William Fryer
Encyclopedia
William J. “Tucker” Fryer (July 22, 1895 in Burradon
, Northumberland
, England
– August 29, 1960 in Linden, New Jersey
) was an English-American soccer half back
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
Fryer began his career with Byker West End. In 1919, he signed with Barnsley F.C.
and spent two season with the club before leaving England for the United States. When he arrived, he signed with Tebo Yacht Basin F.C.
of the New York State League. Tebo won both the league and South New York State Cup titles in 1921, but there are no records which show Fryer was with them during that period. In the fall of 1921, Fryer moved to Todd Shipyards of the newly established American Soccer League
. In 1922, Fryer and this team mates fell in the final of the National Challenge Cup to St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.
Todd Shipyards left the league at the end of the season and Fryer moved to Paterson F.C.. Fryer and Paterson went to the 1923 National Challenge Cup
final, defeating Scullin Steel for the title. In 1923, Paterson was sold to new ownership which moved the team to New York, renaming it the New York Giants
. Fryer began the 1923-1924 season, but was sold to the Fall River Marksmen
for the record fee of $1,500. He remained in Fall River until 1927 when he moved to the Brooklyn Wanderers
. During his time in Fall River, Fryer won three league titles. In 1930, he moved to the Newark Americans
. He finished his career with the semi-professional Clan Gordon of an unknown league.
Fryer was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1951.
Burradon, Tyne and Wear
Burradon is a village in Tyne and Wear, England to the north of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is adjacent to Camperdown and the two villages are closely linked. Camperdown was once known as Hazlerigge.-History:...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
– August 29, 1960 in Linden, New Jersey
Linden, New Jersey
- Local government :, the Mayor of Linden is . The former longtime Mayor of Linden is 82-year-old John T. Gregorio, who served as mayor of Linden for 30, nonconsecutive years and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which...
) was an English-American soccer half back
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 is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Fryer began his career with Byker West End. In 1919, he signed with Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
and spent two season with the club before leaving England for the United States. When he arrived, he signed with Tebo Yacht Basin F.C.
Tebo Yacht Basin F.C.
Tebo Yacht Basin was an amateur U.S. soccer team sponsored by the Tebo Yacht Basin company of Brooklyn, New York. It had a brief impact on the U.S. soccer scene from 1918 to 1921....
of the New York State League. Tebo won both the league and South New York State Cup titles in 1921, but there are no records which show Fryer was with them during that period. In the fall of 1921, Fryer moved to Todd Shipyards of the newly established 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...
. In 1922, Fryer and this team mates fell in the final of the National Challenge Cup to St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.
St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.
St. Louis Scullin Steel was a U.S. soccer team established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. It spent seven seasons in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning three league titles and one National Challenge Cup.-History:...
Todd Shipyards left the league at the end of the season and Fryer moved to Paterson F.C.. Fryer and Paterson went to the 1923 National Challenge Cup
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...
final, defeating Scullin Steel for the title. In 1923, Paterson was sold to new ownership which moved the team to New York, renaming it the New York Giants
New York Giants (soccer)
New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...
. Fryer began the 1923-1924 season, but was sold to the Fall River Marksmen
Fall 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...
for the record fee of $1,500. He remained in Fall River until 1927 when he moved to the Brooklyn Wanderers
Brooklyn Wanderers
The Brooklyn Wanderers was a U.S. soccer team which was a founding member of the National Association Football League in the late nineteenth century. It later joined the American Soccer League.-History:...
. During his time in Fall River, Fryer won three league titles. In 1930, he moved to the Newark Americans
Newark Americans
Newark Americans were a team in the first American Soccer League. They were founded in 1930, but folded following the spring 1932 season.-Year-by-year:-Notable players: Jim Brown Bill Carnihan Archie Stark Johnny Jaap...
. He finished his career with the semi-professional Clan Gordon of an unknown league.
Fryer was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1951.