Extra IL coalfield history-May Day posts:
The Coal Mine wars of the 1930’s had workers fighting workers (and National Guard) in service of mine owners. Tovey had very competitive men's soccer from 1916-1940’s. Tovey was where, Andrew Gyenes, became an early victim of the wars.

Is it: “History repeats itself” or “History doesn’t repeat itself but it rhymes”?
On May 5, 2024 Chicago House AC men's 1st team takes on United Serbian SC in a repeat of our 2023 Amateur Cup match.
House will be looking for a Twain result after last year's 2-1 loss.
#CHACHistory

Extra IL coalfield history-May Day posts:
In 1932 The Progressive Miners of America were founded in Gillespie, IL after decades of worker discontent. As quality soccer was being played in coalfields, the Taylorville area was at the center of the conflict known as the 'Coal Wars.'

Extra IL coalfield history-May Day posts:
In Illinois coalfields, for decades, coal mining companies used economic disparity, race and immigration to divide communities (sound familiar?). Many Illinois miners realized that solidarity among workers was greater than those divisions

Extra IL coalfield history:
In 1880’s-90’s Braidwood, IL was one of the 1st soccer hotbeds in Midwest USA. Soccer was ingrained in the culture of coalfield towns, and it was played by everyone, regardless of gender, as this 1933 U of I grad and Czech Braidwood resident shows.

52 Weeks of IL mining towns soccer history Post 15: EXTRA Braidwood
Thanks to peter wilt (and Alanis Morrisette), I’m not positive if this is irony, coincidence or anecdote, but Giuseppe Zangara, the man killed by the state of Florida for shooting Cermak was…a Bricklayer. 3/

This video definitely has me looking forward to FootyCon 2024 in June!!

Extra IL coalfield history:
In 1920’s, while MLB was using their platform to promote racism, lower league baseball, while not equitable, had Black athletes competing.
For example, in 1927, Chicago Union Giants, led by Frank Peters, played Braidwood during Labor Day celebrations.

Extra IL coalfields history:

Conflict between labor and capital in IL coalfields during the very competitive soccer period, and prior, was rife. In Braidwood, when miners organized, mine owners deceived workers from disadvantaged communities with false promises of stable jobs.

#USOC2024 Round 1: Minnesota United FC 2 handled last year’s Cinderella Chicago House AC, 3-0, on a cold night last week. First team loan Jordan Adebayo-Smith earned a hat-trick for MNUFC2 in front of over 400 fans in Elmhurst, IL.

Recap by Tom Arnison 📽️ ⚽: thecup.us/2024/03/22/202…