New York's Cosmopolitan Soccer League began life as the German American Soccer League

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Today’s Cosmopolitan Soccer League was established in 1923 in New York City as the German American Soccer League. It is one of the country’s oldest soccer leagues with over 90 years of history behind it. What was once a German inspired collection of teams in the beginning has over the decades evolved into a truly cosmopolitan refection of the metropolitan area’s demographics.

When the league first started it was made up of five teams, S.C. New York, Wiener Sports Club, D.S.C. Brooklyn, Hoboken FC 1912 and Newark S.C. The teams were largely composed of recent immigrants from Central Europe, primarily Germany. The next year, four more teams, Swiss F.C., Elizabeth S.C., S.C. Eintracht and Germania S.C., joined the league. The league renamed itself the German American Football Association in 1927.

Following the end of World War II, the league experienced major growth as Central European players left their homelands to move to the United States. Many of these new immigrants were Hungarians that had fled their country following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

Current Cosmopolitan Soccer League champions NY Pancyprian Freedoms

Current Cosmopolitan Soccer League champions NY Pancyprian Freedoms

In 1977, the GASL changed its name in response to a changing American soccer scene. While soccer had existed as an ethnic sport since the 1930s, the creation of the North American Soccer League in 1968 had brought the sport into the mainstream. Recognizing that maintaining its ethnic identity would hinder its acceptance by the wider U.S. sports culture, the GASL governing board voted to rename the league the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. As part of this process, the league’s teams were directed to change their names to ones with less ethnic connotations, although this requirement was dropped three years later.

Current Cosmopolitan Soccer League leaders Shamrock SC

Current Cosmopolitan Soccer League leaders Shamrock SC

The league plays a traditional international schedule with competition beginning the second weekend of September and running through June, with a winter break from the middle of December to early or middle March. During the winter months, the league runs an indoor tournament due to New York's cold climate.

There are 106 clubs in the CSL’s 9 divisions today, conveying the New York metropolitan area. This number includes the reserve teams that First Division as well as the teams in the Over 30 Division.


Football pays tribute to Diego Maradona

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The founders of Soccer Walks NYC are supporters of London’s Arsenal Football Club. The news of Diego Maradona’s passing at the age of 60 has shocked the world of soccer. Tributes have been coming in from all over the world including those from Arsenal. Here is just a sampling of the thoughts and memories for the legendary Argentinian from the football worlds as well as Arsenal players past and present.

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The First American Soccer League

The first American Soccer League was formed on July 7, 1921 at the Hotel Astor in New York

The first American Soccer League was formed on July 7, 1921 at the Hotel Astor in New York

It has taken soccer a long time to become a popular sport in the United States. Currently Major League Soccer has 26 teams and will increase to 30 cubs by 2023.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that soccer almost took off in the 1920’s. There was a major surge in the sport’s popularity in the New York City/New Jersey region with the birth of the American Soccer League in 1921. It was the first fully professional soccer league in the United States. The ASL was formed on July 7, 1921 at the Astor Hotel with eight clubs, including the Jersey City Celtics, Todd Shipyards of Brooklyn, Bethlehem Steel, Fall River Marksmen, Harrison Field Club, Holyoke Falcons, New York Field Club, J&P Coats.

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The league was an immediate success, drawing greater crowds than any previous circuits.

As the league grew, the ASL drew its teams from big cities and industrial towns (the Boston Wonder Workers, the Brooklyn Wanderers, New York Field Club, the Paterson Silk Sox, the New Bedford Whalers, the Bridgeport Bears).

Businesses sponsored and ran their own teams, So instead of team names such as the Bears or Giants, matches might feature clubs such as Indiana Flooring vs. J&P Coats!

Clubs affiliated with American industry had a significant advantage over those from abroad as business was booming in the United States. The American clubs were able to pay much higher wages than their European counterparts. This was a time when nobody actually made a living exclusively from playing soccer. These US companies were able to offer both the chance to play soccer and a high paying industrial job.

