The History of Soccer in Greater Cleveland From 1906 until 1981

The History of Soccer in Greater Cleveland from 1906 until 1981 begins with the playing of the game on Payne's pasture in Cleveland in 1906 and by 1920 its adherents were poised to continue soccer's growth during the Golden Age of Cleveland Soccer, 1919-1932. The foundation that was laid during the Beginning Period blossomed during the 1920's into a Golden Age that culminated in the National Championship in 1932. A period of decline followed and lasted until the end of World War II and towards the end of the Period of Decline another intra-squad game like when soccer began in 1906 was held. Lester Vasquez divided his Cleveland Americans into East Side and West Side squads and played a practice match at Gordon Park. His efforts symbolized a new beginning for Cleveland soccer. The Period of Revival lasted from 1946 until 1966 and in it's last year the World Cup was held in England and attracted the attention of the general public. Hal Lebovitz, Cleveland Plain Dealer Sports Editor, was one of the viewers via Early Bird satellite TV as England defeated West Germany in overtime. He wrote: "soccer has everything. As you saw yesterday, it has constant action. There is no time out for huddles or the hitching up of pants. It takes speed, great skill, strength, remarkable stamina and is a sport that truly requires survival of the fittest." The groundwork was laid for the Early Modern Period of Cleveland Soccer from 1967 until 1981. The final chapter provides information on the professional game, the indoor game, school soccer-high school, college soccer, CYO soccer, junior soccer, senior league competition, inter city play, exhibition games and special events, international games, National Amateur Cup competition, National Open Cup competition and promotion of the game.
About the Author: Thomas Hatfield graduated from St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio in 1955, Ohio University in 1959 and earned a M. A. degree from the University of Kentucky in 1966. He obtained additional credits from Case Western Reserve University, the University of Illinois and the Universidad de los Americas. He was also a Fulbright scholar to Mexico in 1968 and to India in 1972. He taught one year at St. Edward and in 1961 began a 34 year career at North Olmsted High School where he coached wrestling and soccer. He established the soccer program in 1972 and remained the head coach until 1989. During his tenure North Olmsted was state champion in 1977 and 1985 (the 1985 team is the first and only Ohio high school team to have a record of 25-0-0 for a season), state finalist in 1984, 1988 and 1989, district champion in 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989, sectional champion in 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989 and has won numerous league titles. He continues to be an assistant coach at North Olmsted which also won state titles in 1996 and 1999 under coach Christian Marsh. Hatfield served as president of the Northeastern Ohio Soccer Coaches Association in 1977-78, was the first president of the Greater Cleveland Soccer Coaches Association from 1981 until 1983 and was president of the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association from 1978 to 1980. He was named Ohio coach of the year in 1977 and 1985 and is a charter member of the Ohio High School Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame having been inducted in 1992. He has also been inducted into the St. Edward High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000, the North Olmsted High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, The Ohio Youth Soccer Association North Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Ohio Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008. Previous writings on soccer include an entry called Soccer for the "Encyclopedia of Cleveland History" compiled and edited by David D. Van Tassel and John J. Grabowski (1996) and a Regional History called "History of Soccer in Cleveland" for the American Soccer History Archives which are maintained by David Litterer who along with Ron Vincek provided supplemental materials which were last updated on January 2, 2011.