Fred Beardsworth

Grew up in England and began playing organized soccer in 1908 at the age of 19 for the Farington Villa team in the Preston and District League. One year later he joined Leyland Town in the West Lancashire League and remained with them until coming to the United States in 1914.

During this time Leyland won the Richardson Cup and the West Lancashire League in two consecutive seasons. On coming to the United States he immediately began playing for New Bedford of the Southern New England League. Three years later he joined Fall River Rovers and played in the 1918 U.S. Open Cup final which Fall River lost to Bethlehem Steel after a replay. The following year he was playing for Robins Dry Dock in Brooklyn in the National League and later won back to back American Cup medals in 1920 and 1921. He retired from major league competition in 1921 and began playing for the Booth Mill team of the New Bedford Industrial League. He ended his career with the Saylesville Bleachery team in the Southern New England League. A teacher at New Bedford Textile School he introduced soccer to his students in 1928 and coached the school team. Awarded the Intercollegiate Athletic Award of Merit for his devoted service to the game in 1964.