1928-29 Eastern Professional Soccer League season

Seasons

Inaugural season

1928-29

1929

Teams and Alignment

Team	Primary Venue	Municipality
Bethlehem Steel F.C.	Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Hakoah All-Stars	Starlight Park Grounds	The Bronx, New York
Hispano F.C.	Steinway Oval	Queens, New York
I.R.T. Rangers	Dyckman Oval	Manhattan, New York
New York Celtics	Steinway Oval	Queens, New York
New York Giants	Starlight Park Grounds	The Bronx, New York
Newark F.C.	Kearny High School Stadium Starlight Park Grounds	Kearny, New Jersey The Bronx, New York
Philadelphia Centennials	I and Tioga Street Field	Philadelphia

Changes

• League established.
• Bethlehem Steel F.C. transfer from American Soccer League, playing at Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
• Hakoah All-Stars enfranchised, playing at Starlight Park Grounds in The Bronx, New York.
• I.R.T. Rangers transfer from Southern New York State Soccer Association, playing at Dyckman Oval in Manhattan, New York.
• Hispano F.C. transfer from Southern New York State Soccer Association, playing at Steinway Oval in Queens, New York.
• New York Celtics transfer from Southern New York State Soccer Association, playing at Steinway Oval in Queens, New York.
• New York Giants transfer from American Soccer League, playing at Starlight Park Grounds in The Bronx, New York.
• Newark F.C. transfer from American Soccer League, playing at Kearny High School Stadium in Kearny, New Jersey.
• Philadelphia Centennials join, playing at I and Tioga Street Field in Philadelphia.
• I.R.T. Rangers relocate during season from Dyckman Oval in Manhattan, New York to Olympic Park in Clifton, New Jersey.
• Newark F.C. relocate during season from Kearny High School Stadium in Kearny, New Jersey to Starlight Park Grounds in The Bronx, New York.

Regular Season Results

First Half Results

Team	W	L	T	Pct
Bethlehem Steel F.C.	21*	2	0	.913
New York Giants	15*	6	2	.696
Hakoah All-Stars	14	5	6	.680
I.R.T. Rangers	8	11*	2*	.429
Philadelphia Centennials	4	13*	4*	.286
Newark F.C.	3	13	5	.262
Hispano F.C.	3	12	3*	.250
New York Celtics	0	6	2	.125

*One Bethlehem Steel F.C. victory over Philadelphia Centennials seemingly expunged. One incomplete draw between I.R.T Rangers and Hispano F.C. expunged. One incomplete game in which New York Giants led I.R.T. Rangers expunged. One incomplete draw between Hispano F.C. and Philadelphia Centennials expunged.

Second Half Results

Team	W	L	T	Pct
New Bedford Whalers	6	1	1	.813
Bethlehem Steel F.C.	11	2	4	.765
Hakoah All-Stars	14	3	4	.762
I.R.T. Rangers	9	7	1	.559
Hungaria F.C.	8	9	2	.474
New York Giants	9	11	1	.452
Hispano F.C.	5	14	1	.275
Philadelphia Centennials	3	9	0	.250
Newark F.C.	0	9	2	.091

Markets and Venues

Combined Statistical Area	Metropolitan Statistical Area	Metropolitan Division	County / Equivalent	Municipality	Venue	Team / Event	First Half	Second Half	Total
Allentown-Bethlehem-East Stroudsburg, PA-NJ Combined Statistical Area	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area		Northampton County, Pennsylvania	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field	Bethlehem Steel F.C.	12	Eight	20
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH Combined Statistical Area	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area		Bristol County, Massachusetts	New Bedford, Massachusetts	Battery Park	New Bedford Whalers		Five	Five
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area	New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division	Bronx County, New York	The Bronx, New York	Starlight Park Grounds	Hakoah All-Stars	17	11	28
						New York Giants	13	10	23
						Newark F.C.	Four	Four	Eight
						Hispano F.C.	One	Five	Six
						Hungaria F.C.		Four	Four
						I.R.T. Rangers	One	Two	Three
			Hudson County, New Jersey	Kearny, New Jersey	Kearny High School Stadium	Newark F.C.	Four		Four
			New York County, New York	Manhattan, New York	Dyckman Oval	I.R.T. Rangers	Four + one expunged		Five
			Passaic County, New Jersey	Clifton, New Jersey	Olympic Park	I.R.T. Rangers	Two + one expunged	Seven	10
			Queens County, New York	Queens, New York	Dexter Park	Newark F.C.		One	One
					Steinway Oval	Hispano F.C.	Six + one expunged	Five	12
						Hungaria F.C.		Five	Five
						New York Celtics	Four		Four
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area	Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division	Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	I and Tioga Street Field	Philadelphia Centennials	12 + one expunged	Six	19
Total							80 + four expunged	73	157

