MLS to EPL Pipeline Leads to Unique Record

As two significant entities celebrate their anniversaries, one common thread pulls them together.

The Football Association of England is 150 years old while the United States Open Cup (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup) is 100 years old.

 

The advancement of players from the 17 year old MLS (Major League Soccer) is a viable route for many players to the English Premier League. Arguably the most popular league in the world, the EPL has recruited several dozen players from North America's top league - including Brek Shea, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Geoff Cameron and Clint Dempsey.

 

 

Espinosa wins the Cup with Wigan

 

Last year's Open Cup Champions - Sporting Kansas City lost Kai Kamara, on loan to Norwich City, for half the MLS season. Honduran International Roger Espinosa (pictured above) was signed outright by Wigan Athletic.

 

Espinosa accomplished the unique feat of winning the U.S. Open Cup followed by winning the F.A. Cup in successive seasons.

Espinosa's game-worn shoes from the 2012 Cup Final

 

To our knowledge, only one player - Freddie Ljungberg - has won both the FA Cup (2002 Arsenal) and the US Open Cup (2009 Seattle), although not in consecutive seasons.

There is a short list of pre-war players who have participated in the English F.A. Cup.

None of them have won both the US Open Cup and the FA Cup.

There are several who played in a Scottish Cup Final and the US Cup Final. None have won both.

In the modern era, John Harkes and Kasey Keller have both won the English League Cup and the Open Cup. Harkes was also a runner up in the FA Cup with Sheffield Wednesday.

 

 

Espinosa in action for Sporting KC wearing "the shoes"

 

As more MLS talent goes overseas, it is likely that more of them may win a medal or two. but for now, Roger Espinosa's rare double stands out. Congratulations to him !

 

 

US Soccer Federation Centennial Moment : Wembley Stadium

 

This year the International Soccer Archives is proud to present historical moments from the 100 years of soccer in the United States. We will be bringing you in words, pictures and artifacts a century of a soccer nation's heritage.

 

There is a place that surpasses the distance of soccer history - and that is England, where the hollowed grounds of WEMBLEY STADIUM is celebrating its 90th Anniversary. This comes also in the year of The Football Association which was founded 150 years ago.

 

England's  home stadia since 1923 was at the Exposition Grounds that housed Wembley Stadium.

 

An aerial view of the Twin Towers facade at Wembley Stadium. (ISA Collection)

 

 

From the 1923 F.A. Cup Final to the 1966 FIFA World Cup where England triumphed, visitors could visit the famous "Twin Towers" that hosted Kings, Queens, Generals and football Captains.

 

 

                             

The last of the tour tickets to the original Wembley Stadium. (ISA Collection)

 

The American's have made one and only one visit in all the years to play the English at Wembley.

The date was September 7, 1994.

 

 

A ticket to history - USA v England at Wembley Stadium. (ISA Collection)

 

Bouyed by the success of the 1994 FIFA World Cup hosted by the USA, the Americans visited Wembley Stadium and the select few that played that day accomplished what even the great PELE' did not.

 

 

The US National Team pose at the famous Wembley Stadium (Copyright ISA. All rights reserved)

 

 

The Official match programme - USA v England (ISA Collection)

 

England triumphed at home with a 2:0 victory with a brace by Alan Shearer. The USA wore the "denim" style jerseys used at the 1994 World Cup. England played in their traditional white shirts.

Alexi Lalas fends off England's Tony Adams as  Brad Friedel looks on.(Copyright ISA. All rights reserved)

 

Cobi Jones is surrounded by England keeper David Seamen, Teddy Sheringham and England Captain David Platt. (Copyright ISA. All rights reserved)

 

The Offical Team sheet (ISA Collection)

 

7 September 1994 - Wembley Stadium - London, England 

Attendance: 38,629

Scorers: Alan Shearer 32, Alan Shearer 39

 

USA: Brad Friedel (Jurgen Sommer 82) - Jeff Agoos (Mike Lapper 70), Marcelo Balboa, Alexi Lalas, Paul Caligiuri - Thomas Dooley[C], Cobi Jones, Mike Sorber, Claudio Reyna (Joe-Max Moore 82) - Hugo Perez (Eric Wynalda 82), Earnie Stewart (Frank Klopas 82).

 

England: David Seamen - Jones, Graham Le Saux, Barry Venison, Tony Adams - Gary Pallister, David Platt [C], John Barnes, Alan Shearer (Les Ferdinand 80), Teddy Sheringham (Ian Wright 80), Darren Anderton.

Philadelphia - 100 Years of Soccer

On the eve of Philadelphia Union's Major League Soccer debut, the International Soccer Archives has acquired rare memorabilia from the city of Brotherly love. While many European soccer clubs can trace their beginnings back over a century, several American cities have played the sport just as long. Pennsylvania's Eastern mecca of Philadelphia is one such city.

With strong British roots dating to colonial days, Philadelphia was a playground for exiled Britons who imported the sports of horse racing, boxing and soccer to America. Organized soccer leagues formed as early as 1884. One of the nation's most prominant was the Allied American Football Association which spurred the likes of powerhouse club Bethlehem Steel F.C., and was directly affiliated with The Football Association in England.

The Bethlehem Company's footballers were National Champions on several occasions. They would be joined in later years by semi-pro and amateur clubs such as the Philadelphia Ukranians, and professionals like the Philadelphia Atoms, who won the title in their innaugural NASL season.

Cup and tournament play were organized and divisional tables were marked with championship medals and trophies. These recent additions to the I.S.A. collection include these medals and postcards of these early clubs.

The Allied American Football Association was the second oldest organized sports league in America after baseball. They were recognized by FIFA in 1913 and had established the American Cup - the fore runner to the (Lamar Hunt) U.S. Open Cup.

The artifacts that were added to the I.S.A. collection include:

- 1917/18 (Philadelphia) Allied American Football League medal
- 1914/15 (Philadelphia) Allied American Football League medal
- 1910  Philadelphia Cup medal
- 1913/14 West Philadelphia F.C. postcard
- 1912c. Philadelphia soccer team photo