Dec. 25, 1914 – The Follansbee Rangers Soccer Team

One of the most successful city soccer football teams gained regional attention in 1914. During their first season in 1913, the Rangers were winless.  However, the 1914 team was undefeated except for a loss against the East Liverpool Grand Independents, the undisputed champions of eastern Ohio.   The Follansbee Rangers confronted the claim of the Moundsville soccer team for the championship of the Upper Ohio valley.  Manager William R. Reese was one of the first soccer stars to come out of Follansbee.   He later coached the Moose Lodge soccer team in 1921. The Rangers played against Moundsville (WV) on Christmas afternoon. No score was reported by the Mill Towns Review.   Earlier in the year, the Follansbee Rangers tied Steubenville 3-3 at Ferguson field on muddy ground.    The schedule included an early game against the Follansbee Star Team, a pick-up-team of former soccer players.

The Rangers lineup included the following: Addison & T. McQuillan (goalies), Sam Bamford (RF), Holland (LF), Jack Bufton (CH), Richards (LH), W. Jones (RH), J. Jones (IR), Gough (OR), Owen (C), Mullen (I.L) and Albert James (OL).   Other players mentioned in the papers were W. Lake, R. Goff, Gus Hickman, and Jim Stewart,

  • Mill Towns Review, “Tie Soccer Game,” March 20, 1914, front page.