Brian D. Bunk
LightNews LightNews
banner
brianbunk.bsky.social
Brian D. Bunk
@brianbunk.bsky.social
1.6K followers 220 following 42 posts
I study the early history of soccer in the United States. My book "Beyond the Field. How Soccer Built Community in the United States" is available here: https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p088780
Posts Replies Media Videos
brianbunk.bsky.social
Here is an image for the book. Atlantic City Association Football Club in 1912. Organized by the Lodge of St. George
Photo postcard showing a soccer team posing for a team portrait. Eleven men are in uniform with white shirts and shorts. Five other men are wearing suits and there are four children in the picture
September 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
Brooklyn Hispano met Morgan Strasser Sweepers (Pittsburgh, PA) in the National Challenge Cup final. Polo grounds New York City, May 14, 1944. Hispano won 4-0. The man in uniform is British naval officer Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernie-Erle-Drax 1/2
Two soccer players in uniform stand on either side of a trophy called the Dewar Cup. One player's shirt reads Strasser Sweepers across the chest. A British flag hangs on the fence between the stands and the field. Standing behind the trophy in the stands is a man in a naval uniform with a white cap. Other members of the crowd can be seen in the background
August 12, 2025 at 7:43 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
The Sons of Malta or Melita (the name of the island in classical Latin), 1930. They played in San Francisco's second division alongside teams like Assyrians and Vikings. Like many ethnic clubs they were not too strict and by 1934 the squad included 5 Scots 1/2
A sepia toned photo of a soccer team on a field in front of a goal. They wear light and dark striped shirts with white shorts. A group of men holding instruments and a flag stand alongside them on the left
August 9, 2025 at 1:46 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
Hand colored postcard from 1920 featuring P. (or possibly R.) L. Carson of the Disston Boys Club, Philadelphia. 🪚
A young man standing on grass with a leather soccer ball at his feet. Trees and sidewalks can be seen in the background. The postcard has been hand colored. The grass and trees are a greenish-yellow. His shirt and socks are a burgundy red. He is wearing white shorts. At the center of the shirt is a keystone shape with the the letter D on top of the letters B and C
August 8, 2025 at 7:23 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
The Smith College image was made into a potential cover for my book "From Football to Soccer. The Early History of the Beautiful Game in the United States." Ultimately we went with a cropped version of one of my favorite soccer images 2/2

www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
Two soccer players challenge for the ball in the lower middle of the picture. Other players can be seen behind them. Two thirds of the photo is the sky. Apartment building can be seen in the distance and a smokestack.
August 7, 2025 at 7:56 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
Smith College students at soccer practice in Northampton, Massachusetts, 1927. 👩‍🎓 1/2
Students playing soccer at Smith College. One player has jumped up towards a ball and perhaps just headed it away. The large leather ball is in the upper half of the photo. She wears black bloomers with a white sweater. Two other players, one wearing a black jumper run alongside her. Houses can be seen in the background.
August 7, 2025 at 7:56 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
The 1930 Michigan State soccer Championship final pitted Holley Carburetor vs. Swedish American Athletic Association (aka the Vikings). The game took place on June 29 at Packard Park in Detroit. 1/2
A black and white photograph of a soccer game in progress. Several players can be seen on the field. Factories with smokestacks appear in the background. Fans line the sides of the field. Written across the top is State Final Holly C 1930
August 6, 2025 at 7:49 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
Vegaco was a butter substitute made by Crown Margarine Company of St. Louis. The soccer team formed c. 1920 and played in the Olympian or Independent League. They won the title in 1921-22 scoring a heart-stopping 153 goals in 22 games. 1/2
A group of soccer players stand on a dirt field in front of a wooden goal. Most of the players are wearing shirts with the word Vegeco across their chest. Text written on the image reads Vegaco's Independent Champions of the Southwest. St. Louis, MO 1921-1922. Broke independent record, scoring 153 goals in 22 games. 18 were won 4 were lost
August 5, 2025 at 5:34 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
Black Diamond soccer club of Washington. Surprise winners of the Northwestern Football League title in 1911-12. Great smile from Bob Proctor (middle row, second from right). Nicknamed the Babies because it was their first season in the competition 👶
Studio portrait of the Black Diamond soccer team wearing white shirts with a B and D on either side of a black diamond in the center. A trophy, soccer ball and board with medals sit on the floor in front. Men in suits and a boy stand on the sides of the players
August 4, 2025 at 7:21 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
The 1927 Ludlow Manufacturing Associates (LMA) soccer team from Massachusetts. LMA is still around today. The firm began sponsoring a team in 1920. The squad here finished second from the bottom, but somehow the keeper made the all league team. Nice work Dave Falconer 👋 1/2
A framed studio photograph of the Ludlow Manufacturing Associates soccer team. They are wearing light and dark vertical striped shirts. A ball with LMA 1927 written on it sits on the floor. One of the players is wearing glasses
August 3, 2025 at 1:44 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
Pullman FC posing with the Peel Cup they won in 1912. The winner of the trophy was recognized as Illinois state champion. One key player was the captain Ben Govier (kneeling second from left). Born in Scotland, Benny played for teams in Chicago and St. Louis
Photo of a soccer team posing with the Peel Cup. A number of other people are also pictured including three children. The trophy and the kids sit on a US flag.
August 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
Order from the press here: www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...

