View source for Sam Mark

{{Short description|American basketball player (1896–1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2024}}
'''Samuel Mark''' (born '''Markelevich'''; September 22, 1896 – August 9, 1980) was an American soccer club owner. During the 1920s and early 1930s he was the owner of [[Fall River F.C. (1922–1931)|Fall River FC]], often referred to as the ''Fall River Marksmen'',  one of the era's most successful teams. Mark's continued to own the team after it relocated and became the [[New York Yankees (soccer)|New York Yankees]] and then [[New Bedford Whalers]]. He also briefly owned [[Boston Soccer Club]]. He had played guard for the Massachusetts American Legion basketball team.
Mark was born in [[Fall River, Massachusetts]] to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants from Kyiv.<ref>''1900 United States Federal Census''</ref><ref>''U.S., Passport Applications, 1795–1925''</ref> His father, Mandel, changed the family surname to Mark in 1916 because of difficulties in spelling and pronouncing it.<ref>{{cite news |title=Embarrassed by Name of Markelevich |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/642905427/?article=ef91df9e-4f21-11ed-a3cf-8a0a20979c4a&xid=4635%20&terms=Mandel_Mark |access-date=2 April 2024 |work=The Evening Herald |date=August 5, 1916 |location=Fall River, Massachusetts}}</ref>
==Career==
===Fall River F.C.===
Mark initially established himself as a basketball and baseball promoter in [[Massachusetts]] and as well as owning several soccer clubs he also owned a semi-professional baseball team. He was not originally a soccer fan but was aware of the large crowds that [[Fall River Rovers]] attracted. In [[1922-23 American Soccer League|1922]] he took over the American Soccer League's [[Fall River F.C. (1922–1931)|Fall River]] franchise. Mark was willing to invest in the club and one of his first moves was to build [[Mark's Stadium]] in [[North Tiverton, Rhode Island]]. Because the stadium was just over the Massachusetts border, the club was able to get round the state's [[Blue Law]]s and play on a Sunday. It is also one of the earliest examples of a [[soccer-specific stadium]] in the [[United States]].<ref>"Sam Mark To Handle Oaks". (July 11, 1922). ''Fall River Globe'', p.13 col.6</ref><ref>''Soccer in a Football World - The Story of America’s Forgotten Game'' (2006) : David Wangerin, p.56 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0954013476]</ref>
Under Sam Mark, [[Fall River F.C. (1922–1931)|Fall River F.C.]] became one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United States.  During the 1920s and early 1930s they won the [[American Soccer League (1933-1983)|American Soccer League]] on seven occasions. They also won the [[National Challenge Cup]] four times. In [[1923-24 American Soccer League|1924]] they also won the first ASL / Challenge Cup [[Double (association football)|double]] and were subsequently the [[American soccer champions]] three times in succession. Between [[1928-29 American Soccer League|1929]] and [[Fall 1930 American Soccer League|1930]] they won a further four titles in a row. In 1930 they also completed a [[the treble|treble]], winning the ASL title, the Challenge Cup and the Lewis Cup.<ref>''Soccer in a Football World - The Story of America’s Forgotten Game'' (2006) : David Wangerin, p.78 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0954013476]</ref>
===Soccer War===
In 1929 the [[American Soccer League (1921-1933)|American Soccer League]] and the [[United States Football Association]] became involved in a power struggle sometimes referred to as the ''Soccer Wars''. This resulted in the emergence of two rival leagues - the ASL and [[Eastern Soccer League]]. Many clubs suffered financially and during the dispute Mark's took over the struggling [[Boston Soccer Club]]. He also acted as a mediator between the two rival leagues and helped negotiate a merger. However the rules of the new Atlantic Coast League forbid the ownership of two or more clubs.  Mark decided to sell the Boston club but unable to find a buyer, he was forced to dissolve the team after just 4 games of the [[Spring 1930 American Soccer League|Spring 1930]] season. <ref>"End Of Soccer War In Sight". (September 9, 1929). ''Boston Globe'', p.9 col.4</ref><ref>''Soccer in a Football World - The Story of America’s Forgotten Game'' (2006) : David Wangerin, p.76 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0954013476]</ref>
===New York Yankees===
By 1931 the effects of the ''Soccer Wars'' and the [[Great Depression]] had seen attendances fall at [[Mark's Stadium]].  As a result, Mark moved [[Fall River F.C. (1922–1931)|Fall River F.C.]] to [[New York City|New York]], hoping that a new market there would be more lucrative. Once there he merged the club with [[New York Soccer Club]] and named them the [[New York Yankees (soccer)|New York Yankees]]. Before the merger was finalized, however, Fall River F.C. had entered the [[National Challenge Cup]] and Mark was unable to re-register them as the Yankees. As a result, the [[Spring 1931 American Soccer League|Spring 1931]] season saw them continue to play in the Challenge Cup as the ''Fall River F.C.'' while at the same time playing as the ''New York Yankees'' in the [[American Soccer League (1921-1933)|American Soccer League]]. While the ''Yankees'' only managed to finish third in the ASL, the ''Marksmen'' won the cup.<ref>"Fall River To Meet Galicia". (February 17, 1931). ''Boston Globe'', p.21 col.1</ref><ref>"Yankees-Pawtucket Tilt At Starlight Tomorrow". (February 28, 1931). ''The Standard-Star'', p.11 col.7</ref><ref>''Soccer in a Football World - The Story of America’s Forgotten Game'' (2006) : David Wangerin [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0954013476]</ref>
===New Bedford Whalers===
Despite winning the [[National Challenge Cup]], the relocation to [[New York City|New York]] was not a financial success and for the [[Fall 1931 American Soccer League|Fall 1931]] season Mark relocated the [[New York Yankees (soccer)|New York Yankees]] to [[New Bedford, Massachusetts]] where they merged with [[Fall River F.C.]] and became the [[New Bedford Whalers]]. This new team were the [[American Soccer League (1921-1933)|American Soccer League]] champions for the Fall 1931 and [[Spring 1932 American Soccer League|Spring 1932]] seasons but then folded during the [[Fall 1932 American Soccer League|Fall 1932]] season.<ref>"Fall River Soccer Franchise Vacated". (September 1, 1931). ''Boston Globe'', p.21 col.4</ref><ref>[http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1933.html American Soccer - 1933]</ref>
===Later years===
The demise of  the [[New Bedford Whalers]] coincided with the collapse of the original [[American Soccer League (1921-1933)|American Soccer League]]. Mark subsequently turned his back on the game and became a nightclub owner.<ref>''Soccer in a Football World - The Story of America’s Forgotten Game'' (2006) : David Wangerin, p.79 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0954013476]</ref> However, by 1955 he had relocated to [[Los Angeles]] where he helped form [[Los Angeles Kickers]], one of the city's first professional soccer teams. Mark used his contacts in [[Fall River, Massachusetts]] to recruit players from his former hometown.<ref>[http://www.ticketnest.com/sports-tickets/Los-Angeles-Galaxy/      www.ticketnest.com]</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marks, Sam}}
[[Category:American sports businesspeople]]
[[Category:American soccer chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Fall River F.C. (1922–1931)]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Fall River, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent]]