Sam Fletcher (soccer) explained

Sam Fletcher
Fullname:Samuel Fletcher
Birth Place:Manchester, England
Death Place:Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.
Position:Full back
Years1:1911
Years2:1912
Years3:–1914
Years4:1914–1921
Years5:1921–1923
Years6:1923–1924
Years7:1924–1928
Years8:1928–1929
Clubs1:Independent Labour
Clubs2:Hamilton Lancashire
Clubs3:Niagara Falls Rangers
Clubs4:Bethlehem Steel
Clubs5:Harrison S.C.
Clubs6:Newark Skeeters
Clubs7:Providence F.C.
Clubs8:Providence Gold Bugs
Caps5:20
Caps6:23
Caps7:45
Caps8:2
Goals5:1
Goals6:0
Goals7:0
Goals8:0
Manageryears1:1924–1928
Manageryears2:1925–1945
Managerclubs1:Providence F.C.
Managerclubs2:Brown University

Sam Fletcher (1890 – 22 January 1972) was an English footballer who played as a full back in England, Canada and the United States. He later coached the Brown University soccer team.

Player

Fletcher began his career in England, playing in the Manchester and District League. The League was experiencing difficulties which led to its suspending operations in 1912. Before that happened, Fletcher left England and emigrated to Canada in 1910. He settled in Hamilton, Ontario where he played for several teams including the Independent Labour Party Team and Hamilton Lancashire. At some point, he moved to the Niagara Falls Rangers which went to the semifinals of the 1914 National Challenge Cup.In October 1914, he signed with Bethlehem Steel, a powerhouse team playing in the Allied American Foot Ball League. He remained with Bethlehem for seven seasons. During those years, Fletcher and Jock Ferguson anchored the Steelmen defense, taking the team to six league titles, four National Challenge Cups and four American Cups. In 1921, Fletcher left Bethlehem with the establishment of the first American Soccer League. He signed with Harrison S.C. and spent two seasons with the team before moving to the Newark Skeeters for the 1923–24 season.[1] In 1924, he became the player-coach of the expansion Providence F.C.[2] In 1928, the team was renamed the Gold Bugs under new ownership. Fletcher played two games that season, then retired.

Coach

In July 1924, Fletcher was hired to coach the newly established Providence F.C. He headed the team for at least four seasons.[3] In 1925, he added duties coaching the Brown University soccer team to his professional responsibilities. He held that position until Joe Kennaway replaced him in 1946.[4]

In addition to playing and coaching, Fletcher was also the ASL secretary in the early 1930s.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jose, Colin . American Soccer League, 1921-1931 . Hardback . The Scarecrow Press . 1998 . 0-8108-3429-4 . .
  2. "Providence Soccer Team To Play Boston Sunday". (August 29, 1924). Pawtucket Times, p.32 col.4
  3. Web site: July 28, 1924 The Globe . 2010-10-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091026161717/http://geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/gl072824.html . 26 October 2009 . dmy-all.
  4. http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/Databases/Encyclopedia/search.php?serial=S0290 Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Soccer