On 14th November 1942, 'Hale' took on 'Yarvard' in Belfast's Ravenhill Stadium. It was the first game of American Football in the European Theater of Operations
At 1300hrs on 14th November 1942, 'Hale' faced 'Yarvard' in the first American Football game in Northern Ireland. The game at Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast took place in front of around 8,000-10,000 spectators. Colonel Maurice J. Meyer of the United States Army introduced the game and gave a running commentary throughout.
The Duke of Abercorn (Governor of Northern Ireland) was one of many dignitaries in attendance. United States military bands provided entertainment from 1400hrs. One band’s bass drum bore the likenesses of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Hideki Tojo along with the slogan “Beating the Axis”. In the crowd, an American cheerleader created some big game atmosphere among the locals and U.S. service personnel.
Filming of parts of the game took place for newsreel footage and B.B.C. Forces Radio broadcast commentary at 1545hrs on 14th November 1942. ‘Hale’ won the game 9-7 with a goal-kick sealing the points.
United States Army personnel and local sports fans bought their tickets from:
The game lived up to the pre-match hype. Newspaper advertisements in advance of the day read:
Come in your thousands and see two crack American sides in the first big game of American Football ever played in this country.
Proceeds from tickets sold went to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, and the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families’ Association. Organisers presented £730, 11s, 4d to the organisations.
| Ticket Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Covered Stand (Centre Block) | 7/6 |
| Covered Stand | 5/- |
| Promenade | 2/6 |
| Unreserved | 1/- |
Coached by Captain Harry G. Chowins, 2nd Lieutenant E.K. Sauer, and Staff Sergeant Louis J. DiSalle.
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Weight (lbs) | Position | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenter | Arnold | 175 | Fullback | Eau Claire, WI |
| Chandler | Raymond | 145 | Left Halfback | Houston, TX |
| Beck | Frank | 175 | Left Halfback | New Orleans, LA |
| St. Peter | Byron | 160 | Fullback | Milwaukee, WI |
| Zywicki | David | 180 | Quarterback | Milwaukee, WI |
| Kacena | Charles | 165 | Quarterback | Des Moines, IA |
| Urban | John | 178 | Right Halfback | Brooklyn, NY |
| Dix | Edward | 165 | Right Halfback | Elizabeth, NJ |
| Cooke | Homer | 190 | Center | Eau Claire, WI |
| Cummings | Robert | 180 | Center | Brooklyn, NY |
| Dunham | Lee | 180 | Right Guard | Detroit, MI |
| Richardson | Thomas | 165 | Left Guard | Rutherford, NJ |
| Stobaeus | Frederick | 175 | Right Guard | South Orange, NJ |
| Fabrizio | Anthony | 165 | Left Guard | Springfield, NJ |
| Grosch | Erving | 230 | Left Tackle | Milwaukee, WI |
| Rosenberg | Norman | 230 | Right Tackle | Brooklyn, NY |
| Forczek | Edmund | 175 | Left Tackle | Cudahy, WI |
| Laurie | Woodrow | 185 | Right Tackle | Redgranite, WI |
| Lochman | Stephen | 200 | Left End | Albany, NY |
| Gallagher | John | 180 | Right End | Brooklyn, NY |
| Bolton | Eugene | 160 | Right End | Rapid City, SD |
| Rich | Madison | 175 | Left End | West New York, NJ |
| Solow | Saul | 190 | Right End | Brooklyn, NY |
| Kuderna | Edward | 150 | Left End | Cleveland, OH |
| Rix | Theodore | 190 | Right End | Crisco, IA |
Coached by Captain Hall F. Achenbach, Captain Francis E. Wehrle, and Lieutenant Ernest H. Kennyon.
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Weight (lbs) | Position | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hopfer | Robert D. | 200 | Fullback | Buffalo, NY |
| Lopez | Armando | 180 | Left Halfback | Anthony, NM |
| Verbick | Anthon S. | 165 | Left Halfback | Gilbert, MN |
| Wright | Jay A. | 185 | Quarterback | Shippensberg, PA |
| Temenski | James E. | 198 | Right Halfback | New Castle, PA |
| Moore | Rush M. | 190 | Left Halfback | Curwensville, PA |
| Dennis | Paul W. | 155 | Quarterback | Harrisburg, PA |
| Washburn | Walter A. | 230 | Fullback | Rock Island, IL |
| Whalen | Richard E. | 165 | Center | Cambridge Springs, PA |
| Hummel | Atlee V. | 180 | End | Clearfield, PA |
| Basham | James B. Jr. | 190 | End | Louisville, KY |
| Eck | William F. | 175 | End | Allentown, PA |
| Wall | John L. | 185 | Guard | New Orleans, LA |
| Schultz | Leslie C. | 175 | Guard | Bellfonte, PA |
| McGonigal | Paul A. | 196 | Tackle | Clearfield, PA |
| Hower | Marlin | 180 | Guard | West Milton, PA |
| Fauls | Frederick D. | 180 | Tackle | DuBois, PA |
| Femton | Frank A. | 185 | Tackle | Sunbury, PA |
| Jerles | Leroy M. | 190 | Guard | Lock Haven, PA |
| Moore | Ralph W. | 190 | Tackle | Skaneatles Falls, NY |
| Trunick | John L. Jr. | 184 | Center | Louisville, KY |
| Baxter | Joseph D. | 196 | Guard | Manchester, IO |
| Petrick | Edward | 190 | Left Halfback | Detroit, MI |
| Heath | Eugene E. | 180 | Tackle | Lima, OH |
| Dupack | George A. | 195 | Fullback | Walton, PA |
| Zentner | Henry E. | 175 | Center | Emmaus, PA |
| Szymkowicz | Walter C. | 175 | Quarterback | New Castle, PA |
| Kiser | Harvey J. | 215 | Tackle | Lock Haven, PA |
| Renninger | Charles R. | 150 | Quarterback | Lewistown, PA |
| Jaso | Frank M. | 160 | End | Lansford, PA |
| Saxton | Thomas F. | 158 | Guard | Northumberland, PA |
| Nyman | Leroy C. | 185 | Center | Lock Haven, PA |
| Wetzel | Joseph B. | 170 | Tackle | Mechanicsburg, PA |
| Kosolowski | Joseph L. | 180 | Guard | Wyandotte, MI |
| Boshnett | Albert Dane | 185 | Center | Tioga, WV |
The 'Expert View' from a sports journalist with Ireland's Saturday Night was less than complimentary about the game. Perhaps the exhibition was not quite of the standard that Americans expect football to be played.
The game started off very slowly, and there was some rather sloppy ball playing until near the end of the first quarter when Cpl. Robert Hopfer, captain of the Yarvard team, missed a punt, and Frank Beck, half-back of the Hale side, recovered the punt. He then attempted a field goal which missed.
Towards the end of the 1st quarter Carpenter, full-back of the Hale team made four consecutive first-downs and advanced the ball to the two-yard line. Sergeant Chandler carried the ball over for a touchdown and Sergeant Carpenter attempted to kick down but missed.
The quarter ended with the Hale team leading 6-0/
In the opening minutes of the second quarter Cpl. Hopfer carried the ball from his own- 40-yard line down to the opponent’s goal line to score a natty touchdown.
In the third quarter, the Hale team scored again on a field goal. A poor kick from the 18-yard line by Carpenter was held by Chandler and the score was 9-7 for Hale.
The fourth quarter was more or less a see-saw business, but neither team could score. Generally, it was pretty sloppy football, Carpenter, Chandler, and Hopfer being the only good ball players in the match.
