Played by both migrants and native-born Americans, soccer created communities across the United States. Brian D. Bunk ranges from Pawtucket to Honolulu as he illuminates the deep and diverse origins of the American sport.Soccer took root as immigration, urbanization, and industrialization triggered immense changes across society. Matches built local pride as teams battled rival neighborhoods and towns. Teammates and supporters shared meals, raised money for fallen players, and attended each other's weddings and funerals. If sometimes damaged by economic depression or shattered by war, clubs often bounced back to provide a steadying, resilient force in their towns. Bunk follows the story from the 1880s through World War I by profiling the struggles and joys of players while also tracing the overlooked impact of people of African, Chinese, Hawaiian, Jewish, and Filipino descent on American soccer culture.Engaging and rich in detail, Beyond the Field draws on extensive original research to expand our idea of the people and places that formed the American game.
Brian D. Bunk is a senior lecturer II of history at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is the author of From Football to Soccer: The Early History of the Beautiful Game in the United States.
Acknowledgments Introduction 1 The Watson Brothers : The First African American Soccer Players Pawtucket, Rhode Island2 Soccer and Stone Barre, Vermont3 Soccer in Black and White Scranton, Pennsylvania4 Chasing Nomads Buffalo, New York5 Deering’s Rangers in El Dorado Miami, Florida6 Irish Shamrocks and Jewish Gyms Cincinnati, Ohio7 Crossing Borders in Detroit Detroit, Michigan8 The McKendrick Brothers: Scottish Professionals in the Motor City Detroit, Michigan9 Raising Thistles in the Twin Cities Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota10 Jimmy Matthews: Minnesota’s Canadian War Hero Minneapolis, Minnesota11 High Plains Kickers Denver, Colorado12 Soccer in the City of Roses Portland, Oregon13 Soccer in Central Park San Francisco, California14 Bay Area Vampires Alameda, California15 Soccer in Surf and Sand Honolulu, Hawai‘iEpilogue Notes Index
