Abbot Worsted was an early twentieth century U.S. soccer team sponsored by the Abbot Worsted Yarn Company of Forge Village, Massachusetts. During the early 1920s, it was a perennial contender in the National Challenge Cup.

History

The Abbot Worsted Company was founded in 1855, but in 1879, it established facilities in Forge Village, Massachusetts. By 1916, it was the largest producer of carpet yarns in the world, drawing a work force from both the local population and Britain. Abbot Worsted F.C. was the company's team. In 1919, it was drawn with Lynn Hibernians in the first round of the 1920 National Challenge Cup

1920 National Challenge Cup

The 1919–20 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. This edition featured 99 teams in two divisions. The western division had 41 teams in six districts while the eastern division had 58 teams also...

, but the outcome of that game is unknown. In 1921, the team hired Jack Kershaw who had scored a goal for the losing 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:...

 in the 1920 National Challenge Cup

1920 National Challenge Cup

The 1919–20 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. This edition featured 99 teams in two divisions. The western division had 41 teams in six districts while the eastern division had 58 teams also...

, as head coach. Over the next six years, Kershaw took the Forge Villagers, as the team was known, deep into the Challenge Cup. In both 1922

1922 National Challenge Cup

The 1921–22 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:...

 and 1925

1925 National Challenge Cup

The 1924–25 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:...

, Abbot Worsted went to the cup semifinals. In 1923

1923 National Challenge Cup

The 1922–23 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.-Open Cup Bracket:Home teams listed on top of bracket: replay after tied match...

 and 1924

1924 National Challenge Cup

The 1923–24 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.-Open Cup Bracket:Home teams listed on top of bracket: replay after tied match...

, they made it to the quarterfinals. In addition, in 1924, Worsted lost in the semifinals of the 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...

. The Forge Villagers also went to the 1921 and 1922 Massachusetts State Cup, but lost both times, to 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:...

 in 1921 and to Holyoke Falcos

Holyoke Falcos

The Holyoke Falcos was an American soccer club based in Holyoke, Massachusetts that was member of the professional American Soccer League. The team was sponsored by Farr Alpaca, a local textile mill. The team was a founding member of the ASL, but withdrew at the end of the first...

 in 1922. After Kershaw left to coach Harvard in 1927, Abbott Worsted F.C. faded from the national scene.