St. Leo’s was a U.S. soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. It was founded in 1903 as a member of the St. Louis Association Football League before moving to the St. Louis Soccer League in 1908. It was one of the first fully professional soccer teams in the U.S. and dominated the St. Louis soccer scene for over a decade. In 1918, the team came under sponsorship of St. Louis Screw and competed under that name until 1922.
History Nicknamed the Blue and White,"Coal City Defeated In Final Contest". (December 28, 1908). St. Louis Globe-Democrat, p.12 col.3-4 St. Leo’s was founded by William Klosterman in 1902 as a recreational team for the St. Leo’s Sodality, a Catholic men’s organization. It competed in the Junior League, winning the league title. In 1903, St. Leo's moved up to the Amateur League which competed at Christian Brother's College where they again won the league title. During the 1904-05 season, they competed in a league at Forest Park, in 1905-06, they entered the Empire Park League and in 1906-08 the St. Louis Association Foot Ball League winning the championship in each of those seasons."First Round In Soccer Clashes". (March 12, 1911). St. Louis Star, p.27 col.7 Following its 1908 championship, the AFL merged with the St. Louis Soccer League which had been established the year before. St. Leo’s quickly asserted its dominance as the only fully professional team in the new league. It ran off a string of five championships. By 1910, frustrations at St. Leo’s success began to surface among the league’s other teams. This led to a movement to make the SLSL and entirely amateur league. This controversy became so heated during the 1911-1912 season that St. Leo’s withdrew from the league during the end of the season. Despite not playing several games, it still won the league title. The team re-entered the SLSL for the 1912-1913 season, but the resentment at its success could no longer be contained and the SLSL split in 1913 into two leagues, the Athletic Park League and the Pastime Park League."St. Leos Lose Herb Peterson, Star Halfback". (October 19, 1912). St. Louis Post-Dispatch, p.8 col.7 St. Leo’s took both Federal Park League titles, but in 1915, Innisfails defeated St. Leo's for the city championship. The first game of the three game series ended in a 2-2 tie with Innisfails taking the second game, 4-2. The third game never materialized because of conflicting events and unavailability of players."Leos-Innisfails Bout Is Again Postponed". (April 3, 1915). St. Louis Post-Dispatch, p.8 col.5 That summer, the two leagues merged to form a renewed SLSL."Soccer Factions Merge, Only One League". (September 16, 1915). St. Louis Post-Dispatch, p.17 col.1-2 This episode did not serve St. Leo’s long term interests as it brought Ben Millers into the top level of St. Louis soccer. Ben Millers quickly established themselves as the dominant team and St. Leo’s and Innisfails found themselves fighting for second place. In 1918, St. Leo’s Catholic Church withdrew its sponsorship from the team and the team gained the sponsorship of St. Louis Screws. St. Leo's had a Municipal League team entered in the 1922 National Challenge Cup."St. Louis Enters 6 Soccer Teams In U.S. Cup Race". (September 22, 1921). St. Louis Post-Dispatch, p.18 col.5
Intercity matches In December 1911 the St. Leos hosted the 1911 American Cup holders Tacony of Philadelphia and played them to a 4-4 tie."St. Leos' Eleven And Tacony Team Play A 4-4 Draw". (December 25, 1911). St. Louis Post-Dispatch, p.9 col.1 On December 29, 1912, St. Leo’s defeated the 1912 American Cup holders West Hudson A.A. 4-2."American Soccer Champions Easy For Local Team". (December 30, 1912). St. Louis Post-Dispatch, p.12 col.1-2
Record Year League Record Position 1903-1904 AFL 1904-1905 AFL 1905-1906 AFL Champion 1906-1907 AFL Champion 1907-1908 AFL 11-0-2 Champion 1908-1909 SLSL 12-2-4 Champion 1909-1910 SLSL 6-1-8 Champion 1910-1911 SLSL 10-4-3 Champion 1911-1912 SLSL 11-2-2 Champion 1912-1913 SLSL 7-2-1 Champion 1913-1914 Federal Park 11-0-2 Champion 1914-1915 Federal Park 10-1-2 Champion 1915-1916 SLSL 4-8-7 4th 1916-1917 SLSL 8-8-4 3rd 1917-1918 SLSL 7-4-6 2nd
1910 roster Outside right: Jimmy Donohue Inside right: William Tallman Center forward: Chuck O'Berta, Richard "Bull" Brannigan Inside left: J. Arthur "Butch" Amnions, Joe Mason Outside left: Dave Miller Right half: Joe Flynn Center half: Gerald Shea, Peterson, Left half: Johnny Miller Right full: Medric Boucher, Hick January Left full: James "Jim" Flynn Goalkeeper: Jack Tully
Coach William Klosterman 1902-
External links Photo of Billy Kane – St. Leo’s 1909-1911 Account of March 1912 exhibition tie with Fall River Rovers. Includes team line up
References