The Brooklyn Wanderers of the American Soccer League

The Brooklyn Wanderers of the American Soccer League

ASL game attendance averaged around 6,000 for games in the New York region and 8,000 to 10,000 for major games in New England.

The original American Soccer League, operating between 1921 and 1933.

The league’s first secretary was Thomas Cahill. ·Cahill is considered one of the founders of soccer in America. He was born in NYC to Irish immigrants and attended college in St. Louis. It was here that he fell in love with soccer. (St. Louis was an early outpost of soccer in the United States). Cahill helped grow the game in the Midwest before moving back east. Cahill established a national governing body for soccer, the US Football Association in 2013. Soon after the US joined FIFA.

Thomas Cahill

Thomas Cahill

Cahill became the first manager of the US national team in 1916 and toured Scandinavia with the team.

As the ASL took off, American teams started luring players from some of the top clubs in Europe. Before long, there were 50 European internationals playing in the American league.

The ASL clubs’ recruitment tactics frequently ran afoul of international contract protocols, provoking an outcry on the far side of the Atlantic. Hart to believe this now, but in 1925, the Scottish Football Association convened a special meeting in Glasgow to grumble over the “American menace.” ASL representatives were made to attend a FIFA hearing in Finland in 1927.. The ASL was told to stop stop ignoring international contracts and stop poaching European players.

The ASL was done in by political infighting and eventually the depression hit and the first American Soccer League collapsed.

A New York based player scored the goal that gave the United States a 1-0 victory over England in 1950


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One of the most famous victories in United States soccer history took place during the summer of 1950 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The setting was the World Cup, and the United States was scheduled to take on England during the group stages.

With no existing professional league, the U.S. team was made up of part-time players and included a number of new immigrants. At the time, the city of St. Louis was a hot spot for soccer in the country and a large number of team USA came from the St. Louis area.

England and the United States drawn into group 2 along with Spain and Chile. England won their first match 2-0 over Chile, while the US was easily beaten by Spain 3–1 to Spain.

To say that England were the favorites would be an understatement. They were considered one of the best teams in the world, while the U.S. came into the match with no pedigree.

The American team included high school teacher Walter Bahr, funeral home worker Frank Borghi. Ben McLaughlin was supposed to be a member of the team but was unable to head to the tournament as he couldn’t get time off from work.

The team was so haphazardly put together that it only had time to train together once before heading off for Brazil.

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As expected, England dominated possession and shots on goal, but the match remained scoreless until the 37th minute. A Bahr shot from distance was met by the head of Haitian born New Yorker Joe Gaetjens and sent to the back of the England net.

The quality of U.S. play improved as they maintained their lead in the second half. The team’s confidence increased as the minutes ticked away. Against all odds the U.S. kept England off the scoreboard and the Americans walked away with a famous victory.

Somewhat lost in the win is the story of goal scorer Gaetjens. The forward was born in Haiti and came to New York City in 1947 to study accounting at Columbia University. While attending school, Gaetjens played three seasons for Brookhattan of the American Soccer League.

Here’s a shocker. While today’s superstar players earn incredible salaries, Gaetjeans made $25 a game while also attending college and working for the Brookhattan owner's restaurant.

After the World Cup, Gaetjens left New York for France where he played for Division 1 side Racing Club Paris and Division 2 club Olympique Ales.



He later returned to Haiti where he spent the rest of his life.

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If you’re interested in learning more about this match, there’s a book and a film entitled, The Game of Their Lives.







Let the Elephant Soccer Club of Harlem play

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I recently came across a story about the Elephant Soccer Club of Harlem and how they had been told to vacate a local park they have been using for 15 years. I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

I wasn’t familiar with the organization but the Elephant Soccer Club hosts training clinics for kids 3-18. The club was started by former player Adama Fofana, originally from the Ivory Coast, back in 2005. Morningside Park is the location where practices are held during the spring, summer and fall. Activities move inside during the winter months. The club’s philosophy as stated on its website is ‘One Game One Family.’

