Many believe that soccer's popularity in the United States is a recent phenomenon, that Pele introduced the sport to the U.S. market. Soccer has in fact enjoyed a long and illustrious history in this country. This book examines American soccer from the 1860s up through the 1999 Women's World Cup and the 1999 MLS season. Entries are present for the many professional and semi-professional leagues that have existed since the 1890s and their great players, teams, and coaches. Important cup competitions, national teams, and major international competitions are also noted. Over two hundred individuals who have contributed to American soccer - coaches, players, administrators, and referees - also have entries. The perfect reference resource for sports scholars, but is also of interest to the ardent soccer fan.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Long before the arrival of Brazilian superstar Pele, soccer was an American pastime. The sport got its American start in the mid-1800s and has seen an increase in popularity over the last quarter-century. This reference book, volume 20 in the publisher's American Sports History Series, covers the history of soccer in America through 1999.
More than 400 alphabetically arranged entries range in length from one paragraph to several pages (on topics such as College soccer) and encompass a variety of people, leagues, other countries, and events. There are entries for 200 individuals (players, coaches, referees, and administrators) who have contributed to the game in America. For teams and leagues with frequent name changes the authors list the most common or last used name and guide readers to this entry heading with cross-referenced notes.
An appendix of statistics and records is included and arranged by league or championship. This appendix is sometimes difficult to decipher but useful for those obscure soccer stats such as the leading goal scorer in the American Soccer League for the 1921-1922 season. The appendix of memorable games is a listing of the 51 games "most worthy of being remembered" as defined by the authors.
This book would have benefited from the inclusion of a glossary of soccer terms and a good editor to minimize the frequent grammatical mistakes. It is also unfortunate that the publication of this title preceded the 2001 start of the women's professional soccer league, making it already out of date.
For soccer enthusiasts looking for an in-depth history of the sport in America, definitions of terms and rules, historical pictures, and individual player statistics through 1979, The American Encyclopedia of Soccer (Everest House, 1980) is arranged more appropriately for browsing. The Encyclopedia of American Soccer History is a comprehensive survey of American soccer history and is valuable for its statistics and player biographies, especially those from the 20 years since the publication of the Everest House title. Public libraries where soccer books are popular would be well served by this title. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
...extensive resource on every aspect of the sport. (Sports Collector's Digest )
...a comprehensive survey of American soccer history and is valuable for its statistics and player biographies, especially those from the 20 years since the publication of the Everest House title. Public libraries where soccer books are popular would be well served by this title. (Booklist/Rbb )
The United States soccer history triumvirate of Roger Allaway, Colin Jose, and David Litterer has combined their broad knowledge to produce The Encyclopedia of American Soccer History. This work chronicles outstanding men and women players, teams, leagues, and matches. Additional research notes major soccer crowds, significant venues, and influential regions and cities that attest to the significant 'sport space' U.S. soccer has maintained over the past century. Much of the publication relies upon Jose's previous research on the American Soccer League, Litterer's U.S. Soccer Archives website, and Allaway's statistical knowledge....the authors have produced a splendid up-to-date encyclopedia of U.S. soccer. Additionally, the excellent bibliography provides an impressive array of valuable material for soccer historians. Perhaps the authors' only significant oversight is in recommending their work as a 'reference source rather than a page turner' (p. xii). On the contrary, it is agreeably both and will find its way onto shelves of soccer academics and enthusiasts alike. (Journal Of Sport History )
...provides quick access to reliable information about specific subjects. General readers; all academic levels. (Choice )
Sports historians will welcome this publication to their library. (John Schleppi )
...the authors manage to reclaim forgotten history yet avoid including minutiae... (Smith, Bill )
...a comprehensive survey of American soccer history and is valuable for its statistics and player biographies, especially those from the 20 years since the publication of the Everest House title. Public libraries where soccer books are popular would be well served by this title. (Booklist/Rbb )
The United States soccer history triumvirate of Roger Allaway, Colin Jose, and David Litterer has combined their broad knowledge to produce The Encyclopedia of American Soccer History. This work chronicles outstanding men and women players, teams, leagues, and matches. Additional research notes major soccer crowds, significant venues, and influential regions and cities that attest to the significant 'sport space' U.S. soccer has maintained over the past century. Much of the publication relies upon Jose's previous research on the American Soccer League, Litterer's U.S. Soccer Archives website, and Allaway's statistical knowledge....the authors have produced a splendid up-to-date encyclopedia of U.S. soccer. Additionally, the excellent bibliography provides an impressive array of valuable material for soccer historians. Perhaps the authors' only significant oversight is in recommending their work as a 'reference source rather than a page turner' (p. xii). On the contrary, it is agreeably both and will find its way onto shelves of soccer academics and enthusiasts alike. (Journal Of Sport History )
...provides quick access to reliable information about specific subjects. General readers; all academic levels. (Choice )
Sports historians will welcome this publication to their library. (John Schleppi )
...the authors manage to reclaim forgotten history yet avoid including minutiae... (Smith, Bill )
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Long Overdue,
By DANIEL P MORRISON (Doylestown, PA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Encyclopedia of American Soccer History (Hardcover)
The Encyclopedia of American Soccer History is a long-overdue addition to the neglected story of soccer in the United States. While it may surprise many, American soccer history begins long before Pele. This book fills in many of the details of this largely forgotten history. The book is arranged as an encyclopedia, with hundreds of alphabetically arranged entries on different topics, including teams, players, cups, leagues, etc. The authors, Roger Allaway, Colin Jose and David Litterer are the triumvirate of North American soccer historians -- clearly the right men for the job of compiling this history.
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