# Boston Shamrock Rovers

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Defunct American soccer club

Soccer club

Boston Shamrock Rovers Full name Boston Shamrock Rovers Nickname Rovers Founded 1966 Dissolved 1968; 58 years ago (1968) Stadium Manning Bowl, Lynn, Massachusetts Capacity 21,000 Owner Weston Adams Head coach Liam Tuohy League USA 1967 6th. of Eastern Division Home colors

**Boston Shamrock Rovers** (also known as **Boston Rovers**) were an American [soccer](/source/Association_football) team that competed in the [United Soccer Association (USA)](/source/United_Soccer_Association) league in 1967. The team was based in [Lynn, Massachusetts](/source/Lynn%2C_Massachusetts) and played their home games at the [Manning Bowl](/source/Manning_Bowl). The team folded when the USA merged with the [National Professional Soccer League](/source/National_Professional_Soccer_League_(1967)) to form the [North American Soccer League](/source/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968)).

## History

In 1966 several groups of entrepreneurs were exploring the idea of forming a professional soccer league in United States. One of these groups, [United Soccer Association (USA)](/source/United_Soccer_Association) led by [Jack Kent Cooke](/source/Jack_Kent_Cooke), selected 12 cities for team locations and [Weston Adams](/source/Weston_Adams_(ice_hockey%2C_born_1904)),[1] owner of the [Boston Bruins](/source/Boston_Bruins), was awarded the Boston franchise. The USA originally planned to start play in the spring of 1968; however the rival [National Professional Soccer League](/source/National_Professional_Soccer_League_(1967)), which secured a TV contract from CBS, announced it was ready to launch in 1967. Not wanting to let the rival league gain an advantage, the USA decided to launch early. Not having secured any player contracts, the league imported teams from Europe, Brazil, and Uruguay. [Shamrock Rovers F.C.](/source/Shamrock_Rovers_F.C.) of the [League of Ireland](/source/League_of_Ireland) were brought over to represent the city of [Boston](/source/Boston).[2][3]

Rovers opened the season at home against the [Detroit Cougars](/source/Detroit_Cougars_(soccer))[a] in a 1 – 1 draw. A disallowed goal by the Cougars due to an offsides call led to an argument with the linesman who was hit in the face by a Detroit player.[4][5] Shamrock Rovers finished the season in last place of the Eastern Division with a record of 2 wins 3 ties and 7 loses, the worst in the league, and with an average attendance 4,171.[6]

Prior to the [1968 season](/source/1968_North_American_Soccer_League_season) the [United Soccer Association](/source/United_Soccer_Association) merged with the [National Professional Soccer League](/source/National_Professional_Soccer_League_(1967)) to form the [North American Soccer League](/source/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968)). The merged league decided not to have two-team cities and, as such, the incoming [Boston Beacons](/source/Boston_Beacons) from the NPSL would be Boston's NASL franchise. [7]

## Media Coverage

The Rovers were among the few United Soccer Association sides with television and radio coverage. [WCOP](/source/WWDJ) carried three live home matches. [WKBG-TV](/source/WLVI) covered four matches, all on tape delay, 3 home and one (at Chicago) away. [Fred Cusick](/source/Fred_Cusick) and [Seamus Malin](/source/Seamus_Malin) provided TV commentary.

## Year-by-year

Season Regular season Playoffs Top scorer League Div G W T L F A Pts % Pos Attend. Name Gls Pts 1967 USA E 12 2 3 7 12 26 7 .292 6th 4,171 – Frank O'Neill 3 10

### Match results

Win Draw Loss

Boston Shamrock Rovers v [Detroit Cougars](/source/Detroit_Cougars_(soccer))

May 27 1967 Boston Shamrock Rovers 1–1 Detroit Cougars Lynn, MA Mick Leech (30') Report John Colrain (85') Stadium: Manning Bowl Attendance: 7,343 Referee: Dan Graven

Boston Shamrock Rovers v [New York Skyliners](/source/New_York_Skyliners)

May 31 Boston Shamrock Rovers 0–0 New York Skyliners Lynn, MA Stadium: Manning Bowl Attendance: 3,850

Boston Shamrock Rovers v [Cleveland Stokers](/source/Cleveland_Stokers)

June 4 Boston Shamrock Rovers 0–1 Cleveland Stokers Lynn, MA Maurice Setters (88') Stadium: Manning Bowl Attendance: 5,250

