Category: European Theater of Operations (ETO) Football Championship

Army Wolverines European Theater of Operations Football Team in Northern Ireland Winter 1944

Results

Army Wolverines European Theater of Operations Northern Ireland Championship Results Winter 1944
Match Day Potato Bowl
(Potato Bowl)
0 - 0

Navy Galloping Gaels vs Army Wolverines

View all events

Recap

In the big New Years’ Day Bowl Game in the European Theater of Operations Football Championship of Winter 1944, Navy Galloping Gaels tied 0-0 with Army Wolverines in the home ground of Newry Town Football Club (Soccer), which was designated “Lone Star Field” for the day. The game was billed as the “Championship of Northern Ireland”.

Home Field – “Lone Star Field” – Newry Town FC, Co. Down.

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Massimo Foglio with Mark L. Ford (2015) “Winter Football 1944 – Bowl Games and Professionals” Touchdown in Europe: How American Football Came to the Old Continent. pg. 62.

Websites

[4] Lucky Show (2016) American Football in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.luckyshow.org/football/Shamrock%20Bowl.htm [Accessed 5 June 2017]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Tim Leadingham (Tallaght Outlaws).

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 3 January 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2022

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

Tech Fighting Irish Team Roster and Match Reports 1942

Results

Tech Fighting Irish European Theater of Operations Football Championship Results Autumn 1942
Match Day Game 2
(Game 2)
14 - 0

Yarvard Crimson Tide vs Tech Fighting Irish

View all events

Players List

Tech Fighting Irish v Yarvard 1942

#PlayerPositionTDFGSafetyPAT2XP
Ernest PassimoniQuarterback00000
Carl BarkerWide receiver00000

Recap

Tech Fighting Irish played in the second ever European Theater of Operations Football Championship game in Northern Ireland on 21 November 1942 [1-8]. A team of United States Military Men stationed in Northern Ireland for World War II they were defeated by Yarvard Crimson Tide, another US Military Team stationed in Northern Ireland. Ernest Passimoni was the Fighting Irish Quarterback and was sacked for a safety by the Crimson Tide [1]. Tech nearly scored a touchdown in the first half when Carl Barker almost caught a Passimoni pass but it “skidded through his fingers” [1]

References

Bibliography

[1] Massimo Foglio with Mark L. Ford (2015) “Second World War Part One: Americans on the British Isles 1942-1943 – November 21 1942 – Inver Park, Larne, Northern Ireland – Yarvard 14 Tech Fighting Irish 0” Touchdown in Europe: How American Football Came to the Old Continent. pg. 51-52.

WEBSITES

[2] Irish American Football Association (2016) Journey to Thirty [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/journeyto-thirty/ [Accessed 08 August 2016]

[3] Irish American Football Association (2016) History of US Teams playing in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/history-of-us-teams-playing-in-ireland/ [Accessed 22 November 2016]

[4] Irish American Football Association (2016) History [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/iafl/history.htm [Accessed 26 October 2016]

[5] Lucky Show (2016) American Football in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.luckyshow.org/football/Shamrock%20Bowl.htm [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[6] Dublin Town – Article by Gerry Farrell (2016) College Football Classic Ireland’s Relationship with American Football [Internet] Available from: http://www.dublintown.ie/irelands-relationship-with-american-football/ [Accessed 7 May 2018]

Newspapers

[7] Anon. (1942) . “Photo caption: American Football at Ravenhill”. Belfast News-Letter. Monday, 16 November 1942. pg. 6.

[8] Anon. (1942) “American Football: Large Attendance expected at Ravenhill” Belfast News-Letter. Saturday, 14 November 1942. pg. 4

Academic Articles

[10] Magee, Damian. “English Beer and American Football: Exporting American Football as a Cultural Commodity to the British Isles.” Irish Journal of American Studies, vol. 7, 1998, pp. 121–148. JSTOR, JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30002410.

