Southern New England Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The Southern New England Soccer League was a semi-professional soccer league based in New England
which was established in 1914 and collapsed in 1921. During its short existence, it featured some of the top teams in the northeast United States. Dissatisfaction with league mismanagement led to the end of the SNESL in 1921 as several teams moved to the newly created American Soccer League
.
taking the league title based on a singe table points system. However, the 1915–16 season introduced many of the problems that would plague the league until its demise. Several teams refused to travel to away games and weather caused the cancellation of others. Those circumstances resulted in the cancellation of the season at a noew unknown point at which Fore River
was topping the standings. While the 1916–17 season went better than the previous one, it still left a lot to be desired. Two teams played eleven games (J&P Coats and Crompton) and the rest varied from five to eight games completed. The 1917–18 season was again cancelled for many of the same reasons as the 1915–16 season, but this time the league awarded the championship to J&P Coats. The next year, 1918–19, the season was cancelled entirely due to the loss of players to military service in World War I
. While the league resumed play in 1919–20, records have not allowed a complete reconstruction of the season. In the 1920–21 season, the league held what was its most successful season. Only one team played less than ten games, and it disbanded during the season. Most of the teams played at least thirteen with a high of sixteen by the champions Fore River
. However, frustration at the constant mismanagement led several of the teams to join with teams from the professional National Association Football League to create the American Soccer League
. The ASL began its first season in the fall of 1921 at which point the NAFBL and SNESL both disbanded.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
which was established in 1914 and collapsed in 1921. During its short existence, it featured some of the top teams in the northeast United States. Dissatisfaction with league mismanagement led to the end of the SNESL in 1921 as several teams moved to the newly created 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...
.
History
The Southern New England Soccer League's first season, 1914–15, went well with the New Bedford WhalersNew 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...
taking the league title based on a singe table points system. However, the 1915–16 season introduced many of the problems that would plague the league until its demise. Several teams refused to travel to away games and weather caused the cancellation of others. Those circumstances resulted in the cancellation of the season at a noew unknown point at which Fore River
Fore River (soccer)
Fore River was an amateur U.S. soccer team which had its origins as the Fore River Shipbuilding company team of Quincy, Massachusetts.-History:...
was topping the standings. While the 1916–17 season went better than the previous one, it still left a lot to be desired. Two teams played eleven games (J&P Coats and Crompton) and the rest varied from five to eight games completed. The 1917–18 season was again cancelled for many of the same reasons as the 1915–16 season, but this time the league awarded the championship to J&P Coats. The next year, 1918–19, the season was cancelled entirely due to the loss of players to military service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. While the league resumed play in 1919–20, records have not allowed a complete reconstruction of the season. In the 1920–21 season, the league held what was its most successful season. Only one team played less than ten games, and it disbanded during the season. Most of the teams played at least thirteen with a high of sixteen by the champions Fore River
Fore River (soccer)
Fore River was an amateur U.S. soccer team which had its origins as the Fore River Shipbuilding company team of Quincy, Massachusetts.-History:...
. However, frustration at the constant mismanagement led several of the teams to join with teams from the professional National Association Football League to create 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...
. The ASL began its first season in the fall of 1921 at which point the NAFBL and SNESL both disbanded.
Seasons
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1914–15 | 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... |
| 1915–16 | No champion |
| 1916–17 | 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... |
| 1917–18 | J&P Coats |
| 1918–19 | Cancelled |
| 1919–20 | Unknown |
| 1920–21 | Fore River Fore River (soccer) Fore River was an amateur U.S. soccer team which had its origins as the Fore River Shipbuilding company team of Quincy, Massachusetts.-History:... |
Teams
- New Bedford WhalersNew Bedford WhalersNew 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...
(1914–1921) - YMCTAS (New Bedford Temps) (1914–1915)
- J&P Coats (1914–1921)
- Pawtucket (1914–1915)
- Taunton City (1914–1915)
- Fall River Pan Americans (1915–1918)
- New Bedford Celtics (1915–1918)
- Howard & BulloughHoward and Bullough F.C.The Howard and Bullough Football Club was an early twentieth century U.S. soccer team which was based out of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It won the 1911 American Cup.-History:...
(1915–1917) - Fall River RoversFall River RoversFall River Rovers were a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They won the 1888 and 1889 American Cups as well as the 1917 National Challenge Cup. In 1921 Rovers were disbanded and a new team, Fall River United were formed to enter the newly established American Soccer...
(1915–) - Fore RiverFore River (soccer)Fore River was an amateur U.S. soccer team which had its origins as the Fore River Shipbuilding company team of Quincy, Massachusetts.-History:...
(Fore River Shipbuilding Company Stars) (1915–1921) - Crompton F.C. (1916–1921)
- Greystone F.C. (1917–1918)
- Lonsdale F.C. (1917–1918)
- General Electrics (1919–1920)
- Sayles Finishing Plant F.C.Sayles Finishing Plant F.C.Sayles Finishing Plant F.C. was a U.S. soccer team which existed briefly during the early 1920s.The team was sponsored by the Sayles Finishing Plant, a textile company owned by the Sayles Company and based out of Saylesville, Rhode Island. In 1920, it joined the Southern New England Soccer League,...
(1920–1921) - St. Michael’s (1920, disbanded after seven games)
- Sharp Manufacturing Company (1920–1921)