Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock
Encyclopedia
The Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock were an American
soccer team which took its name from the workplace it represented. The dock was part of the Todd Pacific Shipyards
in Brooklyn
who formed the professional soccer club in 1918 to play in the National Association Football League. Robins played until the league folded in 1921. Robins best finish was third in 1920 and 1921, but won the 1921 National Challenge Cup
.
had led to a drain on players due to military service. The loss of players impacted most league, including the NAFBL. While most teams in the league were able to find enough players to begin the season, three teams were forced to sit out the season. A fourth, the East Newark Scots-Americans, began the season but folded after five games. In order to maintain enough teams to stage a competitive season, the NAFBL brought in the Robins Dry Dock which assumed the Scots-Americans record. While Robins was unable to finish higher than third in its three seasons in the NAFBL, it quickly became dominant in national competitions. In 1921, the top teams of the NAFBL collapsed when the league’s top teams joined with the top teams of the Southern New England Soccer League
to form the American Soccer League
. Robins did not join the ASL. Instead, Todd Shipyards
, the parent company of Robins Dry Dock, as well as Tebo Yacht Basin which sponsored the Tebo Yacht Basin F.C.
of the SENSL, entered its own team in the new league.
and the recently established National Challenge Cup. In March 1919, Robins went to the semifinals of the American Cup, falling to Bethlehem Steel F.C.
In 1920, Robins took its revenge on Bethlehem when it defeated the Steelmen in the American Cup final. Robins repeated as cup champions the next year as well, defeating Fore River
. In the 1920 National Challenge Cup
, Robins lost to Fore River in the semifinals. The next year, Robins took the Challenge Cup in a 4-3 victory over St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer team which took its name from the workplace it represented. The dock was part of the Todd Pacific Shipyards
Todd Pacific Shipyards
Vigor Shipyards was founded in 1916 as the William H. Todd Corporation through the merger of Robins Dry Dock & Repair Company of Erie Basin, Brooklyn, New York, the Tietjen & Long Dry Dock Company of Hoboken, New Jersey, and the Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Company...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
who formed the professional soccer club in 1918 to play in the National Association Football League. Robins played until the league folded in 1921. Robins best finish was third in 1920 and 1921, but won the 1921 National Challenge Cup
1921 National Challenge Cup
The 1920–21 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-History:...
.
League
In 1918, the entry of the United States into World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
had led to a drain on players due to military service. The loss of players impacted most league, including the NAFBL. While most teams in the league were able to find enough players to begin the season, three teams were forced to sit out the season. A fourth, the East Newark Scots-Americans, began the season but folded after five games. In order to maintain enough teams to stage a competitive season, the NAFBL brought in the Robins Dry Dock which assumed the Scots-Americans record. While Robins was unable to finish higher than third in its three seasons in the NAFBL, it quickly became dominant in national competitions. In 1921, the top teams of the NAFBL collapsed when the league’s top teams joined with the top teams of the Southern New England Soccer League
Southern New England Soccer League
The Southern New England Soccer League was a semi-professional soccer league based in New England which was established in 1914 and collapsed in 1921. During its short existence, it featured some of the top teams in the northeast United States...
to form the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. Robins did not join the ASL. Instead, Todd Shipyards
Todd Shipyards
Todd Shipyards was an American soccer club based in Brooklyn, New York that was an inaugural member of the American Soccer League. The team was formed when the Todd Shipyard company decided to merge the Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock with Tebo Yacht Basin F.C....
, the parent company of Robins Dry Dock, as well as Tebo Yacht Basin which sponsored the Tebo Yacht Basin F.C.
Tebo Yacht Basin F.C.
Tebo Yacht Basin was an amateur U.S. soccer team sponsored by the Tebo Yacht Basin company of Brooklyn, New York. It had a brief impact on the U.S. soccer scene from 1918 to 1921....
of the SENSL, entered its own team in the new league.
Cup winner
At the time there were two national cups, the long running American CupAmerican Cup
The American Cup was the first major U.S. soccer competition open to teams beyond a single league. It was first held in 1885. In the 1910s, it gradually declined in importance with the establishment of the National Challenge Cup...
and the recently established National Challenge Cup. In March 1919, Robins went to the semifinals of the American Cup, falling to Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel Football Club was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1911 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation and played their home games first at East...
In 1920, Robins took its revenge on Bethlehem when it defeated the Steelmen in the American Cup final. Robins repeated as cup champions the next year as well, defeating Fore River
Fore River (soccer)
Fore River was an amateur U.S. soccer team which had its origins as the Fore River Shipbuilding company team of Quincy, Massachusetts.-History:...
. In the 1920 National Challenge Cup
1920 National Challenge Cup
The 1919–20 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. This edition featured 99 teams in two divisions. The western division had 41 teams in six districts while the eastern division had 58 teams also...
, Robins lost to Fore River in the semifinals. The next year, Robins took the Challenge Cup in a 4-3 victory over St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.
St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.
St. Louis Scullin Steel was a U.S. soccer team established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. It spent seven seasons in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning three league titles and one National Challenge Cup.-History:...
Year-by-year
| Year | Record | Standing | American Cup | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918/19 | 3-2-5 | 4th | Semifinal | Third round |
| 1919/20 | 10-2-2 | 3rd | Champion | Semifinal |
| 1920/21 | 5-5-2 | 3rd | Champion | Champion |