Philadelphia Field Club
Encyclopedia
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.
based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Before the season, the owners of the powerful Bethlehem Steel F.C.
decided to disband the club and form Philadelphia F.C. The club re-signed most of the top players from Bethlehem and players from elsewhere. Not surprisingly the team won the first ASL championship. After the season, the management broke up the team selling many of its top players due to financial trouble and lack of support. The team then returned to Bethlehem.
, a new team also called Philadelphia Field Club joined the American Soccer League
for its second season. The new team was the polar opposite of the powerful Bethlehem languishing at the bottom of the table
After the 1926/27 season, the team was bought by new management who bought top talent from Ireland and renamed the club Philadelphia Celtic. The spending spree left the owners in financial straits and the club went bankrupt and were suspended by the league after playing only 10 games in the first half of the 1927/28 season.
the season after the Philadelphia Celtic was suspended. The team played a limited schedule and folded after its only season.
in the fall of 1929. After only six games the team moved to Philadelphia to become another Philadelphia Field Club. They played eight more games before the season was suspended due to the merger of the ASL and the Eastern Soccer League.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. All four versions of Philadelphia F.C. competed in the first 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...
, but none were in any way related to the other three teams which shared its name.
Philadelphia F.C.
The Philadelphia Field Club, also known as Philadelphia F.C. was an inaugural club of the American Soccer LeagueAmerican 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...
based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. Before the season, the owners of the powerful 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...
decided to disband the club and form Philadelphia F.C. The club re-signed most of the top players from Bethlehem and players from elsewhere. Not surprisingly the team won the first ASL championship. After the season, the management broke up the team selling many of its top players due to financial trouble and lack of support. The team then returned to Bethlehem.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921/22 | 1 | ASL | 1st | Champion (no playoff) | Fourth round |
Philadelphia F.C./Celtic
After the first Philadelphia F.C. returned to BethlehemBethlehem 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...
, a new team also called Philadelphia Field Club joined 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...
for its second season. The new team was the polar opposite of the powerful Bethlehem languishing at the bottom of the table
After the 1926/27 season, the team was bought by new management who bought top talent from Ireland and renamed the club Philadelphia Celtic. The spending spree left the owners in financial straits and the club went bankrupt and were suspended by the league after playing only 10 games in the first half of the 1927/28 season.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922/23 | 1 | ASL | 8th | No playoff | ? |
| 1923/24 | 1 | ASL | 7th | No playoff | ? |
| 1924/25 | 1 | ASL | 12th | No playoff | Did not enter |
| 1925/26 | 1 | ASL | 11th | No playoff | Second round |
| 1926/27 | 1 | ASL | 11th | No playoff | First round |
| 1927/28 | 1 | ASL | 12th (1st half) | N/A | N/A |
Philadelphia F.C. III
A third Philadelphia F.C. joined the American Soccer LeagueAmerican 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 season after the Philadelphia Celtic was suspended. The team played a limited schedule and folded after its only season.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928/29 | 1 | ASL | 7th (1st half); 6th (2nd half) | Did not qualify | ? |
Bridgeport Bears/Philadelphia F.C.
The Bridgeport Bears joined the American Soccer LeagueAmerican 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...
in the fall of 1929. After only six games the team moved to Philadelphia to become another Philadelphia Field Club. They played eight more games before the season was suspended due to the merger of the ASL and the Eastern Soccer League.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 1929 | 1 | ASL | 9th | No playoff | N/A |