Native Americans Played Soccer at Plymouth Rock

This week, we look back at the story of Native Americans playing an early version of soccer in 1620, right when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Plus, we celebrate the launch of the MISL, examine a team name reveal, review a historic purchase by Ronaldinho, and much more.

This week’s stories:

• 🚀 MISL Launches

• 💸 Ronaldinho to USL

• 🪨 Native Americans Played Soccer at Plymouth Rock

• 😎 BOS Nation FC

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

OUR HISTORY
MISL Launches

It was just as thrilling as the space race. Soccer was booming in the late ‘70s, and three groups (including the NASL) fought to be the first to start an indoor soccer league.

Ultimately, business executives Ed Tepper and Earl Foreman won out, establishing the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) in October of 1977. That’s forty-seven years ago this month.

The league started out with six original members, and it expanded to 14 teams just four seasons later. Games routinely drew over 10,000 people per game, and it’s estimated that 27 million fans attended contests during the MISL’s 14-year existence.

But the league’s cultural impact doesn’t stop there. Turns out, NFL marketing executive Jim Foster got the idea to found the Arena Football League while attending an MISL game in 1981. Where would this country be without soccer?

BUSINESS
Ronaldinho to USL

This one is probably in the top 5 most random soccer stories of the year. By now, you might have heard the great Ronaldinho joined the ownership group behind USL clubs Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty last week.

There’s just one question in everyone’s mind: Why?

Here is what those involved had to say about it.

COVER STORY
Native Americans Played Soccer at Plymouth Rock

The story of soccer in America predates the Thirteen Colonies. It sounds crazy, but it’s true.

According to historical documents and records from the 1600s, the Pilgrim Fathers that settled at Plymouth Rock found American Indians along the Massachusetts coast playing a form of soccer. The American Indians called this game “Pasuckquakkohowog,” which means “they gather to play football.”

Accounts from the time state that these games would take place in the summer, usually on some sandy shore or soft grass, and that they’d make goalposts with tall, wooden boards. Apparently, “their ball [was] not much larger than a hand ball, which they would mount in the air with their naked feet, and sometimes would be two days together before either side got a goal.”

When describing these games, a colonist from 1634 praised the Indigenous Americans’ “swift footmanship,” and their “strange manipulation of the ball.” Still, in classic British fashion, he followed up by arrogantly claiming that “one Englishman could beat ten Indians at football.” Ridiculous.

Nevertheless, the story gets even more astonishing. Colonists in Jamestown back in 1607 encountered these types of games too. And even further back, a ship from England in 1586 in search of the Northwest Passage stopped to play football with Native Americans. Some call it the first international “friendly.”

These accounts from the 1600s and 1700s are just fascinating, and you can read an excellent summary of them right here.

It’s incredible to know that our American soccer tradition extends further back than many (including us at CLUBELEVEN) even thought. Soccer has been here for centuries. Maybe even for thousands of years.

We all get to carry that torch now. What a privilege.

MARKETING
BOS Nation FC

As a new citizen of Boston, I felt like it was my duty to stay up for this NWSL team’s name and brand reveal. The countdown clock struck zero at 4:30 AM, and nothing happened, unfortunately.

Either way, the name leaked yesterday afternoon, and it seems like the club will be called BOS Nation FC. 

It’s already giving people a lot to talk about. 

An official announcement related to the name, branding, and a larger marketing campaign is expected today, so stay tuned right here.

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Drop your opinions, hot takes, and name suggestions! We’ll highlight your best answers next week.

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

NYC in Pink: It was an honor to be invited to cover Brooklyn FC’s first-ever Pink Game on behalf of the American Cancer Society. It was an unforgettable night.

Under Fire: Former USMNT player Jermaine Jones finds himself in the middle of controversy at Central Valley Fuego FC.

Times Square Cup: What a weekend. Street Soccer USA hosted an incredible tourney in the heart of the Big Apple.

Kit Stories: Forty-One Mag’s latest feature with pro-player-turned-photographer Javier Morales drops today. Keep an eye out here.

Spoke Too Soon: Just when I thought the Orlando Pride were gonna clinch the invincible title, they lost against Portland over the weekend. They were so close to going undefeated.

RECORDS
A New Current

What a year it’s been for goalscorers in North America. A couple of weeks ago, Nick Markanich broke the record for most goals in a single USL season, and now Temwa Chawinga has done the same in the NWSL.

Make that 19 goals to her name after her performance this weekend.

The Malawian international came into 2024 as the highest female goalscorer in the world in 2023, but some still wondered how well she’d fare in the NWSL. She answered those doubts swiftly.

EVENTS
Footy & Flavors

Your Fall plans are sorted. 5ASIDE Media and Cafe Erzulie in Brooklyn are coming together for an excellent series of soccer events over the next three months.

Whether you’re looking for some good food, itching to hear some new music, just hoping to make new friends, or simply seeking to root for your favorite soccer team, this space is for you.

Check out the schedule of events here. Marquee European football games, excellent food, and great vibes are guaranteed.

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you who you thought was the best Latino player in MLS history. Here are some of your answers:

• “Marco Etcheverry was an incredible player and competitor. He was so competitive that in his first season, he allegedly offered to help pay for the transfer fee to get there.” - S

• “Magico Gonzalez.* Diego [Maradona] said he was one of the 10 best players he’d ever seen.” - Toby

• “Vela.” - Ed

• “Not even close amigos. El Pibe by a long stretch!!!!” - Cornejo

In the poll, “Carlos Valderrama” and “Marco Etcheverry” tied for first place with 28% of the vote each. Both deserve to be up there, but as a DC United fan, I have a soft spot for Etcheverry. I’ll cast a deciding vote in his favor (I’m very biased).

*Magico Gonzalez never played in MLS, but he’s a legend of the sport in Concacaf and beyond. By far one of the best Central American players of all time.

UP NEXT
Goodbye NYC

Great views before saying bye to NYC. We got to catch our friends from Legends Bar playing in a local match under the Manhattan Bridge a couple of days ago. It doesn’t get better than that.

Now, it’s back home for most of us, and we’ll start putting together everything we shot over the past two weeks. We’re excited to start releasing our upcoming projects next month…

Enjoying This?

Make sure to forward this email to a friend and help us spread the soccer gospel far and wide! We’ll see you next week with even more untold stories of soccer.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pablo