A Different Kind of Thanksgiving Tradition: How Soccer Has Quietly Shaped the Holiday for Nearly Two Centuries

Jonathan Turner
2 days ago
3 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

When most Americans think of Thanksgiving sports, their minds jump straight to football—parades, packed stadiums, and a full day of NFL action. But long before Thanksgiving became synonymous with the gridiron, soccer had already carved out its own quiet, compelling place in the holiday’s history. From 19th-century matches in New York City to the modern tradition of alumni games, soccer’s Thanksgiving stories reveal a side of the sport that is deeply woven into American communities.

19th-Century Beginnings: The Early Thanksgiving Matches

New York City’s 1842 Match

One of the earliest known examples of organized “modern” soccer on American soil may have taken place on Thanksgiving Day in 1842. According to historical reports, the St. George’s Cricket Club hosted a match at their grounds in New York City—possibly the first of its kind in the country. Even more fascinating, the tradition didn’t stop there. For roughly a dozen years, they reportedly gathered every Thanksgiving to play again, embedding soccer into the holiday long before the Football Association wrote the modern rules in 1863.

Holiday Play Before the Rules

In communities across the young United States, informal versions of football—including early forms resembling soccer—were traditionally played on major holidays. Thanksgiving was no exception. These early “alumni” and community games showed that even before the sport was officially standardized, the instinct to gather, compete, and celebrate through soccer was already part of American culture.

20th-Century Stories: Creativity, Fame, and Community

The Legendary 1939 St. Mary's Rattlers

While not tied directly to Thanksgiving, one of American soccer’s most memorable early stories unfolded in 1939 at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. The Rattlers, a college team full of personality and creativity, captured national attention.Featured in Life Magazine, they became famous for:

A self-invented, whimsical formation called the “Suzie Q”
A double-decker bus painted blue and affectionately nicknamed the “Blue Goose”
A playing style that blended flare, humor, and surprising quality

Their story represents something quintessential about American soccer history—innovation, community spirit, and a love for the game long before the sport had major national visibility.

Thanksgiving Alumni Games: A Tradition That Lives On

Across the U.S., one of the most enduring soccer traditions happens away from bright lights and official scoreboards. On Thanksgiving weekend, thousands of former high school and college players return home and gather for informal alumni games.There are no referees, no trophies—just friends reconnecting and reliving the rhythms of the sport they grew up with.

This modern ritual echoes those 19th-century holiday matches. It’s a reminder that soccer, even without fanfare, brings communities together during a time defined by family and gratitude.

Other Thanksgiving Soccer Moments

Holiday Celebrations in the Soccer Community

Soccer associations and clubs across the country often find fun ways to tie the sport to Thanksgiving. A charming example came in 2019 from the Calvert Soccer Association, which shared a post featuring a young player working on a turkey-themed decoration—a small but heartfelt reminder of how the sport weaves itself into everyday life.

Rivalries on Thanksgiving: Westfield vs. Plainfield

In New Jersey, the high school rivalry between Westfield and Plainfield once stood as a Thanksgiving soccer classic. Their annual match drew passionate crowds and helped define the holiday for generations of players and fans before the event faded with the creation of state playoffs.Today, it lives on as one of the great forgotten traditions—a symbol of how soccer once claimed its own piece of the Thanksgiving spotlight.

Soccer’s Place at the Holiday Table

While soccer may never replace American football on Thanksgiving Day, its history with the holiday is richer and longer than most fans realize. From 1840s community games to today’s alumni reunions, soccer has offered a place for connection, creativity, and celebration.

And as the sport continues to grow across the United States, these Thanksgiving traditions—old and new—remind us that soccer has always belonged here. Even on a day dominated by another sport, the beautiful game has its own stories to tell.