The United States has well over 100 years of soccer history. Much of it has yet to be chronicled. The leagues don’t have the bandwidth to cover it, which leaves it to sports historical societies and fans to uncover. Recently, the Society for American Soccer History produced an incredible report on Fred and Oliver Watson, the first known African American soccer players in the United States.
Oliver (b. 1872) and Fred (b. 1875) Watson were born in Rhode Island, and on September 26, 1894, the Pawtucket YMCA’s soccer team signed Oliver Watson to play for their team.