Thomas Cahill (soccer) facts for kids
Thomas W. Cahill was a very important person in the history of soccer in the United States. He helped create and organize soccer in the U.S. before World War II. Cahill started the United States Football Association in 1913. This group later became the United States Soccer Federation. He was also the first coach of the United States men's national soccer team in 1916. In 1950, he was honored in the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Sports
Thomas Cahill was born in New York City in 1864. When he was seven, his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. He went to St. Louis University.
Cahill was known as a great amateur athlete. He loved running and baseball. But he became very interested in soccer after watching a team from Toronto play.
In 1897, Cahill started his own soccer team called St. Louis Shamrocks. They played in the St. Louis Association Foot Ball League. His team won the league championship in 1899 and 1900. He also managed other teams, like St. Louis Spalding's and Diel F.C.
Building Soccer in the U.S.
In 1910, Cahill moved to Newark, New Jersey. He had a big goal: to create a national group to lead soccer in the United States.
Forming a National Soccer Group
Cahill was a key founder of the American Amateur Football Association (AAFA). This group wanted to be the official national soccer organization. In 1912, Cahill traveled to Stockholm to meet with FIFA. He asked FIFA to recognize the AAFA as the main soccer group in the U.S. Another group, the American Football Association, also wanted this honor. FIFA asked them to work together.
Cahill succeeded in his goal! On April 5, 1913, the United States Football Association (USFA) was formed. This meeting happened at the Astor House hotel in New York. The USFA later changed its name to the United States Soccer Federation. Cahill worked as the Executive Secretary for the USFA three times: from 1913 to 1921, in 1923-1924, and again in 1928.
First U.S. National Team Coach
In 1916, Thomas Cahill became the very first coach of the United States men's national soccer team. He took the team on a trip to Scandinavia. The U.S. team played its first official international game on August 20, 1916. They played against Sweden in Stockholm and won 3–2! Goals were scored by Dick Spalding, Charles Ellis, and Harry Cooper.
Starting the American Soccer League
Cahill also helped create the American Soccer League in 1921. This was the first serious try at having a professional soccer league in the U.S. He was the league's secretary from 1921 to 1926.
The American Soccer League was very popular for several years. Its popularity was even close to that of the National Football League. However, disagreements with the United States Football Association and the start of the Great Depression led to the league ending in 1933.
Thomas Cahill passed away in 1951. He left a lasting impact on soccer in the United States.
Works
Thomas Cahill also edited several books about soccer. These books were part of the Spalding Athletic Library collection.
- Spalding Athletic Library collection, Official soccer football guide, 1914-1915