Other outlets may be able to ship in time for Father's Day.

For more US soccer history read From Football to Soccer. The Early History of the Beautiful Game in the United States: www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
A graphic on a yellow background with the tagline Rediscovering soccer's long history in the U.S. There is a 3D version of the cover of the book From Football to Soccer. The Early History of the Beautiful Game in the United States. It says University of Illinois Press along the bottom
June 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
The chapters are not a complete history of each location. There are no league tables or lists of goal scorers. Each chapter tells tales of clubs and cups, wins and losses, but also of joy and sorrow off the field.
The back of a postcard with the following written in large letters in pencil: Denver Soccer Football Team 1911 Champs along with the names of the players and their positions below
June 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
The book is written for a broad audience and has chapters on: Pawtucket (RI), Barre (VT), Scranton, Buffalo, Miami, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, Portland, San Francisco, Alameda (CA) and Honolulu
A black and white postcard of a soccer team in dark and light stripped shirts with the words Miami Association Football Club written along the bottom
June 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
Today is the official publication day of my new book: Beyond the Field. How Soccer Built Community in the United States. It tells the stories of less well known soccer communities around the USA
A 3D image of the cover of the book Beyond the Field how Soccer Built Community in the United States. A black and white photo of a soccer team is on the cover and it has a green background with the outline of a soccer field
June 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
I used the original in my book chapter on US soccer during WWI. You can purchase the book here: www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
A soccer team stands on a field with buildings in the background. They have USA and 42 printed on the front of thier shirts. U.S. Soccer team at Bonn is printed across the top of the image
April 10, 2025 at 7:32 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
The new homage USMNT Retro 1916 t-shirt includes part of an image of a US Army team at a match played in Bonn, Germany, in 1919. Original image from the Library of Congress. store.ussoccer.com/products/usa...
Two images. The left image shows two men in soccer uniforms kneeling printed on a blue t-shirt. The image on the right shows the original photo of the two men kneeling. The letters USA are across the chest of the shirt
April 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
My new book should be out in about 6 months! I believe you can pre-order here: www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
Title page of book manuscript page proofs. The book is Beyond the Field How Soccer Built Community in the United States by Brian D. Bunk and will be published by the University of Illinois Press.
December 5, 2024 at 7:04 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
I saw them the day before in Minneapolis
A ticket stub from a concert at the Cabooze in Minneapolis by the Circle Jerks and 7 Seconds on July 7, 1988. Price $8.00
November 16, 2024 at 8:31 PM
brianbunk.bsky.social
Mostly I work on the early history of soccer, but here is something on the Hartford Hellions. The team played in the Major Indoor Soccer League for just two seasons 1979-81. www.ussoccerhistory.org/burn-em-up-h...
A person in a red devil suit standing with its left foot on a black and white soccer ball. The word Hellions is written behind the figure in a font meant to represent smoke
November 12, 2024 at 6:19 PM