Pennsylvania And The World Cup

Soccer in the USA has been steadily growing for many years now. The MLS is in its 20th season and the men’s National side has performed well in the last two World Cups. But the countries association with what the rest of the world calls football goes a lot further than that, not hurt by the fact that an American led investigation into FIFA which has its members scurrying away to a dark corner.



In 1930 the USA appeared in the very first World Cup in Uruguay, winning its first two matches.
First victims were Belgium, and then Paraguay, both losing 3-0 to the Americans.
In that first squad was Michael Bookie, a Pittsburgh native, born in 1904. Although he never entered a game in that World Cup he can still be found in the US National Soccer Hall of Fame.

1934 saw a less impressive US display although, yet again, the squad had a Western Pennsylvanian representative. Aldo Donelli was born in Morgan, PA in 1907, who had served in the US Navy during World War 2, was in that squad. Some Steelers fans may recognize that name as he was also Head Coach for the Pittsburgh football team for a brief spell in 1941. Back to soccer though, it would be that Morgan PA man to be the first American player to score his first three International goals in the same match. It would be 75 years before the next American would do that (Sacha Kljestan, 2009) and the first American to score on Italian soil.

1938 the USA didn’t qualify and the next World Cup, in 1950, I will get to later. In fact, the US side would then go on a four decade hiatus from the Worlds beautiful game before rejoining, in less than glorious fashion, in Italia 1990. Once again Western Pennsylvania was represented in the form of John Stollmeyer. Born in Pittsburgh he would play a combined total of 74 minutes before the US elimination. The next World Cup would be the first without Pennsylvanian representation and was in fact the 1994 World Cup, hosted by the USA.

Of course the most famous game in US soccer history, to date, was the 1950 World Cup game in Brazil when the mighty England, birthplace of the sport, were beaten 1-0 by the USA. Yesterday, on June 29th, 65 years ago, at the Estadio Independencia in Belo Horizonte, the heavily favorite England side were shocked by the hastily assembled, mostly part time, US side.

Of course the biggest story, often forgotten, was the aftermath and subsequent fate of the heroic goal scorer that day, Haitian born Joe Gaetjens. It would do no justice to give any kind of brief outline as to what happened, but would suggest you read the book by his son, Lesly Gaetjens called ‘The Shot Heard Around The World: The Joe Gaetjens Story’.

There were a number of representatives from Pennsylvania. Walter Bahr was born in Philadelphia and played his club football for the Philadelphia Nationals, along with Walter Stein and Ed McIlvenny. It was Walter Bahr who supplied that pass which Gaetjens got on the end of to beat the Wolverhampton Wanderers Goalkeeper, Bert Williams, but don’t forget there were also some West Penn representation involved in that squad.

The first, Robert W Craddock, was born in Lawrenceville on September 5th 1923. He was a member of that squad that day but wouldn’t play. In fact his one, and only, International cap was won in the following World Cup in 1954. His father, also called Robert, came over from England in 1907 and was also involved in the sport. Robert B Craddock, the father, served as President of the Greater Pittsburgh League and would be inducted in the Hall Of Fame in 1959.

Robert W played his club football for Castle Shannon and Harmerville, the latter of which he was with for the World Cup.
Domestically, the Harmerville Hurricanes played at Consumer Field, and were runners up in the National Amateur Cup in 1950 and 51, also being runner up in the US Open Cup in 1953, failing to retain the title they had won the previous year. In 1956 the Hurricanes won once more but not before going down a goal from the first leg and then conceding the opening goal in the second meeting. Two goals in reply saw Harmerville tie the game up before scoring the winning goal in the 142nd minute!
Ninety years after his Father set foot on American soil, Robert W was also inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Four years later he died in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and his body was returned to Pennsylvania and was buried in the Allegheny County Memorial Park, Allison Park.

Next up is Craddocks teammate at the Hurricanes, Nicholas DiOrio. Again, like Craddock, DiOrio didn’t actually enter that famous game but did do a lot in the area for soccer. He grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from the South Fayette Township High School as the Second World War began. With the establishing of the North American Soccer Football League (NASFL) he moved to the Pittsburgh Strasser in 1946, moved to Chicago the following year before the collapse of the League saw him return to Pittsburgh, this time with the Indians.

After his playing career, which spanned twenty years and included National Amateur Cup and National Challenge Cup wins, he coached soccer before becoming the President of the West Penn Soccer Association.

Inducted in the Hall Of Fame in 1974 he died only months after his Harmerville, and World Cup team mate Robert Craddock. Two West Penn representatives, who were there in that game, also did a lot for the local soccer scene in the West Penn area should not be forgotten on the 65th anniversary of that ‘Miracle Match’.

But Pennsylvania had more representation than just those two guys. Walter Bahr, the guy who crossed to set up that shot heard around the World, and briefly mentioned earlier, was born and raised in Philadelphia. He would go on to stay in the area, coaching. Considered one of the few good enough in that side to play in the British leagues it is surprising, and refreshing, to find him managing local sides while also taking the role as a High School Gym Teacher during the 1970's.

The apple didn't fall far from the tree either with his daughter becoming an All-American Gymnast and two of his three sons winning two Super Bowl rings each. Chris was placekicker for the Raiders in their two victories in '81 and '84 while Matt, also a place kicker, won his first with the 1980 Steelers and then again for NY in 1991, kicking the decisive field goal.

So what does the future have in store from the Pennsylvania region? Well a bright light is the young lad, Zarek Valentin. Born in Lancaster he is currently plying his trade for Norwegian side FK Bodo/Glimt. At age 23, and a defender, his best years are still a few years away. Will he be one for the future?

Domestically you have Greg Cochran 24 (Chicago Fire), Jimmy McLaughlin 22 (Philadelphia Union), Steve Neumann 23 (NE Revolution), Jimmy Ockford 23 (Seattle Sounders 2), and of course Zach Pfeffer 20 and Andrew Wenger 24 (Both Philadelphia Union).

Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979