Thomas Swords
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tommy" Swords is a deceased U.S. soccer forward
who was the captain of the U.S. national team
in its first two games. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
, USA, an early hot bed of U.S. soccer. In 1903, Swords joined Whittenton Athletic Club of Taunton, Massachusetts
. After one season, he jumped to his hometown-based Fall River Rovers
of the New England League. In 1909, the Rovers won the league title. In 1910, he moved to the Philadelphia Hibernian
of the Eastern Soccer League. After two seasons, he moved to the New Bedford Whalers
for the 1913 season. However, he was back with the Fall River Rovers in 1914 and would remain with the team until he retired in 1920. During his second stint with the Rovers, Swords experienced some of his greatest achievements when the team went to three consecutive National Challenge Cup finals between 1916 and 1918. In 1916
, the team fell to Bethlehem Steel F.C.
. Then in 1917
, they gained revenge when they defeated Bethlehem to take the Cup title. The two teams met again in 1918
. This time Bethlehem won in a replay after the two teams played to a 2-2 tie in the first game. In this second game, Swords did not shine as his brutal tackle knocked out the Bethlehem goalkeeper.http://web.archive.org/web/20091028130530/http://geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/gl052018.html
(USFA) recruited a team, called the All-American Soccer Football Team, to represent the U.S. on a tour of Scandinavian countries. At the time, these countries and the U.S. were all neutral during the on-going World War I
. Thomas Swords was selected as the team captain. During the six game tour, the U.S. played two recognized international games, one on August 21, 1916 against Sweden
and another on September 3, 1916 against Norway
. There are disagreements about who scored the first national team goals. The National Soccer Hall of Fame
lists Dick Spalding
, but other sources state that Swords scored an unassisted goal against Sweden.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1916.html After this tour, Swords never played for the U.S. again.
He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1951.
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 was the captain of the U.S. national team
United 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 its first two games. 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:...
Club career
Swords was born and grew up in Fall River, MassachusettsFall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
, USA, an early hot bed of U.S. soccer. In 1903, Swords joined Whittenton Athletic Club of Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
. After one season, he jumped to his hometown-based Fall River Rovers
Fall River Rovers
Fall River Rovers were a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They won the 1888 and 1889 American Cups as well as the 1917 National Challenge Cup. In 1921 Rovers were disbanded and a new team, Fall River United were formed to enter the newly established American Soccer...
of the New England League. In 1909, the Rovers won the league title. In 1910, he moved to the Philadelphia Hibernian
Philadelphia Hibernian
Philadelphia Hibernian, also known as Hibernian F.C., was an early twentieth century U.S. soccer team which played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:...
of the Eastern Soccer League. After two seasons, he moved to the New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...
for the 1913 season. However, he was back with the Fall River Rovers in 1914 and would remain with the team until he retired in 1920. During his second stint with the Rovers, Swords experienced some of his greatest achievements when the team went to three consecutive National Challenge Cup finals between 1916 and 1918. In 1916
1916 National Challenge Cup
The 1915–16 National Challenge Cup was the third tournament of the modern day Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Bethlehem Steel F.C. won its second consecutive championship. The entries for the competition were to be made by midnight September 30, 1915. The draw for the qualifying and first rounds was made...
, the team fell 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...
. Then in 1917
1917 National Challenge Cup
The 1916–17 National Challenge Cup was the fourth annual cup tournament held by the United States Football Association. On May 5, 1917, Fall River Rovers defeated Bethlehem Steel F.C. to take the title. Thomas Swords scored the game winning goal thirty seconds into the game...
, they gained revenge when they defeated Bethlehem to take the Cup title. The two teams met again in 1918
1918 National Challenge Cup
The United States had recently entered World War I, and the soccer world felt the effects as increasing numbers of players joined the armed forces to wage battle in Europe. Soccer was not as hard-hit as some other sports, but all leagues felt the impact; in fact the Cechie team of Chicago lost...
. This time Bethlehem won in a replay after the two teams played to a 2-2 tie in the first game. In this second game, Swords did not shine as his brutal tackle knocked out the Bethlehem goalkeeper.http://web.archive.org/web/20091028130530/http://geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/gl052018.html
National team
In 1916, the United States Football AssociationUnited States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
(USFA) recruited a team, called the All-American Soccer Football Team, to represent the U.S. on a tour of Scandinavian countries. At the time, these countries and the U.S. were all neutral during the on-going World War I
World 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...
. Thomas Swords was selected as the team captain. During the six game tour, the U.S. played two recognized international games, one on August 21, 1916 against Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
and another on September 3, 1916 against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
. There are disagreements about who scored the first national team goals. 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:...
lists Dick Spalding
Dick Spalding
Charles Harry “Dick" Spalding was an American soccer and baseball player. He played the first two games in the history of the U.S. national soccer team, as well as professional soccer for nearly fifteen years, primarily with teams in Pennsylvania...
, but other sources state that Swords scored an unassisted goal against Sweden.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1916.html After this tour, Swords never played for the U.S. again.
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 1951.