[Detroit Cougars](/source/Detroit_Cougars_(soccer)) v Boston Shamrock Rovers

June 7 Detroit Cougars 1–0 Boston Shamrock Rovers Detroit, MI Arthur Stewart (footballer) (79') Stadium: Tiger Stadium (Detroit) Attendance: 648

[Vancouver Royals](/source/Vancouver_Royals) v Boston Shamrock Rovers

June 11 Vancouver Royals 1–0 Boston Shamrock Rovers Vancouver John O'Hare (21') Stadium: Empire Stadium (Vancouver) Attendance: 7,616

[Chicago Mustangs](/source/Chicago_Mustangs_(1967%E2%80%9368)) v Boston Shamrock Rovers

June 14 Chicago Mustangs 5–0 Boston Shamrock Rovers Chicago, Illinois Francesco Rizzo (footballer) (7') Roberto Boninsegna (20'), (67') Giuseppe Longoni (29') Bruno Visentin (37') Stadium: Comiskey Park Attendance: 3,016

Boston Shamrock Rovers v [San Francisco Golden Gate Gales](/source/San_Francisco_Golden_Gate_Gales)

June 18 Boston Shamrock Rovers 3–4 San Francisco Golden Gate Gales Lynn, MA Liam Tuohy (footballer) Frank O'Neill (footballer) Paddy Mulligan Henk Houwaart (2) René Pas Harry Heynen Stadium: Manning Bowl Attendance: 853

Boston Shamrock Rovers v [Dallas Tornado](/source/Dallas_Tornado)

June 21 Boston Shamrock Rovers 1–4 Dallas Tornado Lynn, MA Liam Tuohy (footballer) (39') Finn Seemann (22') Mogens Berg (29'), (82') Jackie Graham (36') Stadium: Manning Bowl Attendance: 1,929

[Los Angeles Wolves](/source/Los_Angeles_Wolves) v Boston Shamrock Rovers

June 25 Los Angeles Wolves 1–1 Boston Shamrock Rovers Los Angeles, California Terry Wharton (81') Frank O'Neill (footballer) (21') Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Attendance: 6,936

Boston Shamrock Rovers v [Houston Stars](/source/Houston_Stars)

July 2 Boston Shamrock Rovers 3–1 Houston Stars Lynn, MA Bobby Gilbert Billy Dixon Liam Tuohy (footballer) Jaime Corrêa Freitas Stadium: Manning Bowl Attendance: 5,800

[Toronto City](/source/Toronto_City) v Boston Shamrock Rovers

July 5 Toronto City 6–1 Boston Shamrock Rovers Toronto, Ontario Colin Grant (footballer) (3) Jim Scott (footballer) Peter Cormack Colin Stein Mick Leech Stadium: Varsity Stadium Attendance: 3,152

[Washington Whips](/source/Washington_Whips) v Boston Shamrock Rovers

July 8 Washington Whips 1–2 Boston Shamrock Rovers Washington, D.C. Frank Munro Frank O'Neill (footballer) Billy Dixon Stadium: D.C. Stadium Attendance: 9,760

**Source**:[8][9]

## See also

- [Boston Beacons](/source/Boston_Beacons)

- [Boston Minutemen](/source/Boston_Minutemen)

- [New England Tea Men](/source/New_England_Tea_Men)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** The Northern Irish team [Glentoran F.C.](/source/Glentoran_F.C.) had been brought over to represent Detroit

## Sources

- *The Hoops* by Paul Doolan and Robert Goggins ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7171-2121-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7171-2121-6))

## References

### General

- Litterer, Dave. ["North American Soccer League I (NASL) 1967–1984"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130907102955/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/nasl/naslhist.html). American Soccer History Archives. Archived from [the original](http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/nasl/naslhist.html) on September 7, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2012.