Soccer Almanac standings show 113 results (56.5 games)... obviously an issue somewhere, missing Celtics results (actually think wikipedia noting them in second half schedule as having dropped out after two months despite that being a first half event), also not included in wikipedia table, regardless their results are less complete. Looks for printed standings to confirm total games played is accurate. Second Half began January 19. Complete around June 15. Sover claims May 12. Daily News 5/13 does refer to a match as "virtually the windup of the Eastern Soccer League's season". Exhibition game 5/19 with Giants vs Preston North End. ESL game 5/26 as Hakoah completes season against Giants. Final game of season officially seems to be June 15 with Hungaria defeating IRT 2-1 at Starlight Park Grounds and finishing third. May be best to simply search by team through these dates and recognize that no complete standings exist published anywhere and that games will be sporadic in June and after mid-May. Adjust standings and team list for second half after completing this process... 122 results on wikipedia table = at least 61 games... only 115 (57.5) in Almanac despite more recorded games (Bethlehem missing tho so number should increase... either way probably about 80 or a bit less in actual games). FINAL: 146 results, 73 games

1. 1/19 Philadelphia Centennials v Hakoah All-Stars at I and Tioga Street Field? 3-7 Hakoah W
2. 1/19 Newark F.C. v I.R.T. Rangers at Starlight Park Grounds 1-4 I.R.T. W
3. 1/19 Bethlehem Steel F.C. v New York Giants at Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field 3-1 Bethlehem W
4. 1/20 I.R.T. Rangers v Hakoah All-Stars at Olympic Park 4-1 I.R.T. W
5. 1/20 New York Giants v Bethlehem Steel F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds? 2-4 Bethlehem W
6. 1/20 Hungaria F.C. v Hispano F.C. at Steinway Oval 1-4 Hispano W *confirmed complete
7. 1/27 Hakoah All-Stars v Hungaria F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 2-2 *confirmed complete
8. 2/2 Hakoah All-Stars v Hispano F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 7-1 Hakoah W
9. 2/2 Philadelphia Centennials v Hungaria F.C. at I and Tioga Street Field 3-0 Philadelphia W
10. 2/3 Hispano F.C. v Philadelphia Centennials at Steinway Oval 4-1 Hispano W *confirmed complete
11. 2/9 Philadelphia Centennials v New York Giants at I and Tioga Street Field? 2-9 Giants W
12. 2/9 Bethlehem Steel F.C. v Hispano F.C. at Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field 3-1 Bethlehem W
13. 2/9 Newark F.C. v Hakoah All-Stars at Starlight Park Grounds 1-5 Hakoah W
14. 2/10 Hakoah All-Stars v New York Giants at Starlight Park Grounds? 2-2
15. 2/10 Hungaria F.C. v Newark F.C. at Steinway Oval 2-2
16. 2/10 I.R.T. Rangers v Hispano F.C. at Olympic Park 4-3 I.R.T. W *confirmed complete
17. 2/16 Philadelphia Centennials v Newark F.C. at I and Tioga Street Field 4-1 Philadelphia W
18. 2/16 New York Giants v Hispano F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 7-3 Giants W
19. 2/17 I.R.T. Rangers v Bethlehem Steel F.C. at Olympic Park 1-1 *confirmed complete
20. 2/22 Hakoah All-Stars v Bethlehem Steel F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 2-2
21. 2/23 Bethlehem Steel F.C. v Hungaria F.C. at Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field 3-2 Bethlehem W
22. 2/23 Hispano F.C. v Hakoah All-Stars at Starlight Park Grounds 1-2 Hakoah W *confirmed complete
23. 3/3 Newark F.C. v Hakoah All-Stars at Dexter Park (Jamaica Ave) 3-6 Hakoah W
24. 3/3 I.R.T. Rangers v Philadelphia Centennials at Olympic Park 4-3 I.R.T W
25. 3/3 Hispano F.C. v Hungaria F.C. at Steinway Oval 7-2 Hispano W * confirmed complete (though a supposed 3/3 2-2 Giants-Bethlehem draw listed and a different score for Newark-Hakoah... aforementioned draw not reflected in standings... challenge cup?)
26. 3/9 Hakoah All-Stars v Newark F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 5-1 Hakoah W
27. 3/10 Hakoah All-Stars v New York Giants at Starlight Park Grounds 4-2 Hakoah W
28. 3/10 I.R.T. Rangers v Hispano F.C. at Olympic Park 4-2 I.R.T. W
29. 3/10 Hungaria F.C. v Philadelphia Centennials at Steinway Oval 5-1 Hungaria W *confirmed complete
30. 3/16 Bethlehem Steel F.C. v I.R.T. Rangers at Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field 4-0 Bethlehem W
31. 3/16 Philadelphia Centennials v Hispano F.C. at I and Tioga Street Field 4-1 Philadelphia W
