New Bedford Whalers was the name of three American 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 River F.C. The third Whalers were then formed when Fall River merged with New York Yankees. They played in the ASL between 1931 and 1932.
New Bedford Whalers I
Founded in September 1913, the first Whalers originally played as New Bedford F.C. and played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. Immediately after their founding, they entered the 1913–14 National Challenge Cup. They went to the semifinals, falling to eventual champions, Brooklyn Field Club. They first played used the Whalers name in 1915. This team finished as league champions in both 1915 and 1917. Other teams in the league included Fall River Rovers. Of the five men who founded the club, John Fernley later became the president of the USFA and is in the National Soccer Hall of Fame. New Bedford was noted as having three full kits, a home, away and third kit.New Bedford's High Place in Soccer
New Bedford Whalers II
In 1924 a second New Bedford Whalers, formed by former members of Fall River Rovers, joined the American Soccer League. In both 1926 and 1928 they finished as runners-up in the league and quickly developed a rivalry with Fall River F.C.Soccer in a Football World – The Story of America’s Forgotten Game (2006) : David Wangerin In 1926 the second Whalers won their only major trophy when they defeated New York Giants 5–4 in a two-game series to win the Lewis Cup. 1926 also saw the Whalers play in the one-off 1926 International Soccer League season which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. In 1929 the ASL and the US Football Association became involved in a power struggle, sometimes referred to as the Soccer Wars. This resulted in the emergence of a rival Eastern Soccer League, organized by the USFA. The Whalers began the year in the ASL but subsequently joined the ESL. However, after just 8 games they rejoined the ASL. On their return they finished as ASL runners-up in both the Spring 1930 and Fall 1930 seasons. However the Great Depression severely effected the teams support and they failed to complete the Spring 1931 season. On April 19, 1931 they merged into Fall River F.C.
New Bedford Whalers III
The third Whalers were actually a successor club of Fall River F.C. Like the second Whalers, the 'Marksmen' had also suffered because of the Great Depression and for the Spring 1931 season their owner, Sam Mark, relocated them to New York where they merged with New York Soccer Club, previously known as the New York Giants, and became the New York Yankees. However the relocation to New York was not a financial success and for the Fall 1931 season, Mark relocated his team again. This time they merged with Fall River F.C. and revived the New Bedford Whalers name. The third Whalers were the American Soccer League champions for the Fall 1931 and Spring 1932 seasons and won the 1932 National Challenge Cup but then folded during the Fall 1932 season
Year-by-year Season Div. League National cup Assoc. Reg. season Playoffs 1914–15N/A SNESLChampion No playoff Third round 1915–16 N/A SNESL ? No playoff Quarter finals1916–17N/ASNESL ChampionNo playoff Second round1917–18N/ASNESL?No playoff did not participate1924–251ASL5thNo playoffdid not participate1925–261ASL2ndNo playoff Second round1926N/AISL3rdNo playoff 1926–271ASL4thNo playoffFirst round1927–281ASL3rd, 1st Runners-upFirst round1928–29N/AASL5th, 8th N/Adid not participate1928–291ESL6thNo playoffdid not participateSpring 19301ACL/ASL2ndNo playoff Second roundFall 19301ASL2nd ?Spring 19311ASL8thN/A First roundFall 19311ASL2nd Runners-upSpring 19321ASL ChampionNo playoff ChampionFall 19321ASL8thNo playoff
Notes
Former managers Harold Brittan: 1926
Honors
New Bedford Whalers I
Southern New England Soccer League Winners 1914–15, 1916–17: 2
New Bedford Whalers II
American Soccer League Runners Up 1925–26, 1927–28, Spring 1930, Fall 1930: 4 Lewis Cup Winners 1926: 1 Runners Up 1929: 1
New Bedford Whalers III
American Soccer League Winners 1932 : 1 National Challenge Cup Winners 1932: 1
References