SOCIAL MEDIA

[13] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Post 22 August 2019: “ So this is the last of the photos in the archive, it’s of the Yarvard team at Sandy Bay, Larne Harbour on the 21st November 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

[14] Belfast Blitzers | Faacebook (2019) Post 22 August 2019: “So this is the last of the photos in the archive, it’s of the Yarvard team at Sandy Bay, Larne Harbour on the 21st November 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/rpp.454643317980162/2260507354060407/?type=3&theater[Accessed 23 August 2019]

IMAGES

[14] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Photo 22 August 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Tim Leadingham (Tallaght Outlaws).

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 3 January 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2022

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

Yarvard at Inver Park, Larne, 21 November 1942

Yarvard Crimson Tide European Theater of Operations Football Team in Northern Ireland 1942

Results

Yarvard Crimson Tide European Theater of Operations Football Championship Team 1942
Match Day Game 1
(Game 1)
9 - 7

Hale Blue Devils vs Yarvard Crimson Tide

Match Day Game 2
(Game 2)
14 - 0

Yarvard Crimson Tide vs Tech Fighting Irish

View all events

Players List

Yarvard Crimson Tide at Ravenhill 1942

#PlayerPositionTDFGSafetyPAT2XPWeight
Anton S VerbeckQuarterback00000165
John HenryWide receiver10000-
1Robert D HopferFullback10000200
2Armando LopezRight Halfback00000180
3Anton S VerbickLeft Halfback00000165
4Jay A WrightQuarterback10010185
5James E TemenskiRight Halfback00000198
6Rush M MooreLeft Halfback00000190
7Paul W DennisQuarterback00000155
8Walter A WashburnFullback00000230
9Richard E Whalen00000165
10Atlee V HummelEnd00000180
11James B Bashman JrEnd00000190
12William F EckEnd00000175
13John L WallGuard00000-
14Leslie C ShultzGuard00000175
15Paul A McGonigalTackle00000-
16Martin HowerGuard00000180
17Frederick D FaulsTackle00000180
18Frank A FemtonTackle00000185
19Leroy M JerlesGuard00000190
20Ralph W MooreTackle00000190
21John L Trunick JrCenter00000184
22Joseph D BaxterGuard00000196
23Edward PetrickLeft Halfback00000190
24Eugene E HeathTackle00000180
25George A DupakFullback00000195
26Henry E ZentnerCenter00000175
27Walter C SzymkowiczQuarterback00000175
28Harvey J KiserTackle00000215
29Charles R RenningerQuarterback00000150
30Frank M JasoEnd00000160
31Thomas F SaxtonGuard00000158
32Leroy C NymanCenter00000185
33Joseph B WetzelTackle00000170
34Joseph J KosolowskiGuard00000180
35Albert D BoshnettCenter00000185

Team Photo

Yarvard at Inver Park, Larne, 21 November 1942
Yarvard at Inver Park, Larne, 21 November 1942. Reference: [14]

Recap

The Yarvard team at Ravenhill in Belfast – the home of Ulster Rugby – played in the first ever known game of American Football in Ireland on 14 November 1942. The Crimson Tide as they were known as lost 7-9 to Hale Blue Devils in the first European Theater of Operations Football Championship, held over Autumn 1942. These players were among the first United States Military to arrive in Europe for World War II and Robert Hopfer scored a Touchdown for the Crimson Tide which was converted by Jay Wright to give them a 7-6 lead in the second quarter.

They were to lose the game in the end, however a week later in Inver Park, Larne, they defeated the Tech Fighting Irish 14-0 thanks to two Touchdowns from John Henry (a pass from Anton Verbeck) and Jay Wright (an interception return) either side of a safety scored when the Tide tackled Tech’s Quarterback in the endzone.

Note: For full Match Reports and scorers please click on the individual matches in the above list to be brought to the article on those games.

REFERENCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Massimo Foglio with Mark L. Ford (2015) “Second World War Part One: Americans on the British Isles 1942-1943 – November 14 1942 – Ravenhill, Belfast, Northern Ireland – Hale 9 Yarvard 7” Touchdown in Europe: How American Football Came to the Old Continent. pg. 49-51.

WEBSITES

[1] Irish American Football Association (2016) Journey to Thirty [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/journeyto-thirty/ [Accessed 08 August 2016]

[2] Irish American Football Association (2016) History of US Teams playing in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/history-of-us-teams-playing-in-ireland/ [Accessed 22 November 2016]

[3] Irish American Football Association (2016) History [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/iafl/history.htm [Accessed 26 October 2016]

[4] Lucky Show (2016) American Football in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.luckyshow.org/football/Shamrock%20Bowl.htm [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[5] Dublin Town – Article by Gerry Farrell (2016) College Football Classic Ireland’s Relationship with American Football [Internet] Available from: http://www.dublintown.ie/irelands-relationship-with-american-football/ [Accessed 7 May 2018]

NEWSPAPERS

[7] Anon. (1942) . “Photo caption: American Football at Ravenhill”. Belfast News-Letter. Monday, 16 November 1942. pg. 6.

[8] Anon. (1942) “American Football: Large Attendance expected at Ravenhill” Belfast News-Letter. Saturday, 14 November 1942. pg. 4

ACADEMIC ARTICLES

[10] Magee, Damian. “English Beer and American Football: Exporting American Football as a Cultural Commodity to the British Isles.” Irish Journal of American Studies, vol. 7, 1998, pp. 121–148. JSTOR, JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30002410.

SOCIAL MEDIA

[13] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Post 22 August 2019: “ So this is the last of the photos in the archive, it’s of the Yarvard team at Sandy Bay, Larne Harbour on the 21st November 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

[14] Belfast Blitzers | Faacebook (2019) Post 22 August 2019: “So this is the last of the photos in the archive, it’s of the Yarvard team at Sandy Bay, Larne Harbour on the 21st November 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/rpp.454643317980162/2260507354060407/?type=3&theater[Accessed 23 August 2019]

IMAGES

[15] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Photo 22 August 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Tim Leadingham (Tallaght Outlaws).

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 3 January 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2022

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

ETO European Theater of Operations Northern Ireland Championship Winter 1944

Schedule

ETO European Theater of Operations Northern Ireland Championship Spring 1944
Match Day Potato Bowl
(Potato Bowl)
0 - 0

Navy Galloping Gaels vs Army Wolverines

Report

In the big New Years’ Day Bowl Game in the European Theater of Operations Football Championship of Winter 1944, Navy Galloping Gaels tied 0-0 with Army Wolverines in the home ground of Newry Town Football Club (Soccer), which was designated “Lone Star Field” for the day. The game was billed as the “Championship of Northern Ireland”.

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Massimo Foglio with Mark L. Ford (2015) “Winter Football 1944 – Bowl Games and Professionals” Touchdown in Europe: How American Football Came to the Old Continent. pg. 62.

Websites

[4] Lucky Show (2016) American Football in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.luckyshow.org/football/Shamrock%20Bowl.htm [Accessed 5 June 2017]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Tim Leadingham (Tallaght Outlaws).

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 7 September 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2021

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

ETO Championship Hale 9 Yarvard 7 at Ravenhill 14 November 1942

European Theater of Operations Football Championship Northern Ireland Autumn 1942

Schedule

Note: Please click on the results below to see a full match report and box-score for the games in question.

European Theater of Operations Football Championship Autumn 1942
(Game 1)
9 - 7

Hale Blue Devils vs Yarvard Crimson Tide

(Game 2)
14 - 0

Yarvard Crimson Tide vs Tech Fighting Irish

Note: If you are viewing this article in an email application the results may not show up. In the event this occurs please click on the article title in the email to be brought to the Eirball article itself on the Eirball article where the article may be viewed in full.

