Bill McPherson
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" McPherson (September 22, 1897 – July 1976) was a Scottish American
soccer wing half
. He began his career in Scotland before moving to the American Soccer League
. He also spent time in the St. Louis Soccer League
, winning a total of five league titles and seven U.S. Open Cups during his career.
, McPherson signed with Greenock Morton of the Scottish Football League
in 1919. In 1922, he began the season with Beith F.C.
before leaving Scotland for the United States.
of the American Soccer League
seeing time in only four games at the end of the 1922-1923 season. He spent most of ten seasons with the Marksmen, winning six league titles and three National Challenge Cups (1924, 1927, 1930). In 1931, the Marksmen merged with the New York Soccer Club
to form the New York Yankees
. He remained with the renamed team for the spring 1931 season. That summer, McPherson won his fourth Challenge CUup with the Yankees. In the summer of 1931, the Yankees merged with the Fall River F.C.
to form the New Bedford Whalers
. Once again McPherson remained with the renamed club, winning the 1932 U.S. Open Cup over Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
of the St. Louis Soccer League
(SLSL).
left the team to sign with SBF. When he arrived in St. Louis, he induced several of his ex-team mates, including McPherson, to join him. They did so and immediately took SBF to two league and two Open Cup championships.
who were now competing in the second American Soccer League
, the first having collapsed in 1933. In 1935, McPherson went to yet another Open Cup final, but this time his team failed to take home the title. The Rangers were defeated in three games (7-6 aggregate) by the St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. who featured several of his former team mates from Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
Scottish American
Scottish Americans or Scots Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Scotland. Scottish Americans are closely related to Scots-Irish Americans, descendants of Ulster Scots, and communities emphasize and celebrate a common heritage...
soccer wing half
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He began his career in Scotland before moving to 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...
. He also spent time in the St. Louis Soccer League
St. Louis Soccer League
The St. Louis Soccer League was a soccer league based in St. Louis, Missouri, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States.-History:...
, winning a total of five league titles and seven U.S. Open Cups during his career.
Scotland
Born in GreenockGreenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, McPherson signed with Greenock Morton of the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
in 1919. In 1922, he began the season with Beith F.C.
Beith F.C.
Beith F.C. were a Scottish football club based at Bellsdale Park in Beith. The club were members of the Scottish Football League from 1923 to 1926.The club was initially formed in 1875 but closed down in 1883 and did not re-emerge fully until 1888...
before leaving Scotland for the United States.
American Soccer League
When he arrived, he signed with the Fall River MarksmenFall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They originally played as Fall River United before becoming known as the Marksmen after their owner, Sam Mark. During the 1920s and early 1930s they were one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United...
of 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...
seeing time in only four games at the end of the 1922-1923 season. He spent most of ten seasons with the Marksmen, winning six league titles and three National Challenge Cups (1924, 1927, 1930). In 1931, the Marksmen merged with the New York Soccer Club
New York Soccer Club
New York Soccer Club was the name of a New York soccer team that, in 1930, played briefly in the American Soccer League. Between 1923 and 1930 they had been known as the New York Giants. In 1930 they merged with the Fall River Marksmen to become the New York Yankees. Then in 1931 this club absorbed...
to form the 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...
. He remained with the renamed team for the spring 1931 season. That summer, McPherson won his fourth Challenge CUup with the Yankees. In the summer of 1931, the Yankees merged with the 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...
to form the 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...
. Once again McPherson remained with the renamed club, winning the 1932 U.S. Open Cup over Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. was a U.S. soccer club which played in the St. Louis Soccer League from 1931 to 1934. The team was known as Hellrungs from 1929 to 1931, St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. from 1934 to 1935 and St. Louis Shamrocks from 1935 to 1938. During its short existence, it won two...
of the St. Louis Soccer League
St. Louis Soccer League
The St. Louis Soccer League was a soccer league based in St. Louis, Missouri, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States.-History:...
(SLSL).
St. Louis Soccer League
By this time the ASL was on its last legs and Alex McNabAlex McNab
Alex "Alec" McNab was a Scottish-U.S. soccer player and coach. He began his career in Scotland before moving to the United States. In the U.S., he won six consecutive U.S. Open Cups with teams from both the American Soccer League and St. Louis Soccer League...
left the team to sign with SBF. When he arrived in St. Louis, he induced several of his ex-team mates, including McPherson, to join him. They did so and immediately took SBF to two league and two Open Cup championships.
American Soccer League II
In 1934, McPherson moved back east to sign with the Pawtucket RangersPawtucket 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...
who were now competing in the second 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 first having collapsed in 1933. In 1935, McPherson went to yet another Open Cup final, but this time his team failed to take home the title. The Rangers were defeated in three games (7-6 aggregate) by the St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. who featured several of his former team mates from Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.