It was reported that on October 3rd, park rangers approached coach Adam Norse and issued him a summons for “unauthorized use of the field”. Keep in mind that the Elephant Soccer Club has been using the fields in Morningside Park for 15 years.

Club captain Joe Lupton believes that this sudden change is politically motivated. The Elephant’s staff had complained to the parks department about screws remaining scattered across the playing fields following an event held in the park. In the Post article Lupton stated, “Ever since we started complaining about the screws on the field, the positive relationship that had existed for 15 years began to get more antagonistic.”

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The event in question is the Harlem Eat-Up food festival that takes place for two weeks every summer in the park. It does seem strange that the Elephant’s are being punished simply for asking to have a safe playing field for kids.

The soccer club is scheduled to meet with the Parks Department Oct. 19 to discuss use of the park’s fields. Meanwhile park’s department spokeswoman Crystal Howard issued the following statement,

Throughout the city, we prioritize youth play on our fields. We are working with the Elephant Soccer Club to find them a field built for soccer so their young strikers can run the pitch.

Lupton believes that the Elephant’s are being singled out and claims that other soccer teams use the fields freely.

The thing that makes this story so troubling is that the real losers are the kids. There’s not a lot of open green space for soccer to be played in the city; especially uptown. The fact that the kids of the Elephant Soccer Club are being booted because of politics is ridiculous.

Hey New York City Parks Department, cut it out and let the kids play!

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Soccer is thriving in Manhattan at Pier 40

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The borough of Manhattan is a concrete jungle which makes finding a place to play soccer difficult. There are parks and fields within the city where games are played, but at the present time, one of the best spots has is at Pier 40 along the Hudson River.

Looking at Pier 40 from the outside, you wouldn’t suspect that this was the home to numerous leagues and clubs throughout the city. That’s because Pier 40 was built in 1962 for the Holland America Cruise Line. The complex also includes a large public parking lot which is what you see when looking at the facility from street level.

Inside Pier 40 it’s a different story. The rooftop and lower courtyard areas are covered with artificial turf and are used for both youth and adult soccer leagues. It’s estimated that over 200,000 people use the fields each year. The area is also used for recreational summer camps and year round instructional programs.

One league that calls Pier 40 Home is Downtown United Soccer Club. They recently announced the kick off to their new season with a tribute to Pier 40:

Pier 40 does have its problems, however. The building is an eyesore and is falling apart in some areas. For these reasons Pier 40 For All has been created by members of the community and those that use the fields at Pier 40. It’s mission states:

Pier 40 For All is a coalition for neighbors and community groups who are working together to make sure that as Hudson River Park is finished, Pier 40 is transformed into a beautiful, environmentally conscious space that fits the needs of our local community, expands and improves our sports fields, and supports the park with appropriately scaled commercial uses.

We’ll follow any developments on the future of soccer at Pier 40.

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Fans are allowed back in Japan but with restrictions

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Sports fans have been putting up with what is now known as “the new normal” for six months and counting.

The good news is that sports have returned but without fans and without the normal atmosphere that a full stadium brings to a match. Instead cardboard cut outs and piped in crowd noises have become the norm for fans watching from home.

Even better news is that some leagues and teams in various sports have begun to allow fans back into stadiums. One example is Japan’s top flight soccer league, the J-League

Like leagues throughout the world, the J-League suspended play in March. Matches were allowed to begin again on June 27th. There have been isolated cases of players testing positive, but the league has carried on.

The government decided to start allowing fans to return in early July with a limit of up to 5,000 fans per match. There are also restrictions on what those in attendance can do. Alcohol sales are prohibited which is not surprising. What is interesting is that initially clapping, chanting, cheering, singing, and drumming were not allowed. (Recently the league decided that clapping would be allowed as it is low risk for spreading the virus and will now be allowed.)

