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The quick birth and death of a Golden Age pro league
Posted on Sept. 4, 2025, 9:10 a.m. | Categories: Chicago SLSL St. LouisOn August 15, 1926, officials from the St. Louis Soccer League (SLSL) traveled to Chicago to discuss an inter-city league with officials of the Chicago Soccer League. President Winton E. Barker, treasurer Phil A. Riley, and secretary J.G. Barrett were the three board members of The Soccer and Exhibition Company of St. Louis (the company which operated the St. Louis Soccer League) which represented the four St. Louis professional soccer franchises in the meeting. The Chicago Soccer League, the city’s major soccer league, was also only composed of four pro teams.
Part of the impetus to organize the WSCA was that the SLSL has closed a deal to use Sportsman’s Park for its 1926-27 season. Bringing in big name Chicago clubs would help to fill the big league park.
That day, the St. Louis and Chicago officials formed the new Western Soccer Cup Association (WSCA). The four Chicago clubs (Bricklayers, Thistles, Sparta A.C., and Canadian Club) would join with the four St. Louis clubs (Ben Millers, Raticans, Wellston F.C., and White Banner Malts) to engage in a 49-game league schedule.
The championship would be based on a percentage basis rather than a points basis. League business would be conducted by two commissioners and a treasurer. Joseph Triner, president of the Sparta club, was named the Chicago Commissioner and Winton E. Barker was named the St. Louis Commissioner. Phil A. Riley was elected as the WSCA treasurer. In case of a dispute where the two commissioners were at odds, a decision on that issue would fall to Armstrong Patterson, the second vice president of the U.S.F.A. Armstrong was therefore considered the High Commissioner of the WSCA.
The WSCA also instituted a rule allowing three substitutions for each game. All eight teams would continue to compete in the National Challenge Cup. And, in case of extremely bad weather in Chicago, doubleheaders would be held in St. Louis.
The WSCA officials organized a schedule that began on Sunday, October 24, 1926 and ended on Sunday, January 23, 1927. The league also scheduled a number of friendlies with A.C. Sparta of Prague. That club would play against an All-Star team on October 17 at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis after two games in Chicago. That match drew 8000 who saw A.C. Sparta defeat the All-St. Louis squad 5-3.
Inaugural games of the WSCA were held on October 24. At Sportsman’s Park, 1800 saw Wellston F.C. beat the Raticans 3-2 and Ben Miller defeat Sparta A.C. 4-2. At Chicago’s Sparta Field, the Bricklayers and Thistle played to a scoreless draw while the White Banner Malts beat the Canadian Club 2-0.
The following Sunday at DePaul Field in Chicago, 1200 were in attendance to see Sparta A.C. blank the Canadian Club 5-0 and the Bricklayers defeat Ben Miller 3-1. That same day in St. Louis, the White Banner Malts defeated the Raticans 3-0 and the Thistles and Wellston F.C. fought to a scoreless draw before 2000 at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis.
Week three of the WSCA saw the biggest crowds for the league. On Sunday, November 7, the 2500 in attendance saw Wellston F.C. beat Ben Miller 2-1 and the Bricklayers blank the White Banner Malts 3-0. In Chicago had an even bigger showing when the Canadian Club and Thistles drew 1-1 and Sparta A.C. crushed the Raticans 8-0 before 3500 at Sparta Field.
The next Sunday, the Bricklayers had an easy 6-0 victory over Wellston F.C. at DePaul Field and the Thistles drew Sparta A.C. 3-3 at Sparta Field. Things didn’t go well in St. Louis where the doubleheader between Ben Miller versus White Banner Malts and the Canadian Club versus the Raticans had to be postponed due to rain and muddy grounds at Sportsman’s Park.
Those turned out to be the final matches for the league as the Western Soccer Cup Association disbanded a day or two laters due to the withdrawal of the four Chicago clubs. Games were played at a loss in St. Louis and had relatively small crowds in Chicago. Winton E. Barker received a wire from W.R. Cummings, the secretary of the WSCA, stating a desire of the Chicago officials to discontinue the league.
The St. Louis and Chicago teams would re-start their respective local pro leagues in short order. The SLSL was quickly re-organized and, following a postponement of a week due to snow, began play just two weeks after the folding of the WSCA.
Last modified on Sept. 4, 2025, 9:13 a.m.