Chicago Sparta
The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States. Founded in 1917, it was one of the dominant teams from
History
In 1915, immigrant Czechs living in
International Friendlies
Several clubs toured North America in the 1920s and 1930s. When large crowds were expected, events were scheduled to take place at venues such as Comiskey Park or Soldier Field. On May 6, 1927 Sparta played Hakoah Vienna to a 2-2 draw in front of 12,000 fans at Comiskey Park.
Touring clubs that played Sparta at Sparta Stadium (located at 21st Street & South Kostner) included:
Club | Result | Date | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Palestra Italia | Lost to Sparta 5-1 | September 2, 1928 | 5,000 |
Audax (Chile) | Beat Sparta 2-0 | September 17, 1933 | 4,000 |
SK Kladno (Czech) | Beat Sparta 4-0 | September 9, 1934 | 9,000 |
Tel-Aviv Maccabees | Tied Sparta 1-1 | September 15, 1936 | 7,000 |
Sparta Stadium
Sparta Stadium stood at 21st Street and South Kostner. As early as 1921, the Chicago Tribune reported scheduled games and results at "Sparta Field", and games at Sparta Stadium were widely reported throughout the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. The largest recorded attendance at Sparta Stadium was 9,000 when Sparta hosted SK Kladno (Czech) on September 9, 1934. The last soccer game the Chicago Tribune reported at Sparta Stadium was in November 1953. Shortly thereafter, Sparta Stadium was leveled and paved as a parking lot for nearby factories.
Year-by-year
Year | League | Reg. Season | Peel Cup | National Challenge Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|
1924/25 | CML | ? | Semifinal | Fourth round |
1925/26 | CML | ? | ? | First round |
1926-27
|
SLSL | 4th | ? | Semifinal |
1927/28 | ISL | 1st | Champion | Quarterfinal |
1928/29 | ISL | ? | Champion | Semifinal |
1929/30 | ISL | 1st | Champion | Second round |
1930/31 | ISL | 1st | Champion | Second round |
1931/32 | ISL | 1st | Champion | Quarterfinals |
1932/33 | ISL | 1st | Champion | Semifinal |
1933/34 | ISL | 1st | ? | Quarterfinals |
1934/35 | ISL | 1st | ? | Second round |
1935/36 | ISL | 1st | ? | Quarterfinals |
1936/37 | ISL | ? | Champion | Semifinals |
1937/38 | NSL | 1st | ? | Champion |
1938-39
|
SLSL | 1st | Champion | Quarterfinals |
1939/40 | ? | ? | ? | Champion |
1940/41 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
1941/42 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
1942/43 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
1943/44 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
1944/45 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
1945/46 | ? | ? | Champion | ? |
1946/47 | ? | ? | Champion | Final |
1947/48 | ? | ? | Champion | ? |
Honors
- Winner (2): 1938, 1940
- Runner Up (1): 1947
- Winner (12): 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1937, 1939, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1969
League Championship
- Winner (9): 1928, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1939