April 5 (1913)

The United States Football Association (today’s U.S. Soccer Federation) is formed in New York City, largely through the efforts of former St. Louis resident Tom Cahill (pictured). Cahill lived in St. Louis for almost 40 years and played as well as promoted soccer in St. Louis. He formed the Shamrocks, which won city championships in 1898 and 1899, and was instrumental in bringing the Pilgrims, an English team, to St. Louis for a series of exhibition games with St. Louis teams in 1905 and 1909. The Pilgrims profoundly influenced the style of play in St. Louis to a less physical and more skillful game. Cahill moved to New Jersey in 1910. He will be the U.S. Football Association’s first secretary from 1913-24 and will serve a second term from 1927-30. Called at the time “the father of American soccer,” Cahill will organize the first U.S. Men’s National Team in 1916 and will form the professional American Soccer League in the Northeast in 1921. Cahill will be inducted into the first class of the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 1950.