In a recent New York Times article here’s what the writer observed at a recent F.C. Tokyo home match:

  • When the fans applauded a great play it made the match feel more like a symphony concert than a soccer game.

  • Everyone that attended the match had to have a temperature check prior to entering the stadium.

  • Throughout the stadium there were markers on the ground reminding fans to social distance when lining up to buy food or souvenirs.

  • Every other row in the stadium was kept empty and each ticketed spectator had two empty seats to their right and to their left (this included people from the same family).

  • The area of the stands usually filled with away fans was totally empty.

  • Those in attendance had to provide their names and contact information for contact tracing purposes.

The J-League is going to reevaluate its policy on fan attendance at the end of September to see if more fans will be allowed to return to matches.

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Here in the states Dallas, Sporting Kansas City, Orlando City SC and Real Salt Lake have received permission from local governments to allow a limited amount of fans in to their stadiums..

Sporting KC CEO Jake Reid was asked whether it was worth it to open the stadium for a small number of spectators. His reply was, "Finances aren't driving much of major league sports at this point." It appears the real priority is trying to restore some sense of normalcy to the games.

Hopefully we’ll be able to return to a “real normal” in the near future. In the meantime it’s a strange scene inside soccer stadiums throughout the world.

What do you think about the current state of things with regards to fan attendance?

Soccer continues to grow in the New York City area

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Soccer Walks NYC is all about soccer and the history of the game in the New York City area. Therefore, we were thrilled to learn about two clubs that have recently launched in the tri-state area; Queensboro FC and NJ Teamster FC out of Bayonne, New Jersey.

Queens is the most ethnically diverse borough in New York and some say, even the world. Combined with the fact that soccer is the planet’s most popular sport, it makes sense that the game is extremely popular with local residents. Take a walk through Flushing Meadows Park on a sunny day and you will see adults and kids either playing the game or just kicking a ball.

Based on this combination of facts, it makes sense that Queens will be the home of a new USL Championship team. (the USL Championship is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation as a Division II Professional League which places it under Major League Soccer in the US soccer pyramid.

Queensboro FC also has star power behind it. The team was established by an investment group that includes former Barcelona and Spanish World Cup winner David Villa. Villa spent four years in New York in the latter stages of his career with NYCFC. During this time, the Spaniard fell in love with New York.

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When the new was announced last fall Villa said,

Bringing professional football to Queens' diverse community is an exciting and unique opportunity. The beautiful game already lives here, thanks to the melting pot of cultures who are so passionate about the sport. I can't think of a better place for QBFC to grow. I'm proud to be part of this project.

In terms of building the team, Villa said, "We will recruit the best players in Queens as we become the home team. Our goal is to have as many Queens-bred players as possible."

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New Jersey Teamsters FC is based in Bayonne, New Jersey and are scheduled to being play in 2021 as part of the National Independent Soccer Association play in the National Independent Soccer Association, the third tier of American Soccer.

The Teamsters started out in 2017 as a member of the United Premier Soccer League (a development league.) The idea for the club came from Sibrena and Alex Geraldino.

The Geraldino’s are currently featured as part of the Discovery Channel’s show called I Quit. The show debuted this month and follows six entrepreneurs trying to launch successful new businesses.

The NJ Teamsters FC vision as stated on the club’s website is:

To become a club which will be amongst the leaders in football and entertainment that, through its sporting achievements, fulfills the expectations of all of its supporters both nationally and internationally and acts with social responsibility and good corporate management.

NJ Teamsters FC call Don Ahern Veterans Memorial Stadium in Bayonne home.

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An amazing win in a season of discontent

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I don’t know anyone that is enjoying 2020. To say this has been a horrible year would be an understatement. Of course the world is being ravaged by the Coronavirus, the US is being run by a psychopath lunatic and uncertainly is the only constant.

