Eastern Soccer League II
EASTERN SOCCER LEAGUE II
The second league to carry the name Eastern Soccer League was formed in 1928
as a result of a dispute between members of the American Soccer League I.
New York Giants, Bethlehem Steel, and Newark defied the ASL I and entered
for the US Open Cup. The league suspended them, and as a result, the USFA
formed the EPSL II, which also added teams from the Southern New York State
Association (SNYSA). This league played in the 1928-1929 season, also also
played in the fall of 1929, at which time, peace was made between the two
rivals, and the EPSL II merged with the ASL I to form the Atlantic Coast
League.
Point scoring system: 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss.
1928/29
First Half (as of 12/28/28)
GP W L D Pts. Pct.
Bethlehem Steel 15 14 1 0 28 .933
New York Giants 18 11 5 2 24 .667
Hakoah All-Stars 18 10 4 4 24 .667
Newark Skeeters 14 3 6 5 11 .393
IRT. Rangers 15 5 9 1 11 .367
Philadelphia Centennials 14 3 7 5 10 .357
New York Hispano 14 2 10 2 6 .214
New York Celtics 8 0 6 2 2 .125
This was a 20 game season. Bethlehem Steel went 5-0
for their remaining games.
Second Half (as of 4/29/1929)
GP W L T GF GA PTS
New York Hakoah 18 12 2 4 68 23 28
Bethlehem Steel 15 9 2 4 41 21 22
IRT Rangers 13 7 5 1 30 30 15
New York Hungaria 16 6 8 2 31 44 14
New York Giants 15 6 8 1 52 24 13
New Bedford Whalers 8 6 1 1 26 14 13
New York Hispano 16 4 11 1 36 49 9
Philadelphia Centennials 12 3 9 0 24 50 6
Newark Skeeters 9 0 7 2 9 30 2
New York Celtics (Disbanded after two months)
CHAMPION: Bethlehem Steel.
After the season, Philadelphia, New York Celtics and New Bedford withdrew.
1929 (fall)
Before the season, New York Hungaria became Victoria Hungaria.
GP W L T Pts Pct.
Bethlehem Steel 13 11 2 0 22 .846
Hakoah All Stars 12 9 2 1 19 .792
New York Giants 12 8 2 2 18 .750
Newark Portuguese 11 4 4 3 11 .500
New York Hispano 10 3 5 2 8 .400
Victoria Hungaria 12 3 7 2 8 .333
Newark Skeeters 8 0 7 1 1 .063
IRT Rangers 10 0 9 1 1 .050
These standings are apparently complete outside of a Bethlehem vs.
Portuguese game.
After this fall season, ESL, ASL and USFA settled their Soccer War
disputes, and the EPSL was disbanded, with teams returning to their
former leagues. New York Hakoah also joined the ASL, which renamed
itself the Atlantic Coast league for the 1929-30 season.