Report

The United States Army stationed in Northern Ireland during World War II played two games of American Football before spectators – the first at Ravenhill, Belfast – the home of Ulster Rugby – where Hale Blue Devils (Service Unit) defeated Yarvard Crimson Tide (Artillery Unit) 9-7 and the second at Inver Park, Larne, where Yarvard won 14-0 versus Tech Fighting Irish (Engineering).

The Hale Blue Devils v Yarvard Crimson Tide game at Ravenhill, Belfast on November 14, 1942. [References: 15]

References

Bibliography

[1] Massimo Foglio with Mark L. Ford (2015) “Second World War Part One: Americans on the British Isles 1942-1943 – November 14 1942 – Ravenhill, Belfast, Northern Ireland – Hale 9 Yarvard 7” Touchdown in Europe: How American Football Came to the Old Continent. pg. 49-51.

[1] Massimo Foglio with Mark L. Ford (2015) “Second World War Part One: Americans on the British Isles 1942-1943 – November 21 1942 – Inver Park, Larne, Northern Ireland – Yarvard 14 Tech 0” Touchdown in Europe: How American Football Came to the Old Continent. pg. 51-52.

WEBSITES

[1] Irish American Football Association (2016) Journey to Thirty [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/journeyto-thirty/ [Accessed 08 August 2016]

[2] Irish American Football Association (2016) History of US Teams playing in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/history-of-us-teams-playing-in-ireland/ [Accessed 22 November 2016]

[3] Irish American Football Association (2016) History [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/iafl/history.htm [Accessed 26 October 2016]

[4] Lucky Show (2016) American Football in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.luckyshow.org/football/Shamrock%20Bowl.htm [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[5] Dublin Town – Article by Gerry Farrell (2016) College Football Classic Ireland’s Relationship with American Football [Internet] Available from: http://www.dublintown.ie/irelands-relationship-with-american-football/ [Accessed 7 May 2018]

Newspapers

[7] Anon. (1942) . “Photo caption: American Football at Ravenhill”. Belfast News-Letter. Monday, 16 November 1942. pg. 6.

[8] Anon. (1942) “American Football: Large Attendance expected at Ravenhill” Belfast News-Letter. Saturday, 14 November 1942. pg. 4

Academic Articles

[10] Magee, Damian. “English Beer and American Football: Exporting American Football as a Cultural Commodity to the British Isles.” Irish Journal of American Studies, vol. 7, 1998, pp. 121–148. JSTOR, JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30002410.

SOCIAL MEDIA

[13] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Post 22 August 2019: “ So this is the last of the photos in the archive, it’s of the Yarvard team at Sandy Bay, Larne Harbour on the 21st November 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

[14] Belfast Blitzers | Faacebook (2019) Post 22 August 2019: “So this is the last of the photos in the archive, it’s of the Yarvard team at Sandy Bay, Larne Harbour on the 21st November 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/rpp.454643317980162/2260507354060407/?type=3&theater[Accessed 23 August 2019]

IMAGES

[15] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Photo 22 August 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Tim Leadingham (Tallaght Outlaws).

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 3 September 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2021

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

Yarvard at Inver Park, Larne, 21 November 1942

European Theater of Operations (ETO) Football Championship Autumn 1942

Results Autumn 1942

DateWinnersRunners-Up
Game 1Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
14.11.1942Hale Blue Devils9Yarvard Crimson Tide7
Game 2Inver Park, Larne
21.11.1942Yarvard Crimson Tide14Tech Fighting Irish0
European Theater of Operations (ETO) Football Championship Results Autumn 1942 [Ref: 1]

Report

From 1942-1943 the US Army played a series of American Football matches in Northern Ireland, Wales & England in aid of the Red Cross. Teams were named Tech (Engineering), Hale (Infantry) and Yarvard (Artillery).