That’s why what Arsenal accomplished this past weekend gave me such a lift when they achieved something that no one thought that they could.

Before we get to the sweet victory, here’s a bit of background that sports fans will be able to relate to.

I am a diehard Arsenal fan. Despite the fact that the club is based in London I’ve seen them live on numerous occasions and rarely, if ever miss a match. If it’s not on cable, it’s on the computer (I won’t mention the illegal streams that I sometimes gain access too) or occasionally I’ll watch a match at a soccer friendly bar or with Arsenal NYC members.

I’ve been following Arsenal since 1999 and overall they have been extremely successful. However, the club’s one time superiority has faded and teams owned by Russian oil barons and Arab Sheikhs have taken center stage.

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As an American sports fan, I think that I have a different perspective on the successes and failures of Arsenal. You see I am a New York Mets baseball fan. The Mets are perennial losers and are known for disappointing their fans on a regular basis.

In comparison, Arsenal have never let me down to the extent that the Mets have. However, in English football, not winning trophy’s and not finishing in a lucrative top four position is seen as failure. (the top four teams in the league qualify for the top European club competition, the Champions League, which brings in huge earnings to the clubs that participate).

For the first 17 seasons that I followed the club, Arsenal finished in the top four every year. This included two championships, a number of other trophies and a Champions League final (we lost to Barcelona).

When it appeared that long time manager, Arsene Wenger, had run out of new ideas around four years ago, the club began to not live up to the lofty expectations. The 2019-2020 season just ended and it is the fourth straight year that Arsenal have not finished in the top four and qualified for the Champions League. In fact this was Arsenal’s worst record in 25 years. The club finished eighth and therefore did not qualify for the Champions League or its lesser cousin the Europa League. (whether you understand soccer of not, the bottom line is, not qualifying for these competitions, hurts clubs economically. With less money coming in, it becomes harder for teams to compete with the big boys that have the ability to spend money on new players like drunken sailors).

Arsene Wenger retired from Arsenal after 22 years as manager in May 2018. He was replaced by Unai Emery who was in over his head. It was obvious something had to change. Once Emery was sent packing in December 2019, former club captain and apprentice to Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, was hired as Arsenal’s new manager.

Arteta took the flawed squad that he inherited and started to instill discipline and a new attitude into the players. There were ups, there were downs but it was obvious that the new manager was having an impact.

Of course the Coronavirus pandemic caused the league to shut down for three months. The “restart” commenced on June 17th with Arsenal being humiliated by Manchester City 3-0. In an effort to get the delayed season finished, games came thick and fast.

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Arsenal met champions Liverpool on July 15th and expectations were that the Gunners would be slaughtered. Liverpool dominated possession, yet somehow the Gunners were able to overcome a one goal deficit, take the lead and keep Liverpool at bay. It was a truly impressive and uplifting victory for fans that had expected the worst.

Just three days later, the Gunners went to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final versus heavily favored Manchester City. It was a forgone conclusion that City would crush Arsenal and inflict more embarrassment upon the club.

Then something crazy happened. Arsenal defended. In fact they defended unlike they have in years. We were outshot 16-4, City had 71% of the possession yet the Gunners proved resilient. Arsenal took advantage of Manchester City mistakes and defended like mad. The 2-0 victory was such an unexpected result but it brought hope to a club and fan base in need of something positive to inspire them.

When Chelsea defeated Manchester United in the other semi-final Arsenal were once again viewed as underdogs for the trophy. (Again for those that don’t know the history of Arsenal and the FA Cup, this trophy is one that Arsenal have won the most of any English side. Going in to this final, the Gunners had 13 FA Cup victories including three within the last six years.)

The importance of this match for Arsenal was less about trophies and more about the financial impact of a victory. With their eighth place finish, the Gunners were out of luck for next season’s European competitions. The team’s ONLY way to qualify was to win the FA Cup. A loss would make Arteta’s Arsenal rebuilding project that much harder.

