November 17 (1904)

Galt of Ontario, Canada, defeats St. Rose of St. Louis, 4-0, at Francis Field to win the “gold medal” in the Olympics held concurrently with the St. Louis World’s Fair. Soccer is a demonstration sport at the Olympics. Only one other team participates: Christian Brothers College of St. Louis. Team entries were held open until Nov. 12, but high travel costs prevented other out-of-town teams from entering, and the amateurs-only rule keeps out any clubs with paid players. Galt, one of Canada’s better teams, had won the Ontario championship three consecutive seasons starting in 1901. The Canadians smashed CBC, 7-0, on Nov. 16, but have a tougher time with St. Rose. The teams play a scoreless first half, but “the local team was totally outclassed by the crack Canadians,” according to the Nov. 18, 1904, edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, in the last 30 minutes. (The Olympic soccer matches consisted of 30-minute halves instead of 45-minute halves.) Galt receives the “gold medal” after beating St. Rose for winning both of its Olympic demonstration matches. CBC and St. Rose will battle to a scoreless tie in the second-place game on Nov. 18. The game will be called after three overtimes. St. Rose’s Tom Cook will break a leg during the game. Rules do not allow for substitutions, but CBC sportingly will allow St. Rose to replace Cook. CBC will win the replay, and the “silver medal,” with a 2-0 victory on Nov. 23. Soccer will become an official Olympic sport in 1908. The gold medalist in 1908 and after will be regarded as soccer’s world champions until the World Cup begins in 1930.