Sheldon Govier
Encyclopedia
Sheldon Govier was a U.S. soccer center halfback
who spent his entire career in the United States, primarily with Pullman F.C.
He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
Govier was born in Scotland to English parents. He began playing soccer at a young age with a series of youth teams including Cambuslang, Rutherglen, Blantyre and Uddington. His parents left Britain in 1891 and settled the family in Chicago, Illinois. When they arrived, Govier was hired to work for the Pullman Company
, eventually also playing, along with his brother Ben, for the company team, Pullman F.C.
At the time Pullman competed in the Chicago League of Association Football. He gained his first start with the team when he was fifteen. Two seasons later, he left Pullman to move to the St. Louis Cycling Club of the St. Louis Football Association. In 1897, he returned to Chicago where several baseball executives had established a new soccer league. The names of this league and Govier’s team are unknown. At some point, the league collapsed and Govier returned to Pullman. According to his Hall of Fame bio, he then played for Wanderers, Woodlawn, Buxton Red Sox and Pullman. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1950.
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...
who spent his entire career in the United States, primarily with Pullman F.C.
Pullman F.C.
Pullman F.C. was one of the dominant U.S. soccer team of the early twentieth century. Established in 1893 as the Pullman Company team, it was an inaugural member of the Chicago League of Association Football before moving to the Association Football League...
He 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:...
.
Govier was born in Scotland to English parents. He began playing soccer at a young age with a series of youth teams including Cambuslang, Rutherglen, Blantyre and Uddington. His parents left Britain in 1891 and settled the family in Chicago, Illinois. When they arrived, Govier was hired to work for the Pullman Company
Pullman Company
The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
, eventually also playing, along with his brother Ben, for the company team, Pullman F.C.
Pullman F.C.
Pullman F.C. was one of the dominant U.S. soccer team of the early twentieth century. Established in 1893 as the Pullman Company team, it was an inaugural member of the Chicago League of Association Football before moving to the Association Football League...
At the time Pullman competed in the Chicago League of Association Football. He gained his first start with the team when he was fifteen. Two seasons later, he left Pullman to move to the St. Louis Cycling Club of the St. Louis Football Association. In 1897, he returned to Chicago where several baseball executives had established a new soccer league. The names of this league and Govier’s team are unknown. At some point, the league collapsed and Govier returned to Pullman. According to his Hall of Fame bio, he then played for Wanderers, Woodlawn, Buxton Red Sox and Pullman. He 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 1950.