Arsenal and Chelsea have always been rivals, but in recent years, Chelsea have had the edge over their North London Rivals. (this is the side owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. The tension that Arsenal fans were feeling heading into this match was insane.

Again, Arsenal fans were praying for the best but deep down the doubts were there. A loss would be devastating for three reasons: the loss of a trophy, losing to the hated Frank Lampard and Chelsea and it would seal Arsenal’s fate as also rans for European club competition next season.

It didn’t take long for the negativity and doubt to seep in. In the 5th minute Captain America, Hershey’s own, Christian Pulisic, gave Chelsea a 1-0 lead. The confidence level for Arsenal supporters at this point was extremely low.

Rather than imploding and falling apart, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal instead fought back.

In the 28th minute, Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was fouled by Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta in the box (he should have received a red card). Aubameyang slotted home the penalty and the match was now level 1-1. Hope had been restored. That didn’t quell the nervous tension, but the possibility of a win was now there.

The momentum had changed and confidence was building for Arsenal. Then in the 67th minute a Hector Bellerin ball found Nicolas Pepe, he crossed it to Aubameyang, who toyed with defender Kurt Zouma and chipped the ball over Chelsea stand in keeper Willy Caballero. It was now 2-1 to Arsenal with 23 minutes remaining.

Midfielder Mateo Kovacic received a second yellow in the 73rd minute and Chelsea were reduced to ten men. The nerves started to fade and confidence took over. Arsenal had the lead and a man advantage late in the match.

Chelsea looked defeated and Arsenal now looked confident.

When the final whistle sounded, Arsenal won the club’s 14th FA Cup trophy and had now qualified for next season’s Europa League competition. An added bonus, was that Arsenal’s win, meant that hated rivals Tottenham would now have to qualify for the Europa League rather than just gain entry.

Twitter exploded with joyous Gooners from all over the world and Arsenal had given their fans something to be proud of and to savor.

It’s crazy how sports fans feel like they are a part of the team, but when your team wins, you do feel a sense of accomplishment.

In fact, this victory still has me smiling days later. Despite the fact that Coronavirus is still here, Donald Trump is still spouting stupidity, my job is still on lockdown and the New York Mets have been an embarrassment so far, I’m still enjoying the high of what Arsenal accomplished.

Hopefully the craziness of the world will rebound and sanity will be restored. Arsenal still have a way to go in order to be able to compete at the highest level. However, In the meantime, it’s great to experience a much needed wave of happiness from seeing Arsenal defy expectations with grit and determination.

What do you think of the return of soccer without fans?

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When the Coronavirus hit, the immediate lock down was tough. In addition to all the uncertainty and changes in daily life, the loss of live sports proved a major challenge for fans.

The Bundesliga was the first of the major European soccer leagues to return and I decided to check it out. I’m not a big fan of the German league but it was great just to be able to see a live match. However, it was really odd to watch a game without fans, muted celebrations and an overall sterile environment. Even creepier are the cardboard cutouts of fans’ faces.

I’m an Arsenal fan so when the Premier League began anew in mid June I was thrilled. In fact, with all the leagues trying to finish their respective seasons quickly, it’s been a virtual football fest for the past month. There are games on almost every day. It’s been great.

The broadcast networks decided to incorporate taped recordings of crowd noise to give the games a bit of validity. I wasn’t sure about it in the beginning, but when I did have the chance to watch a match with no sound, except for the players and coaches, it was almost eerie. That’s when I decided that I’d rather have the taped crowd noise when watching these closed door matches. Noting has been normal since March so a bit of forced reality is welcome.

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Having attended many matches over the years, it’s sad to know that the usual atmosphere will be missing from stadiums until the world gets this virus under control.

What are your thoughts on the restart and the safety protocols the leagues have set up?