Irish and British newspaper readers would have been familiar with reports in the papers of US College Football, and the team names reflect this (Yarvard and Hale are not mis-spellings, but the names reflect the Ivy League Colleges of Harvard and Yale, similarly Tech is a nod to the big American Tech Colleges.

Starting in Northern Ireland in 1942, matches were played at the home of Ulster Rugby, Ravenhill (Hale winning 9-7) and Larne (Yarvard getting a 14-0 win over Tech). 8, 000 turned up to see the Ravenhill game, and a full capacity 2,000 for the Larne match.

Yarvard Team at Sandy Bay, Larne, 1942 [14]

References

Websites

[1] Irish American Football Association (2016) Journey to Thirty [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/journeyto-thirty/ [Accessed 08 August 2016]

[2] Irish American Football Association (2016) History of US Teams playing in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/history-of-us-teams-playing-in-ireland/ [Accessed 22 November 2016]

[3] Irish American Football Association (2016) History [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/iafl/history.htm [Accessed 26 October 2016]

[4] Lucky Show (2016) American Football in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.luckyshow.org/football/Shamrock%20Bowl.htm [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[5] Dublin Town – Article by Gerry Farrell (2016) College Football Classic Ireland’s Relationship with American Football [Internet] Available from: http://www.dublintown.ie/irelands-relationship-with-american-football/ [Accessed 7 May 2018]

Sources.

[6] Anon. (1942) . “Photo caption: American Football att Ravenhill”. Belfast News-Letter. 16 November 1942. pg. 6.

[10] Magee, Damian. “English Beer and American Football: Exporting American Football as a Cultural Commodity to the British Isles.” Irish Journal of American Studies, vol. 7, 1998, pp. 121–148. JSTOR, JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30002410.

[11] Foglio, Massimo & Ford, Mark L. (2017) Touchdown in Europe – How American Football Came to the Old Continent. pg. 47-82. Published by the author.

Social Media

[12] Belfast Blitzers | Faacebook (2019) Post 22 August 2019: “ So this is the last of the photos in the archive, it’s of the Yarvard team at Sandy Bay, Larne Harbour on the 21st November 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

[13] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Post 22 August 2019: “So this is the last of the photos in the archive, it’s of the Yarvard team at Sandy Bay, Larne Harbour on the 21st November 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/rpp.454643317980162/2260507354060407/?type=3&theater[Accessed 23 August 2019]


Images

[14] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Photo 22 August 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Todd Zboyan, Sondra Maher, Rick Kelley & Tim Leadingham.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 2 November 2019-2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

European Theater of Operations (ETO) Football Championship Spring 1944

ETO Championship Playoffs Winter 1944

DateTeam 1Team 2
Fog Bowl (ETO Semi-Final) US Air Force Title
19.02.1944Photo Lighnting14Ordnance Mustangs0
ETO Semi-Final“SW Town”
27.02.19444th Infantry Blues32US Navy Seabees0
ETO Championship“SW Town”
12.03.19444th Infantry Blues208th Air Force Lightning0
European Theater of Operations (ETO) Football Championship Winter 1944 References: [1-5, 11]

Army v Navy Winter 1944

DateTeam 1Team 2
Arab BowlOran, Algeria
Army10Navy7
Northern Ireland ChampionshipLone Star Field, Newry
01.01.1944Navy Galloping Gaels0Army Wolverines0
European Theater of Operations (ETO) Army v Navy Winter 1944 References: [1-5, 11]

Canada v USA Winter 1944

DateTeam 1Team 2
Tea BowlWhite City Stadium
13.02.1944Canadian Mustangs16US Pirates6
Coffee BowlWhite City Stadium
19.03.1944US Blues18Canadian Mustangs0
European Theater of Operations (ETO) Canada v USA Winter 1944 References: [1-5, 11]

Blues v Invaders Winter 1944

DateTeam 1Team 2
BowlEastville Stadium, Bristol
06.02.19444th Infantry Blues28Invaders7
Bowl“SW Town”
26.03.19444th Infantry Blues27Invaders0
European Theater of Operations (ETO) Blues v Invaders Winter 1944 References: [1-5, 11]

Report

In 1944 Army & Navy (not the US Colleges, but Army & Navy Personnel stationed in Europe), played a 0-0 Tie in Newry, dubbed the Northern Ireland Championship. Navy were nicknamed the Galloping Gaels for the day. An interesting footnote to this era is the very first American Football game played in Africa, the Arab Bowl, played in Oran, Algeria, which Army won 10-7 over Navy.

