Philip Slone
Encyclopedia
Philip "Phil" Slone was a U.S. soccer wing half
. He spent a single season each in the short lived Eastern Soccer League and Atlantic Coast Conference, then ten years in the American Soccer League
. He was a member of the U.S team at the 1930 FIFA World Cup
and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
and attended Manhattan’s High School of Commerce. He was a multi-sport athlete, earning varsity letters in baseball
, basketball
and soccer. After high school, he attended St. John’s University
. He graduated in 1929 with a degree in law.
team toured the U.S. During that tour, members of the team saw Slone playing and when they moved to the U.S. in 1928 to form a team in the Eastern Soccer League (ESL), they invited Slone, then in college to play with them. Slone signed with New York Hakoah
of the ESL in 1928, beginning his twelve year professional career. That first season was difficult. As he remembers it, "Life was hectic then. I played professional soccer on the weekends, worked during the week and went to evening classes at St. John's University Law School."
A little background is required to understand the next two years of Slone’s career. The ESL was created during the “Soccer War” which pitted the American Soccer League
and the USFA
. After three ASL teams were expelled from the league, they joined several other teams to form the ESL. This league lasted a season and a half before merging with the ASL at the end of the “Soccer War”. New York Hakoah was owned by Maurice Vandeweghe, who also owned the New York Giants
of the ASL. The merger of the ESL and ASL meant that Vandeweghe now owned to teams in the same league. League rules forbid that, so Vandeweghe sold Hakoah. When he did, Slone jumped to Vandeweghe's other team, the Giants.
In June 1930, Slone left the U.S. to play in the 1930 FIFA World Cup
. He and his team mates returned to discover the ASL had experienced a reshuffling of teams in their absence. As a result, Slone left the Giants, now named the Nationals, to sign with the Hakoah All-Stars
which had been formed by the merger of his old team, New York Hakoah of the ESL and Brooklyn Hakoah of the ASL. The All Stars played until 1932 when they folded at the end of the season. Slone then moved to New York Brookhattan. The ASL folded in 1933, but was immediately replaced by a second American Soccer League
. Slone continued to play with Brookhattan in the second ASL until his retirement in 1940.
in 1930 when he traveled to Uruguay
for the 1930 FIFA World Cup
. However, his cap did not come during the finals, but in an August 17, 1930 loss to Brazil
following the cup.
Slone was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1986. He died in West Palm Beach, Florida
in 2003.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He spent a single season each in the short lived Eastern Soccer League and Atlantic Coast Conference, then ten years 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...
. He was a member of the U.S team at the 1930 FIFA World Cup
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Youth
Slone grew up in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and attended Manhattan’s High School of Commerce. He was a multi-sport athlete, earning varsity letters in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and soccer. After high school, he attended St. John’s University
St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
. He graduated in 1929 with a degree in law.
Club career
While in high school, SC Hakoah Wien a powerhouse AustrianAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
team toured the U.S. During that tour, members of the team saw Slone playing and when they moved to the U.S. in 1928 to form a team in the Eastern Soccer League (ESL), they invited Slone, then in college to play with them. Slone signed with New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah is a former United States soccer club based in New York City.-New York Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players from SC Hakoah Wien, including among others Béla Guttmann and Rudolph Nickolsburger, they initially played in the Eastern Soccer League in the fall of 1928. In 1929...
of the ESL in 1928, beginning his twelve year professional career. That first season was difficult. As he remembers it, "Life was hectic then. I played professional soccer on the weekends, worked during the week and went to evening classes at St. John's University Law School."
A little background is required to understand the next two years of Slone’s career. The ESL was created during the “Soccer War” which pitted 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...
and the USFA
USFA
USFA may refer to:* U.S. Fire Arms Manufacturing Company* United States Football Alliance* United States Fencing Association* United States Fire Administration, a United States government agency* United States Food Administration...
. After three ASL teams were expelled from the league, they joined several other teams to form the ESL. This league lasted a season and a half before merging with the ASL at the end of the “Soccer War”. New York Hakoah was owned by Maurice Vandeweghe, who also owned the New York Giants
New York Giants (soccer)
New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...
of the ASL. The merger of the ESL and ASL meant that Vandeweghe now owned to teams in the same league. League rules forbid that, so Vandeweghe sold Hakoah. When he did, Slone jumped to Vandeweghe's other team, the Giants.
In June 1930, Slone left the U.S. to play in the 1930 FIFA World Cup
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
. He and his team mates returned to discover the ASL had experienced a reshuffling of teams in their absence. As a result, Slone left the Giants, now named the Nationals, to sign with the Hakoah All-Stars
Hakoah All-Stars
Hakoah All-Stars is a former United States football club that played in the American Soccer League between 1930 and 1932. The club was formed after the merger of Brooklyn Hakoah of the ASL and New York Hakoah of the Eastern Soccer League...
which had been formed by the merger of his old team, New York Hakoah of the ESL and Brooklyn Hakoah of the ASL. The All Stars played until 1932 when they folded at the end of the season. Slone then moved to New York Brookhattan. The ASL folded in 1933, but was immediately replaced by a second 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...
. Slone continued to play with Brookhattan in the second ASL until his retirement in 1940.
National team
Slone earned one cap with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1930 when he traveled to Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
for the 1930 FIFA World Cup
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
. However, his cap did not come during the finals, but in an August 17, 1930 loss to Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
following the cup.
Slone was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1986. He died in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
in 2003.