32. 3/16 Newark F.C.v Hungaria F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 1-2 Hungaria W
33. 3/17 I.R.T. Rangers v Hungaria F.C. at Olympic Park 2-1 I.R.T. W (New Bedford Whalers join in this following week)
34. 3/17 Hispano F.C. v Newark F.C. at Steinway Oval 0-0 *confirmed complete
35. 3/24 Hungaria F.C. v Hispano F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds (this one listed with park, all games supposedly 3pm which would eliminate double header possibility?) 3-4 Hispano W
36. 3/24 New Bedford Whalers v Bethlehem Steel F.C. at Battery Park 2-1 New Bedford W *confirmed complete
37. 3/30 Bethlehem Steel F.C. v New Bedford Whalers at Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field 3-4 New Bedford W
38. 3/30 Philadelphia Centennials v New York Giants at I and Tioga Street Field? 1-4 Giants W
39. 3/31 Hispano F.C. v I.R.T. Rangers at Starlight Park Grounds 1-2 I.R.T. W
40. 3/31 New York Giants v New Bedford Whalers at Starlight Park Grounds 1-3 New Bedford W
41. 3/31 Hungaria F.C. v Bethlehem Steel F.C. at Steinway Oval 0-3 Bethlehem W *confirmed complete
42. 4/6 Bethlehem Steel F.C. v Philadelphia Centennials at Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field 4-0 Bethlehem W
43. 4/6 Newark F.C. v Hungaria F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 0-3 Hungaria W
44. 4/7 New Bedford Whalers v New York Giants at Battery Park 2-1 New Bedford W *confirmed complete
45. 4/13 Bethlehem Steel F.C. v Hakoah All-Stars at Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field 2-2
46. 4/13 I.R.T. Rangers v New York Giants at Starlight Park Grounds 0-6 Giants W
47. 4/14 New Bedford Whalers v I.R.T. Rangers at Battery Park 10-1 New Bedford W
48. 4/14 New York Giants v Hungaria F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 2-3 Hungaria W
49. 4/14 Hakoah All-Stars v Hispano F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 4-2 Hakoah W *confirmed complete
50. 4/19 New Bedford Whalers v Hakoah All-Stars at Battery Park 2-0 New Bedford W
51. 4/20 Bethlehem Steel F.C. v New York Giants at Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field 3-1 Bethlehem W
52. 4/21 Hispano F.C. v Hungaria F.C. at Steinway Oval 1-2 Hungaria W
53. 4/21 I.R.T. Rangers v Bethlehem Steel F.C. at Olympic Park 2-4 Bethlehem W
54. 4/21 New York Giants v Philadelphia Centennials at Starlight Park Grounds 8-9 Giants W
55. 4/21 Hakoah All-Stars v New Bedford Whalers at Starlight Park Grounds 6-2 Hakoah W *confirmed complete
56. 4/25 Hakoah All-Stars v New York Giants at Starlight Park Grounds 4-3 Hakoah W
57. 4/27 Hungaria F.C. v Hakoah All-Stars (order reversed?) at Starlight Park Grounds 0-7 Hakoah W
58. 4/28 Hungaria F.C. v Philadelphia Centennials at Steinway Oval 3-2 Hungaria W
59. 4/28 New Bedford v Bethlehem Steel F.C. at Battery Park 1-1
60. 4/28 Hispano F.C. v New York Giants (order reversed?) at Starlight Park Grounds 1-3 Giants W
61. 4/28 Hakoah All-Stars v I.R.T. Rangers at Starlight Park Grounds 3-2 Hakoah W *confirmed complete (New Bedford withdraws before scheduled 5/4 game at Bethlehem)
62. 5/4 New York Giants v Hungaria F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 3-1 Giants W
63. 5/5 Hispano F.C. v I.R.T. Rangers at Steinway Oval 3-5 I.R.T W
64. 5/5 New York Giants v Newark F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 4-3 Giants W
65. 5/5 Hakoah All-Stars v Bethlehem Steel F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 0-2 Bethlehem W *130 by now it seems, confirmed complete
66. 5/11 Hungaria F.C. v New York Giants at Starlight Park Grounds 5-3 Hungaria W
67. 5/12 I.R.T. Rangers v Newark F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 5-2 I.R.T. W
68. 5/12 New York Giants v Bethlehem Steel F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 2-3 Bethlehem W * 130 by now still showing on 5/23 report
69. 5/25 Hispano F.C. v Hakoah All-Stars at Starlight Park Grounds 1-3 Hakoah W
70. 5/26 Hispano F.C. v I.R.T. Rangers at Starlight Park Grounds 2-0 Hispano W
71. 5/26 New York Giants v Hakoah All-Stars at Starlight Park Grounds 0-2 Hakoah W
72. 5/30 New York Giants v Hispano F.C. at Starlight Park Grounds 6-3 Giants W (noted in 5/24 The Herald Statesmen that this is "Decoration Day" and end of season)
73. 6/15 Hungaria F.C. v I.R.T. Rangers at Starlight Park Grounds 2-1 Hungaria W (previously 5/30 but Hungaria played Prague instead in a double-header of a tournament)