There were also “Turkey Bowl” style games played between Canada and USA (finishing one game apiece), and the 4th Infantry Blues versus the Invaders, with the Blues winning both games.

The highlight, however, was the European Theater of Operations (ETO) Football Championship. After a series of Qualification games, 8th Air Force Lightning and 4th Infantry Blues met in the Final, which was won by the Blues 20-0.

References

Websites

[1] Irish American Football Association (2016) Journey to Thirty [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/journeyto-thirty/ [Accessed 08 August 2016]

[2] Irish American Football Association (2016) History of US Teams playing in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/history-of-us-teams-playing-in-ireland/ [Accessed 22 November 2016]

[3] Irish American Football Association (2016) History [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/iafl/history.htm [Accessed 26 October 2016]

[4] Lucky Show (2016) American Football in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.luckyshow.org/football/Shamrock%20Bowl.htm [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[5] Dublin Town – Article by Gerry Farrell (2016) College Football Classic Ireland’s Relationship with American Football [Internet] Available from: http://www.dublintown.ie/irelands-relationship-with-american-football/ [Accessed 7 May 2018]

Bibliography

[6] Foglio, Massimo & Ford, Mark L. (2017) Touchdown in Europe – How American Football Came to the Old Continent. pg. 47-82. Published by the author.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Todd Zboyan & Tim Leadingham.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 18 July 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

Hale Blue Devils | European Theater of Operations American Football Team in Ireland | Team Roster & Match Reports 1942

Week 1 – 14 November 1942 – Hale 9 Yarvard 7

The Hale Blue Devils went in front in the first quarter with a touchdown run by the small Sergeant Raymond Chandler. The Yarvard Crimson Tide had a good back themselves in Corporal Robert Hopfer, who ran nearly every possesion for them until he was taken out of the game by a hard tackle. Hopfer equalised for Yarvard and Corporal Jay Wright kicked the conversion to give them a 7-6 lead at halftime. [Reference: 9]

The Hale team changed tactics in the third quarter to a passing game, with Quarterback David Zywicki completing passes to Carpenter, halfback John Urban, and Edmund Forzcek, to set up Carpenter’s 18 yard Field Goal to put the Blue Devils 9-7 up. Yarvard also went to a passing game, but their receivers found Private Armando Lopez guiding missiles that were too hot to handle, and the game ended 9-7 to Hale. [Reference: 9]

At Ravenhill, Belfast (Att: 8,000) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Hale Blue Devils 6 0 3 0 9
Yarvard Crimson Tide 0 7 0 0 7
Scorers Score
1st Quarter  
HAL – Raymond Chandler TD Run (xp No Good) 6-0
2nd Quarter  
YAR – Robert Hopfer TD Run (Jay Wright XP Kick) 6-7
3rd Quarter  
HAL – Arnold Carpenter 18yd FG 9-7
4th Quarter  
No Scoring 9-7

Reference: [9]

