Fall River Marksmen, Circa 1921

Revs Should Complement New Uniforms with Throwbacks

The New England Revolution introduced their 2012 uniforms to the public on Saturday.

And though I can't say I'm a big fan of the new threads,* I was disappointed for another reason: The New England Revolution (and the MLS in general) appear to be missing an opportunity to introduce most of its fans to a rich history of American soccer that predates both the MLS and the NASL by complementing their 2012 jerseys with a jersey that gives a nod to, say, 1921, the year in which professional teams in leagues such as the American Soccer League kicked off the "Golden Age of American Soccer."

An exhaustive search on the Maine Memory Network Web site yields but one lone photograph of a soccer game between those hotbeds of Maine soccer, Biddeford and Saco, circa 1912. And if American soccer ever gets face time on ESPN Classic, you're more likely to hear the live play-by-play call of a late-night international against Grenada than you are to hear a leather-throated baritone conducting a melodramatic voiceover about the spectacular exploits of Archie Stark.

Considering this mass media and cultural blackout blanketing the history of soccer in America, it's no wonder that even the most passionate soccer fans among us possess a gap in our knowledge, an ignorance of the long roots of professional soccer in the U.S.

The Revolution, then, would do well by taking at least one home game to adopt the throwback uniforms of the Fall River Marksmen (see above) and give us fans an excuse to talk and learn about how this sport has a much richer history in this country than a lot of us appreciate.

Until that happens, though, I suppose I'd settle for the Revolution to take a cue from the Philadelphia Union and at least recognize on their Web site that professional soccer in New England did not just begin with the birth of the MLS in 1995.

- John C.L. Morgan

* Despite my lack of enthusiasm for the new uniforms, I do appreciate the Revolution's efforts to incorporate the flag of New England on the back of the jerseys. It's small, but the official adoption of iconic regional imagery is another step in the right direction for a team still looking to be considered part of the so-called MLS 2.0 brand.

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Maine Sunday Telegram All-State, MVP Announced

The high school boys' player of the year and All-State selections are listed here, and the girls' honorees are listed here.

- John C.L. Morgan

2011 WHS Boys' Varsity Soccer Post-Season Awards

Robert "Soup" Jordan Award
Named in honor of Robert "Soup" Jordan, the Westbrook High School boys' soccer coach from the program's inception in 1973 until the early 1980s, the long-tenured annual Robert "Soup" Jordan Award will recognize the best player from the Westbrook v. Bonny Eagle game.

Sawyer Award
Named in honor of Geoff Sawyer ('96), the Westbrook soccer alumnus who holds the school record for the best single-season offensive output with 19 goals in 13 assists in 1994, the 1st annual Sawyer Award will go to the player who is chosen by the coach to be the Offensive Player of the Year.

Perkins Award
Named in honor of Galen Perkins ('09), the Westbrook soccer alumnus who holds the school record for the most shutouts in a single season (9 in 2008), the 1st annual Perkins Award will go to the player who is chosen by the coach to the be the Defensive Player of the Year.

Rand Award
Named in honor of Travis Rand ('07), the Westbrook soccer alumnus who was an All-New England selection in 2006, the 1st annual Rand Award will go to the player who is chosen by the coach for demonstrating capable leadership skills, a stellar work ethic, good decision-making skills, and strong team spirit.

- John C.L. Morgan

(Update: Kyle Gaudreau won the Robert "Soup" Jordan Award, Dylan Gillis won the Sawyer Award, Austin Watts won the Perkins Award, and Joe Quinlan won the Rand Award. All four players are part of the Class of '12.)