United Soccer Association (1967)
Tombstone
Born: 1967 – USA founding franchise
Folded: Postseason 1967
First Game: May 28, 1967 (T 1-1 vs. Detroit Cougars)
Last Game: July 8, 1967 (W 2-1 @ Washington Whips)
USA Championships: None
Stadium
Manning Bowl
Opened: 1937
Demolished: 2005
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner: Weston Adams, et al.
Background
The Boston Rovers were one of 12 founding franchises in the United Soccer Association (USA) in the spring of 1967. The USA was one of two major pro soccer leagues to form in the U.S. in 1966, the other being the rival National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). Most of the USA franchises were owned by experienced from established American sports leagues. Boston Bruins (NHL) owner Weston Adams controlled the Rovers.
Rather than recruit their own teams, all twelve United Soccer Association franchises imported entire European and South American clubs to play under their banners for the 1967 season. The USA season amounted to an off-season foreign tour for these squads, as the rest of the world doesn’t play soccer in the summertime.
Boston Rovers were actually Shamrock Rovers F.C. of Dublin, Ireland. The team played not in Boston proper, but at the Manning Bowl in Lynn, Massachusetts, a small, blue collar city 30 minutes to the north. An announced crowd of 7,300 turnout at the Manning Bowl on May 28th, 1967 for the Rovers’ home debut against the Detroit Cougars (who were actually Glentoran F.C. of Belfast, Northern Ireland).
The Rovers were the league’s weakest entry, finishing 2-7-3 during a two-month campaign between May and July 1967.
At the end of 1967, the USA merged with the rival NPSL to form the North American Soccer League. Prior to the merger, the NPSL awarded a Boston-based expansion franchise, the Beacons, set to play at Fenway Park in 1968. The Rovers folded and the Beacons became Boston’s entry in the NASL. Like the Rovers, the Beacons would fold after only one season of play.
Links
United Soccer Association Programs
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