Roster 14 November 1942

NumberNamePositionHometown & State
Players
1Arnold CarpenterFullbackEau Claire, Wis.
2Raymond ChandlerLeft HalfbackHuston, Texas
3Frank BeckLeft HalfbackNew Orleans, La.
4Bryon St. PeterFullbackMilwaukee, Wis.
5David ZywickiQuarterbackMilwaukee, Wis.
6Charles KacenaQuarterbackDes Moines, Ia.
7John UrbanRight HalfbackBrooklyn, New York
8Edward DixRight HalfbackElizabeth, New Jersey
9Homer CookeCenterEau Claire, Wis.
10Robert CummingsCenterBrooklyn, New York
11Lee DunhamRight GuardDetroit, Mich.
12Thomas RichardsonLeft GuardRutherford, New Jersey
13Frederick StobaeusRight GuardSouth Orange, New Jersey
14Anthony FabrizioLeft GuardSpringfield, New Jersey
15Erving GroschLeft TackleMilwaukee, Wis.
16Norman RosenbergRight TackleBrooklyn, New York
17Edmund ForczekLeft TackleCudahy, Wis.
18Woodrow LaurieRight TackleRedgranite, Wis.
19Stephen LochmanLeft EndAlbany, New York
20John GallagherRight EndBrooklyn, New Jersey
21Eugene BoltonRight EndRapid City, S.D.
22Madison RichLeft EndWest New York, New Jersey
23Saul SolowRight EndBrooklyn, New York
24Edward KudernsLeft EndCleveland, Ohio
25Theodore RixRight EndCrisco, Ia.
Coaches
CaptainHarry G. Chowins
2nd Lt.E.K. Sauer
S. Sgt.Louis J. DiSalle
Team Physician
MajorJoseph A. Ridgeway

Reference: [7]

About

During World War II, American Soldiers based in Northern Ireland, England & Wales, played a series of matches for the European Theater of Operations Football Championship. These American Football matches were sometimes played in front of the Irish & British public at large stadiums in aid of the Red Cross. [Reference: 11] The match at Ravenhill, on 14 November 1942, was the first ever match of American Football in Ireland [1-5]

The first such match, held at Ravenhill on 14th November 1942 (the first ETO Championship was played in Northern Ireland in 1942), featured the Hale Blue Devils and Yarvard Crimson Tide. [Reference: 9]

The names Hale & Yarvard aren’t mis-spellings. The teams were made up of Soldiers stationed in Northern Ireland during World War II, and the British & Irish public would have been familiar with newspaper reports of the time on the big American College Football games, so the names Yarvard, Hale and Tech (the third team in the ETO Championship in 1942), were chosen to reflect this. [Reference: [9]

European Theater of Operations Football Championship 1942 – Hale Blue Devils 9 Yarvard Crimson Tide 7 at Ravenhill, Belfast, 14 November 1942 [Reference: [10]

References

_________________________________________________________

Websites

[1] Irish American Football Association (2016) Journey to Thirty [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/journeyto-thirty/ [Accessed 08 August 2016]

[2] Irish American Football Association (2016) History of US Teams playing in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/history-of-us-teams-playing-in-ireland/ [Accessed 22 November 2016]

[3] Irish American Football Association (2016) History [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/iafl/history.htm [Accessed 26 October 2016]

Sources

[5] Anon. (1942) . “Photo caption: American Football at Ravenhill”. Belfast News-Letter. 16 November 1942. pg. 6.

[6] Anon. (1954) . “Photo caption”. Northern Whig. 18 November 1954. pg. 6.

[7] Edgar, Scott | Wartime NI (2019) Hale Team at Ravenhill [Internet] Available from: https://wartimeni.com/wwiini-story-american-football-ravenhill-programme-06/ [Accessed 17 November 2019]

[8] Magee, Damian. “English Beer and American Football: Exporting American Football as a Cultural Commodity to the British Isles.” Irish Journal of American Studies, vol. 7, 1998, pp. 121–148. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/30002410.

Bibliography

[9] Foglio, Massimo & Ford, Mark L. (2015) “Touchdown in Europe” pg. 51-52. Published by the Author.


Images

[10] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Post 21 August 2019: “ As promised, a never before seen photo of the game held at Ravenhill in 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2258995414211601/2258986244212518/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Richard Declan Mulcahy

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 17 November 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.