October 31st (1909)

Oct. 31, 1909: The Pilgrims, an English team touring the United States to promote soccer, wrap up their final appearance in St. Louis with a second-half bag of tricks that treats a crowd of 8,000 at Sportsman’s Park. The Englishmen unleash a 10-goal second-half barrage to beat St. Leo’s, the city’s best team, 12-1. Having seen the Pilgrims win their first three games in St. Louis by similarly lopsided scores, the local newspapers marvel that St. Leo’s trails only 2-0 at halftime. A team put together specifically to tour the United States, the Pilgrims had won their first three games in St. Louis by a combined score of 19-1. Four years earlier, the Pilgrims soundly defeated a team of St. Louis all-stars by a combined 16-0 during a two-game stop in St. Louis. The Pilgrims’ visits influenced St. Louis teams to emulate the Pilgrims’ skillful and less physical style of soccer.