History of the Scandinavian Club's origins (learned from the 1940 Silver Anniversary commemoration celebration booklet (1915-1940) and the 50th Anniversary booklet (1965)).
This is a condensed and rewritten essentials from the two above mentioned booklets.
Origins of the Swedish Soccer Club which became the Swedish Athletic Club
provided by Carol E. Skog
September 1914, Erik Ostman's morbror (my mother's brother) Knute Santeson bought a new soccer ball and along with my farfar (father's father) Nils Skog, Bertil Stengard and Edwin Seaberg thought of starting a Swedish soccer club. Every Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, the 3 met at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, wearing out 3 Soccer balls in 2 months.
Soon other Swedes came forward to join them to make a full team, Elof Rylander, Fabian Faust, Rudolf Bannow, Anton Ostman, Carl Sundvall, Hilding Eklund, Eric Frolander, Marcus Larson and Axel Lindblad.
June 1915,Ture Mattson backed the 4 original men with moral and financial support to form the Swedish Soccer club. The original Incorporation papers state," the purpose was the cultivation and advancement of Athletics and for the purpose of social and friendly relations among its members"
More continued to join the games, Ernest Forsberg, Henry Peterson, my farmorfar Robert Johnson, Paul Ericsson, Christenson, Walter Johnson, and Eskil Svenson. Then later joined, Victor Seaberg, Carl Johnson, Alex Seastrom, Uno Peterson, Hilding Eklund, Roy Wellman, and Joseph Johnson. Meetings were held immediately after training in the outdoors.
The Swedish soccer team was then officially organized for competition, backed by Joe Booth, a Connecticut State Soccer League official and sports writer for the Bridgeport Post. Booth had 7 teams in his league and he needed one more soccer team to be official for competition.
On the first anniversary of the Swedish soccer club in 1916, the group changed their name officially to the Swedish Athletic club and incorporated, as so many of the soccer players were also clever in Track and field events. The first official club meeting was held June 1916 at the now defunct Nelson's Restaurant, State Street in Bridgeport. They met in the former Swedish Mission Church for meetings and gathering there until they were able to locate a designated area for their club.
Various Track and Field members were well know as: " the original flying Finn", Hannes Kolemanien, a good runner Carl Sundvall, a high jumper Marcus Larson, and a long distance runner Rudolf Bannow. Santeson was very astute in the High Jump, Broad Jump, Hop-Step and Jump and also Sprints. Hugo Swanson know for 100 yards, Carl Seaberg High Jumps, Victor Olson Javelin, Dave Forstrom Javelin and Running, Carl Forslund Running, and Elof Rylander won medals on the cinder track and was nicknamed "red". George Eklund won many medals with his other Fairfield Swedish team mates at the Scandinavian American Athletic League Championships, Ulmer Park, Brooklyn Park, New York.
In 1917 the men were granted their application to put up 2 wooden floored Tents or canvas teepees at Fayerweather Island in Black Rock as their meeting "clubhouse". The women organized the members to meet at the tents every Sunday to enjoy Long Island Sound. Rylander provided the coffee and Uno Peterson played the Mandolin and Henry Peterson played his guitar.
Sometimes the men practiced on an empty lot on Brewster Street in Black Rock where many Swedes lived. By 1918 the club grew so that the men had a 2nd soccer team. The players provided their own outfits, but were given their common shirts and the soccer ball.
Charlie Sjoberg would drive the soccer players in his Jitney Bus when they had to compete in other cities.
Eventually there were enough men to have the A team and then 2 teams in reserve. In competition the reserves played in the morning and the A team played in the afternoon. In 1918-1919, the men won the Connecticut Amateur League championship. They again won the League championship in 1940.
It is stated in the 1940 Club's silver anniversary booklet that Knute Santeson in 1919, began the first woman's soccer club in the country. Victoria Carlson, Goal tender, became wife of her coach Santeson.
The girl's team existed a short 2 years, playing soccer against Bridgeport city and the Bridgeport High school teams.
The men had married and began raising families. So that all enjoyed the clubs festivities and so all could enjoy the events, a Ladies Auxiliary was formed. They were instrumental in hosting the sill breakfasts, smorgasbords, dinner parties, dances, and pinochle parties and arranged much of the fundraising.
In June 1920 the SAC bought a house on South Pine Creek Road in Fairfield, which became the permanent clubhouse of the Swedish Athletic Club. Funds were raised by the ladies with a 3 day Bazaar and two dances at the Eagles Hall and Germania Hall. Additional funds needed for the Pine Creek property, thus some of the members divided up the remainder of the down payment to purchase the property. They also erected their tents next to the clubhouse for events. Occasionally members were invited to picnic's and dances hosted at Norell's Grove. Axel Lundblad, Andy Gustafson and the Peterson brothers played their guitars.
A Scottish Highlander manager of a soccer team that thinned down to 5 men during summer vacations decided to institute a 5 aside soccer game. The Swedes at the new SAC were influenced by the Scotsman, but after trying the 5 a side soccer play, decided this type of game too strenuous for serious competition. The Swedes however added another man and they became well known for their competitive form of 6 a side soccer. They became very well known for their competitive 6 a side games.
The Fairfield Swedish Athletic Club (SAC) began interaction and friendships with the Scandia club in Hartford, Ct. New York Club's enjoying activities with the SAC were the Viking AC, Swedish Ski Club, Swedish Tennis club, Swedish gymnastic club, Gjoa FC, Scandinavian workers, and the Danish FC. The Swedish Athletic Soccer Club from Worchester, Ma, and the Swedish Soccer Club from Providence, RI also played in competitions against the Fairfield SAC.
The club also had winners of track and field, Bannow, Santeson, Rylander, Sundvall, Forslund, Forstom. Knut Santeson became known as one of the best broad jumpers in the country. Marcus Larson had the honor of being the best goalie. Alban Carlson was considered the best outside left in Connecticut.
The Swedish club had Christmas parties with all the traditional foods, inclusive of Santa for the young. In the commemorative 40th Anniversary club booklet, is this quote " Fun is a keynote of these parties and the happy faces of the youngsters best bears out the purpose."
The club sponsored Swedish movies at a West Side theatre that were extremely popular. During winters when soccer couldn't be played, the club members formed 8 teams and bowled at area alleys. Again a
Club booklet quote," Oh, yes. We almost forgot to mention the most widely played sport of them all. That's right -- Pinochle." Dances were also very popular throughout every year.
In 1940 the Swedish artist, Ragnar Olson from New York presented the SAC with a prize of his painting of three Viking ships valued then at $1,500.00. It was awarded in the 6 a side soccer team competition, by winning first place three times in order to have permanent ownership of the prized painting.
In 1965 Gerhard T Rooth of the Viking AC from the Bronx, New York, wrote a greeting in the 50th anniversary booklet. His quote was concerning the 6 a side soccer games ," It was an all day contest, with a round- robin system of competing. Not least were the picnic lunches and barbeque feasts, the swimming, dancing, singing and general good fellowship…… This is the spirit of sports. During the games we are rivals, but when it is over, we become the best of friends. It has always been that way as far as the teams from Fairfield and New York are concerned. "
My Dad Nils Skog Jr, medaled in track for the club when he returned with his parents from living in Stockholm, Sweden, during the 1930's. Sources: Dad's memories & 40th & 50th anniversary booklets.
By: Carol E Skog