challenge Cup
. During his years with Bethlehem Steel, McKelvey played both right half and right fullback, at times filling in on the front line as right wing when injuries plagued the team. On April 19, 1919, he scored the first Bethlehem goal in its 2-0 victory over Paterson F.C. in the 1919 National Challenge Cup
. In addition to the two cups mentioned, McKelvey was part of the winning team in the 1915
, 1916
, and 1918 National Challenge Cup
s. He also won five American Cup
titles with Bethlehem during this period. In 1921, Todd Shipyards
, owner of Tebo Yacht Basin and Robins Dry Dock, merged the teams sponsored by these companies into one club, Todd Shipyards and entered it into the newly established American Soccer League
. McKelvey spent one season with Todd Shipyards which folded in 1922. He then moved to New York Field Club
for the 1922-1923 season, but saw time in only five games. He is not listed with any ASL teams in 1923-1924, but played two games with Philadelphia Field Club
during the 1924-1925 season.
, but no records exist to substantiate this claim. Another article from 1921 claims McKelvey played for Tebo Yacht Basin F.C.
before moving to Todd Shipyards, but the reporter may have been confused between the two teams which merged to form Todd Shipyards.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) was a Scottish-American soccer player who spent his entire professional career in the United States.
Playing career
The first record of McKelvey playing professionally comes in 1913 when he is listed with Bethlehem Steel F.C.Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel Football Club was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1911 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation and played their home games first at East...
of the amateur Allied American Football Association. He remained with Bethlehem until 1921, when he scored a goal for Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock
Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock
The Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock were an American soccer team which took its name from the workplace it represented. The dock was part of the Todd Pacific Shipyards in Brooklyn who formed the professional soccer club in 1918 to play in the National Association Football League. Robins played until the...
in the team’s 4-2 victory over St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.
St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.
St. Louis Scullin Steel was a U.S. soccer team established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. It spent seven seasons in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning three league titles and one National Challenge Cup.-History:...
in the 1921 National Challenge Cup
1921 National Challenge Cup
The 1920–21 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-History:...
. During his years with Bethlehem Steel, McKelvey played both right half and right fullback, at times filling in on the front line as right wing when injuries plagued the team. On April 19, 1919, he scored the first Bethlehem goal in its 2-0 victory over Paterson F.C. in the 1919 National Challenge Cup
1919 National Challenge Cup
The 1918–19 National Challenge Cup was the sixth National Challenge cup held by the United States Football Association. Bethlehem Steel F.C. won their fourth title in a 2-0 victory over Paterson F.C..-Open Cup Bracket:Home teams listed on top of bracket...
. In addition to the two cups mentioned, McKelvey was part of the winning team in the 1915
1915 National Challenge Cup
The 1914–15 National Challenge Cup was the second tournament of the modern day Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Many more teams - 80 - competed in 1915 after the success of the 1913–14 tournament. St. Louis and California were the only major soccer-playing regions without a representative. Bethlehem Steel...
, 1916
1916 National Challenge Cup
The 1915–16 National Challenge Cup was the third tournament of the modern day Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Bethlehem Steel F.C. won its second consecutive championship. The entries for the competition were to be made by midnight September 30, 1915. The draw for the qualifying and first rounds was made...
, and 1918 National Challenge Cup
1918 National Challenge Cup
The United States had recently entered World War I, and the soccer world felt the effects as increasing numbers of players joined the armed forces to wage battle in Europe. Soccer was not as hard-hit as some other sports, but all leagues felt the impact; in fact the Cechie team of Chicago lost...
s. He also won five American Cup
American Cup
The American Cup was the first major U.S. soccer competition open to teams beyond a single league. It was first held in 1885. In the 1910s, it gradually declined in importance with the establishment of the National Challenge Cup...
titles with Bethlehem during this period. In 1921, Todd Shipyards
Todd Shipyards
Todd Shipyards was an American soccer club based in Brooklyn, New York that was an inaugural member of the American Soccer League. The team was formed when the Todd Shipyard company decided to merge the Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock with Tebo Yacht Basin F.C....
, owner of Tebo Yacht Basin and Robins Dry Dock, merged the teams sponsored by these companies into one club, Todd Shipyards and entered it into the newly established 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...
. McKelvey spent one season with Todd Shipyards which folded in 1922. He then moved to New York Field Club
New York Field Club
New York F.C. was a successful early American soccer club.The club was originally a member of the amateur National Association Foot Ball League then became an inaugural member of the professional American Soccer League in 1921.The club won the Southern New York State Football Association in...
for the 1922-1923 season, but saw time in only five games. He is not listed with any ASL teams in 1923-1924, but played two games with Philadelphia Field Club
Philadelphia Field Club
Philadelphia Field Club is a name used by four soccer teams based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All four versions of Philadelphia F.C. competed in the first American Soccer League, but none were in any way related to the other three teams which shared its name.-Philadelphia F.C.:The Philadelphia...
during the 1924-1925 season.
Possible other teams
One newspaper article from 1918 mention McKelvey as having played for Disston A.A.Disston A.A.
Philadelphia Tacony Disston Athletic Association Football Club, better known as Disston A.A. and nicknamed The Sawmakers was a U.S. soccer team sponsored by the Disston Saw Works company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The team played for several years in local Philadelphia leagues before joining...
, but no records exist to substantiate this claim. Another article from 1921 claims McKelvey played for Tebo Yacht Basin F.C.
Tebo Yacht Basin F.C.
Tebo Yacht Basin was an amateur U.S. soccer team sponsored by the Tebo Yacht Basin company of Brooklyn, New York. It had a brief impact on the U.S. soccer scene from 1918 to 1921....
before moving to Todd Shipyards, but the reporter may have been confused between the two teams which merged to form Todd Shipyards.