Ben Millers

Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri.[1] Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.

History

The Ben Millers team of 1920.

A Ben Millers team, managed by E. Brinkman, competed in the St. Louis Association Foot Ball League during the 1904–05 season.[2] In 1913, Ben Millers entered the Federal Park League in St. Louis, Missouri. The Federal Park League had been created that season after disagreements about permissible levels of professionalism had split the St. Louis Soccer League .[3] St. Leo's, the city’s only fully professional team joined with several other St. Louis teams, including Ben Millers, to form the Federal Park League. This league existed only two seasons as the differences dividing the previous SLSL teams were reconciled leading to the re-establishment of the SLSL in 1915. Ben Millers joined the reconstituted SLSL, immediately asserting its dominance by winning three consecutive league titles. While the National Challenge Cup was established by the United States Football Association in 1914, the St. Louis teams did not enter it until 1918. In 1920, Ben Millers became the first team outside of the northeast to win the trophy.[4] While they never repeated as champions, they made the final in 1926. The team continued strong into the late 1920s but began to fade with the new decade. Frankie Vaughan took over as manager for the 1935–36 season.

Team ownership

Peter Ratican owned Ben Millers in the early 1920s. Following his death in 1923, his widow owned the team for a time.[5]

Record

YearRecordLeagueNational Cup
1913–19147–4–22ndDid not enter
1914–19158–3–22ndDid not enter
1915–191612–5–3ChampionDid not enter
1916–191710–8–2ChampionDid not enter
1917–19189–5–3Champion
1918–19195–9–74th
1919–19208–6–7ChampionChampion
1920–19218–3–62nd
1921–19228–7–62ndFourth Round
1922–19234–8–54th
1923–19242–8–44thFirst Round
1924–192511–4–3ChampionDid not enter
1925–19268–3–3ChampionFinal
1926–19278–3–1ChampionQuarterfinal
1927–19285–7–23rdSemifinal
1928–19295–7–53rdFirst Round
1929–19303–4–73rdFirst Round
1930–19316–7–44thSemifinal
1931–19327–7–22ndFirst Round
1932–19335–8–23rdFirst Round
1933–19346–6–12ndSecond Round
1934–19350–10–44thFirst Round
1935–19362–6–04thFirst Round

References

  1. ↑ Wangerin, David (2008). Soccer in a Football World: The Story of America’s Forgotten Game (Paperback). Temple University Press. ( ISBN 1-5921-3885-3).
  2. ↑ 1904–05 Spalding's Soccer Foot Ball Guide, see p. 20
  3. ↑ The Year in American Soccer – 1913
  4. ↑ Ben Millers of St. Louis Defeat Fore River For National Soccer Title
  5. ↑ January 22, 1923 The Globe article
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