Celtic F.C. (Jersey City)

The Celtic Football Club, commonly called the Jersey City Celtics, was an American soccer club based in Jersey City, New Jersey. The club was organized in the summer of 1921 to be an inaugural member of the professional American Soccer League.[1] The club folded after five games.

Celtic F.C.
Full nameCeltic Football Club
Nickname(s)Jersey City Celtics
Founded1921
DissolvedDecember 1921
StadiumWest Side Park
LeagueAmerican Soccer League
1921-22folded after 5 games

History

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The owners of Celtics put over $6,000 into establishing their team which played in a baseball stadium. In July 1921, they played Third Lanark in preparation for the upcoming season.[2] After losing its first five games, the ownership withdrew the team from the league, dissolved it, and forfeited its franchise in early December.[3] Like a number of the ASL teams that season the Celtics lost considerable money. The system was for home teams to get the gate receipts instead of a percent to both teams. Since the Celtics were not able to use their home ground well into late October they played all their ASL games away.

Year-by-year

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Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs National Cup
1921-22 1 ASL 0-0-5 No playoff Second Round

Matches

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Friendlies

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Celtics2–4Third Lanark
Rankin
Wilson
' McBain
Thompson
[4] 80' Hosie
Sweeney
West Side Park
Jersey City, New Jersey
Attendance: 6000
Referee: James Schofield

Celtic Lineup: GK Whelan, LB Lappin, RB Reynolds, LHB Irvine, CHB Gallagher, RHB Tom Stark(c), OL Sweeney, IL Hosie, CF McKenna, IR A.Stark, OR Downie.

Todd Shipyards7–0Celtics
5' McKenna
McGuire
McKenna
Campbell
McGuire
Hosie
McKenna
[5]
Todd Field
Brooklyn, New York
Referee: T. Cunningham

Celtic Lineup: GK Thompson, LB Reid, RB Gilfallan, LHB Crilley, CHB Peat, RHB Gibson, OL Boyle, IL O'Harra, CF D.Fitzpatrick, IR J.Fitzpatrick, OR Smith.

NY Field Club6–2Celtics
Duggan
Philp
Bleich
A.Stark
65' Kelly(pk)
Hardy
[6] Baird
J. Fitzpatrick
New York Oval
New York, NY
Referee: Thomas Cunningham

Celtic Lineup: GK Reilly, LB Gallagher, RB Gilfillan, LHB Peat, CHB Trimble, RHB Boyle, OL Reid, IL D.Fitzpatrick, CF McDonald, IR Baird, OR J.Fitzpatrick.

Falco3–1Celtics
Walter Dowdall
60' Moir
65' Brown
[7] 15' J. Fitzpatrick
Falco Field
Holyoke, MA
Attendance: 6000
Referee: James Schofield

Celtic Lineup: GK Reilly, LB Gallagher, RB Concalves, LHB Peat, CHB Trimble, RHB Boyle, OL Reed, IL D.Fitzpatrick, CF J.Fitzpatrick, IR McDonald, OR Baird.

Fall River United4–2Celtics
Timoney
Fred Parker(pk)
Lynch
Weir
[8] 1' J. Fitzpatrick
89' McDonald(pk)
Athletic Grounds
Fall River, MA
Attendance: 1500
Referee: H. Starswell

Celtic Lineup: GK Reilly, LB Gallagher, RB Concalves, LHB Peat, CHB Trimble, RHB Boyle, OL Reed, IL D.Fitzpatrick, CF J.Fitzpatrick, IR McDonald, OR Baird.

J&P Coats4–0Celtics
Millar(2)
Lappin
Kershaw
[9]
Coats Field
Pawtucket, RI
Attendance: 2000
Referee: Edward Pemberton

Celtic Lineup: GK Reilly, LB Campbell, RB Gilfillan, LHB Waite, CHB Peat, RHB Trimble, OL Fox, IL Baird, CF J.Fitzpatrick, IR Masterson, OR Boyle.

1st round
Celtics5–0Federal Ship
Referee: R. McMahon


2nd round
Harrison3–1Celtics
Referee: R. McMahon


Roster

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
MF    Samuel Gilfillan
   Boyle
MF    Peat
   John Fitzpatrick
   Daniel Fitzpatrick
   Alex C. Reid
GK    Reilly
   Trimble
   Baird
   McDonald
   Jim Shanholt
No. Pos. Nation Player
   Gilson
   Thomson
   Joseph Crilley
   Smith
   Pat O'Hara
   Gallagher
   Campbell
   White
   Fox
   Masterton

Notes and references

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Bibliography
  • Jose, Colin (1998). The American Soccer League: The Golden Years of American Soccer 1921-1931. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810834293.
  • Cahill, Thomas W., ed. (1921). Spalding's Official "Soccer" Football Guide 1921-22. Spalding's "Red Cover" Series of Athletic Handbooks, No. 55R. New York: American Sports Publishing Company.
  • Cahill, Thomas W., ed. (1922). Spalding's Official "Soccer" Football Guide 1922-23. Spalding's "Red Cover" Series of Athletic Handbooks, No. 55R. New York: American Sports Publishing Company.
Footnotes
  1. ^ Cahill, Thomas W., ed. (1921). Spalding's Official "Soccer" Football Guide 1921-22. Spalding's "Red Cover" Series of Athletic Handbooks, No. 55R. New York: American Sports Publishing Company. p. 37.
  2. ^ To Play British Eleven
  3. ^ A Swing Along Athletic Row The Globe -- Bethlehem; Monday, December 12, 1921
  4. ^ "Scotch Soccer Team Downs Jersey Celtics". (July 11, 1921). Newark Evening News, p.12 col.3
  5. ^ "Todd Soccers Defeat Jersey City Celtics". (September 19, 1921). The Standard Union, p.12 col.7
  6. ^ "New York F.C. Victors". (September 26, 1921). New York Times, p.12 col.4
  7. ^ "Falcos 3, Celtics 1". (October 3, 1921). Holyoke Daily Transcript, p.5 col.4
  8. ^ "Celtics Lose To The United". (October 10, 1921). Fall River Globe, p.8 col.1-2
  9. ^ "Coats Beats Celtics 4-0". (October 31, 1921). Pawtucket Times, p.20 col.5