- Severino, Carlos. ["North American Soccer League 1967"](https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/nasl67.html). Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved November 2, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Shamrock Rovers Elect"](https://books.google.com/books?id=2OogAAAAIBAJ). The Norwalk Hour. April 21, 1967. p. 32. Retrieved December 9, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Seese_2-0)** Seese, D.J. (2015). [*The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America: The Strange Days of the United Soccer Association*](https://books.google.com/books?id=w3wxBwAAQBAJ). Rowman & Littlefield. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781442238954](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781442238954).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hannigan, Dave (May 31, 2017). ["Summer of soccer: when Shamrock Rovers conquered America"](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/summer-of-soccer-when-shamrock-rovers-conquered-america-1.3102684). The Irish Times. Retrieved December 9, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Cougars Open With Tie"](https://books.google.com/books?id=IVYlAAAAIBAJ). The Owosso Argus-Press. May 27, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved December 9, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Wangerin, Dave (2006). [*Soccer in a Football World*](https://books.google.com/books?id=1mK2xw1E6dAC&dq=Boston+Shamrock+Rovers&pg=PA129). WSC Books, Limited. p. 134. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780954013479](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780954013479). Retrieved December 9, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NASL_7-0)** ["North American Soccer League"](https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/nasl.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. Retrieved December 9, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Beacons Survive Rovers In Major Soccer Merger"](https://books.google.com/books?id=wK4rAAAAIBAJ). The Telegraph. December 8, 1967. p. 14. Retrieved December 9, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Boston Rovers | SoccerStats.us"](http://soccerstats.us/teams/boston-rovers/). *soccerstats.us*. Retrieved August 26, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["United Soccer Association 1967 Season Summary | SoccerStats.us"](http://soccerstats.us/c/united-soccer-association/1967/). *soccerstats.us*. Retrieved August 26, 2025.

## External links

- [Boston Rovers stats](https://archive.today/20120710102520/http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dulyjs/strikers/nasl/bos1.html)

- [List of Boston Rovers players](https://web.archive.org/web/20081007215429/http://home.att.net/~nasl/rosters/beacons.htm)

- [Boston Rovers](https://www.nasljerseys.com/Rosters/Rovers_Rosters.htm) on nasljerseys.com

v t e Shamrock Rovers F.C. Players Managers Teams Men's Senior Team Men's Reserve Team Women's Team Futsal Basketball Stadia Tallaght Stadium Glenmalure Park Morton Stadium Richmond Park RDS Arena Dalymount Park Tolka Park History History Records and Statistics Bohemians–Shamrock Rovers rivalry Boston Rovers Seasons List 2010 2011 2023 Matches Setanta Cup finals 2013 FAI Cup finals 1985 1991 2010 2019 2020 2025 League of Ireland Cup finals 2012 2017 Leinster Senior Cup finals 2013 Others Shamrock Rovers XI v Brazil

v t e United Soccer Association teams Boston Shamrock Rovers Chicago Mustangs Cleveland Stokers Dallas Tornado Detroit Cougars Houston Stars Los Angeles Wolves New York Skyliners San Francisco Golden Gate Gales Toronto City Vancouver Royal Canadians Washington Whips

v t e North American Soccer League Broadcasters USSF CSA Portal NASL (2011–2017) First overall draft picks Seasons 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Soccer Bowls 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Predecessors USA 1967 Final NPSL 1967 Final Indoor seasons 1971 1975 1976 1978 (Skelly) 1978 (Schlitz) 1979 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1983 1983–84 Conferences 1968 East West 1976–1977 Atlantic Pacific 1978–1980 American National Related Soccer Bowl broadcasters NASL Indoor Championship Clubs Atlanta Apollos Atlanta Chiefs Baltimore Bays Baltimore Comets Boston Beacons Boston Minutemen Boston Shamrock Rovers1 Calgary Boomers California Surf Chicago Mustangs Chicago Spurs2 Chicago Sting Cleveland Stokers Caribous of Colorado Connecticut Bicentennials Dallas Tornado Denver Dynamos Detroit Cougars Detroit Express Edmonton Drillers Fort Lauderdale Strikers Golden Bay Earthquakes Hartford Bicentennials Houston Hurricane Houston Stars Jacksonville Tea Men Kansas City Spurs Las Vegas Quicksilvers Los Angeles Aztecs Los Angeles Wolves Memphis Rogues Miami Gatos Miami Toros Minnesota Kicks Minnesota Strikers Montreal Manic Montreal Olympique New England Tea Men New York Cosmos New York Generals New York Skyliners1 Oakland Clippers Oakland Stompers Philadelphia Spartans2 Philadelphia Atoms Philadelphia Fury Pittsburgh Phantoms2 Portland Timbers Rochester Lancers San Antonio Thunder San Diego Jaws San Diego Sockers San Diego Toros San Francisco Golden Gate Gales1 San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders St. Louis Stars Tampa Bay Rowdies Team America Team Hawaii Toronto Blizzard Toronto City1 Toronto Falcons Toronto Metros Toronto Metros-Croatia Tulsa Roughnecks Vancouver Royals Vancouver Whitecaps Washington Darts Washington Diplomats Washington Whips 1 United Soccer Association team that did not join NASL upon merger with NPSL. 2 National Professional Soccer League team that did not join NASL upon merger with USA.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Boston Shamrock Rovers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Shamrock_Rovers) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Shamrock_Rovers?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.