Frank McKenna (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Frank McKenna was a Scottish football
Wing Forward
who began his career in Scotland before playing eight seasons in the American Soccer League
.
McKenna began his career with Vale of Leven F.C.
in the Scottish Football League Second Division
. In the spring of 1919, he briefly joined Bethlehem Steel F.C.
of the National Association Football League (NAFBL) after the completion of the 1918-1919 season. However, he left the team before the start of the 1919-1920 season. In May 1920, he rejoined Bethlehem Steel for the last few games of the season. He then moved to Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock
for the 1920-1921 season. The move to Robins paid off when Dry Dock took the 1921 National Challenge Cup
title. In 1921, several teams from the NAFBL merged with teams from the Southern New England Soccer League
to form the first American Soccer League
. While Robins intended to move to the new league, the parent corporation, Todd Shipyards
consolidated Robins with another of the company’s teams, Tebo Yacht Basin F.C.
, to form the Todd Shipyards team. Therefore, McKenna spent the 1921-1922 season with Todd. McKenna went to his second National Challenge Cup
, but was on the losing side this time. Following that loss, the company withdrew the team from the league and McKenna moved to Paterson F.C. where he scored a goal a game in both league and cup play. Once again, he went to the National Challenge Cup
, winning his second title as he assisted on John Hemingsley
tying goal in the 84th minute. McKenna finished the season with the Fall River Marksmen
, one of the perennial powers in the ASL. During his three seasons in Fall River, McKenna won three league titles and yet another National Challenge Cup
. In 1925, he began the season with the Marksmen but finished it with Indiana Flooring
. In 1927, Indiana Flooring was renamed the New York Nationals. McKenna played sixteen games with the Nationals, then moved back to the Marksmen for two games before moving to Providence F.C. for three games. He finished his ASL career with J&P Coats in 1928-1929.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
Wing Forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who began his career in Scotland before playing eight seasons in 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...
.
McKenna began his career with Vale of Leven F.C.
Vale of Leven F.C.
Vale of Leven Football Club are an association club based in the town of Alexandria, Scotland, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed the Vale and formed in 1939, they play at Millburn Park...
in the Scottish Football League Second Division
Scottish Football League Second Division
The Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
. In the spring of 1919, he briefly joined 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...
of the National Association Football League (NAFBL) after the completion of the 1918-1919 season. However, he left the team before the start of the 1919-1920 season. In May 1920, he rejoined Bethlehem Steel for the last few games of the season. He then moved to Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock
Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock
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...
for the 1920-1921 season. The move to Robins paid off when Dry Dock took 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:...
title. In 1921, several teams from the NAFBL merged with teams from 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 first 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...
. While Robins intended to move to the new league, the parent corporation, 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....
consolidated Robins with another of the company’s teams, 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....
, to form the Todd Shipyards team. Therefore, McKenna spent the 1921-1922 season with Todd. McKenna went to his second National Challenge Cup
1922 National Challenge Cup
The 1921–22 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:...
, but was on the losing side this time. Following that loss, the company withdrew the team from the league and McKenna moved to Paterson F.C. where he scored a goal a game in both league and cup play. Once again, he went to the National Challenge Cup
1923 National Challenge Cup
The 1922–23 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.-Open Cup Bracket:Home teams listed on top of bracket: replay after tied match...
, winning his second title as he assisted on John Hemingsley
John Hemingsley
John J. "Rabbit" Hemingsley was a U.S. soccer center forward who played the first two U.S. national team games in 1916...
tying goal in the 84th minute. McKenna finished the season with the Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They originally played as Fall River United before becoming known as the Marksmen after their owner, Sam Mark. During the 1920s and early 1930s they were one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United...
, one of the perennial powers in the ASL. During his three seasons in Fall River, McKenna won three league titles and yet another National Challenge Cup
1924 National Challenge Cup
The 1923–24 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.-Open Cup Bracket:Home teams listed on top of bracket: replay after tied match...
. In 1925, he began the season with the Marksmen but finished it with Indiana Flooring
Indiana Flooring
Indiana Flooring were a New York soccer team that played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1927. They replaced New York Field Club. Before joining the ASL, the team had played in various state leagues....
. In 1927, Indiana Flooring was renamed the New York Nationals. McKenna played sixteen games with the Nationals, then moved back to the Marksmen for two games before moving to Providence F.C. for three games. He finished his ASL career with J&P Coats in 1928-1929.