Extra IL coalfield history: Equity I've no record of 1930 #USMNT player Alex Wood actually playing a soccer match in town. However, Streator had a long history of soccer competition, including HS girls, despite limited resources, hosting an interscholastic tournament in 1939.

Extra IL coalfield history: Quality Sport Knockout games are a chance for players to prove their skill. When Eileen (1910 pop: ~600) drew 2-2 with South Wilmington in the inaugural Peel Cup game, Chuck O’Berta shined. He then had a career at highest levels of soccer in Midwest.

Extra IL coalfield history: Race Carbon Hill (1920 pop: 281) produced many excellent soccer players in the early 20th century. New immigrants, however, were not always welcomed. During an 1897 miner strike/lockout, newspapers reported Chinese miners would be met with violence.

Extra IL coalfield history: Holidays Soccer was a big event on holidays in the Illinois coal fields from 1880’s to Word War II: Decoration Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, etc. Christmas was no exception as this December 25th match between Coal City and Benld shows.

Extra, extra IL coalfield history: Holidays It could not have been easy for the Tallman family of Carbon Hill to choose who to root for on Christmas Day! In 1909, 3 Tallman's were on Coal City, while Will Tallman got a hat-trick for St. Leo’s in a 4-1 win for the Mound City men.

Extra IL coalfield history: Equity Males often coach female sports teams though women rarely get the opportunity to coach male athletes. Elvira “Tiny” Vidano, whose father Barney was a coalfield soccer legend, bucked that trend and made national news as a boys basketball coach.

For the past year, I've posted every Tuesday and Friday highlighting the depth of soccer history in Illinois. I will continue sharing research via "Soccer History Lives Here" FB page as well as soccerhistoryliveshere.com website I’m developing in 2025. #SupportLocalSoccer