Innisfails
Encyclopedia
Innisfails was a U.S. soccer team which competed in the St. Louis Soccer League
from 1907 to 1921.
in 1907. The SLSL was created as a rival to the city’s Association Football League which was established in 1903. Innisfails won the first title, but following the merger of the SLSL and AFL in 1908, Innisfails dropped out and St. Leo's moved into its place in the league. In 1909, Innisfails returned to the SLSL. While they had left as champions, their first year back proved much less successful as they finished fourth out of four teams with a 3-10-2 record. They improved their finish each of the next two seasons, rising to second by the end of the 1911-1912 season when they finished behind St. Leo’s. They finished second again the next year, but in 1913, disagreements about professionalism led the league to split into the Federal Park and Robison Field Leagues. Innisfails joined the Robison Field League which was an amateur league.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1913.html While St. Leo’s, their nemesis for the previous two SLSL seasons, were now in the Federal Park League, Innisfails was still unable to top the standings, finishing second to the Columbus Club in 1913-1914. In addition to its league games, Innisfails also went on exhibition tours against other top U.S. team. In 1913, Innisfails traveled east for five games against Paterson True Blues. They finished 0-4-1 against the Blues.http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=980DE2D6133BE633A25752C3A9659C946296D6CF&oref=slogin The next year saw them win their first league title since 1908, as they took first in the Robison Field League. By 1915, the two leagues were looking to merge. As part of this process, the top teams from each league played for the St. Louis city championship. As the Robison Field League champion, Innisfails played St. Leo’s, the Federal Park League champion. Innisfails finally topped their longtime rivals to win the combined league championship. Soon after the two leagues merged to reform the St. Louis Soccer League. This merger brought Ben Millers
into the league and both Innisfails and St. Leo’s found themselves battling for second behind the new team. In 1920, Innisfails lost to eventual champion Ben Millers in the second round of the National Challenge Cup.http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9907EFDB1630E433A25751C2A9669D946195D6CF&oref=slogin By 1920, Innisfails had begun to fade and after finishing fourth, withdrew from the league in 1921.
In 1916, the U.S. national team
played its first official games. Matt Diedrichsen
of Innisfails was the only player outside of the northeast U.S. called into the team for its tour of Scandinavia.
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:...
from 1907 to 1921.
History
Innisfails was a charter member of the newly founded St. Louis Soccer LeagueSt. 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:...
in 1907. The SLSL was created as a rival to the city’s Association Football League which was established in 1903. Innisfails won the first title, but following the merger of the SLSL and AFL in 1908, Innisfails dropped out and St. Leo's moved into its place in the league. In 1909, Innisfails returned to the SLSL. While they had left as champions, their first year back proved much less successful as they finished fourth out of four teams with a 3-10-2 record. They improved their finish each of the next two seasons, rising to second by the end of the 1911-1912 season when they finished behind St. Leo’s. They finished second again the next year, but in 1913, disagreements about professionalism led the league to split into the Federal Park and Robison Field Leagues. Innisfails joined the Robison Field League which was an amateur league.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1913.html While St. Leo’s, their nemesis for the previous two SLSL seasons, were now in the Federal Park League, Innisfails was still unable to top the standings, finishing second to the Columbus Club in 1913-1914. In addition to its league games, Innisfails also went on exhibition tours against other top U.S. team. In 1913, Innisfails traveled east for five games against Paterson True Blues. They finished 0-4-1 against the Blues.http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=980DE2D6133BE633A25752C3A9659C946296D6CF&oref=slogin The next year saw them win their first league title since 1908, as they took first in the Robison Field League. By 1915, the two leagues were looking to merge. As part of this process, the top teams from each league played for the St. Louis city championship. As the Robison Field League champion, Innisfails played St. Leo’s, the Federal Park League champion. Innisfails finally topped their longtime rivals to win the combined league championship. Soon after the two leagues merged to reform the St. Louis Soccer League. This merger brought Ben Millers
Ben Millers
Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers...
into the league and both Innisfails and St. Leo’s found themselves battling for second behind the new team. In 1920, Innisfails lost to eventual champion Ben Millers in the second round of the National Challenge Cup.http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9907EFDB1630E433A25751C2A9669D946195D6CF&oref=slogin By 1920, Innisfails had begun to fade and after finishing fourth, withdrew from the league in 1921.
In 1916, the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
played its first official games. Matt Diedrichsen
Matt Diedrichsen
Matthew B. Diedrichsen was an American soccer half back who earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1916.When the United States Football Association selected the first national team for a 1916 tour of Scandinavia, Diedrichsen was the only player on the team who did not play on the East Coast...
of Innisfails was the only player outside of the northeast U.S. called into the team for its tour of Scandinavia.
Record
| Year | Record | League | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1907-1908 | 9-2-6 | Champion | N/A |
| 1908-1909 | * | N/A | |
| 1909-1910 | 3-10-2 | 4th | N/A |
| 1910-1911 | 7-9-1 | 3rd | N/A |
| 1911-1912 | 8-4-3 | 2nd | N/A |
| 1912-1913 | 6-3-2 | 2nd | N/A |
| 1913-1914 | 9-6-5 | 2nd | Did not enter |
| 1914-1915 | 10-2-2 | Champion | Did not enter |
| 1915-1916 | 7-6-6 | 2nd | Did not enter |
| 1916-1917 | 9-8-3 | 2nd | Did not enter |
| 1917-1918 | 5-6-6 | 3rd | |
| 1918-1919 | 9-8-4 | 2nd | |
| 1919-1920 | 10-8-3 | 2nd | Second Round |
| 1920-1921 | 6-9-7 | 4th | Third Round |
- Sat out this season.