The Boston Astros
1969 - 1971
Click on the Arrow on right - to get a brief overview of a few of this periods' highlights
After one hugely successful season in Fall River (1968), Bertos made a bid for the Hub in 1969. While he could have kept the momentum building in Fall River, Bertos gambled on Boston. The Boston Beacons folded in 1968, so Boston was open for the ASTROS in 1969.
Between 1969 and 1971, The Boston Astros played matches at venues in Malden, Chelsea, Everett and Somerville, until they moved to Boston proper - setting up shop at B.U's Nickerson Field in 1972.
In 1969, the Boston Astros team attracted 5,000 fans for a match vs. Universidad Catolica of Chile at Dilboy Stadium, on July 25, 1969.
The 1969 Boston Astros faced stiff competition in the newly expanded ASL. (20 game season)
The Astros were the only team in the league to defeat the Washington Darts, who went on to capture the 1969 ASL Championship, with a 10-1-1 record.
Mr. Bertos also rallied soccer fans to Astros to a classic match against Benfica of Portugal where the Astros lost 1-0 in front of a sold out crowd at Dilboy Stadium on August 20, 1971.
The league itself had morphed from 8 teams in 1969 to a mere 5 in 1971.
John Bertos was named ASL "Coach of the Year" in 1971.
January 26, 1969
Three former Lowell Astros, who later moved to the Boston Astros, will be members of the soccer All-Star Team to tour Spain, Portugal and France.
They are Decio Britto, center - back; Fernando Souza, center - forward and Itamar Alves, outside left.
The Astros are now the only professional soccer team playing in the Boston area, playing at Chelsea Stadium.
Scorps Rank Second in ASL scoring
August 5, 1969
Syracuse Post-Standard
The Syracuse Scorpions registered the second highest number of goals in an American Soccer League game by one team in this season for the second time last Saturday when they put five shots into the Newark Ukrainian goal at MacArthur Stadium.
The season's highest was by the Washington Darts when they scored six goals against Newark June 22.
Syracuse also slammed five goals past the Boston Astros July 5.
The Scorpions are now second in goalscoring in the league with 27. Washington has 32.
The Scorps also have the second highest individual scorer in the league in Jim Lefkos, who has notched 13 goals of his own, second only to Gerry Browne of Washington, who has 16.
Two other Scorpions are holding down fifth and ninth positions respectively with 11 goals between them. They are Gordon Roberis with six and Frank Odoi with five. All of Odoi's goals have come in the last three games.
The Scorpions host Boston Saturday night at MacArthur Stadium.
American Soccer League - 1969
The Washington Darts, riding the momentum of its 1968 "internal" title, won the league’s first summer season crown with Executive of the Year Norm Sutherland at the helm. Washington went 14-1, bringing a winning streak into the season that eventually extended to 21 games, also going more than 700 minutes without allowing a goal.
Goalkeeper Lincoln Phillips secured 13 shutouts while winning the coach of the year award. Gerry Browne scored a club record 17 goals, including five goals in a 6-0 shutout of Newark. John Kerr was signed from England's Ipswich, and was a top playmaker. Phillips, Browne, Bert Greli, and Victor Gamaldo, all from Trinidad & Tobago, were chosen for their national team for a major tournament in Costa Rica. Robert Waugh of New York Inter won his second consecutive MVP award.
The league maintained a reduced two-division structure, adding Philadelphia, Boston and Syracuse, who surprised everybody by winning their division, and boasting the league's top scorer. Like the NASL, the older circuit was happy just to survive the year. The ASL subsequently suffered their first direct loss to the NASL, as two teams, Washington and Rochester left the circuit, joining the NASL the following season.
Before the season, Philadelphia Spartans, Boston, and Syracuse were added.
Final ASL League Standings, 1969
Northern Division. G W T L GF G
Syracuse Scorpions 20 12 5 3 53 26 29
Rochester Lancers 20 12 5 3 41 18 29
Boston Astros 20 5 0 15 24 48 10
New York Inter 20 2 4 14 20 44 8
Southern Division
Washington Darts 20 14 5 1 46 11 33
Philadelphia Spartans 20 7 5 8 26 32 19
Philadelphia Ukrainians 20 7 5 8 27 38 19
Newark Ukrainian Sitch 20 6 1 13 34 54 13
Runoff: Syracuse defeated Rochester 2-1.
CHAMPION: Washington defeated Syracuse, 2-0, 2-0
After the season, New York folded, and Rochester and Washington
moved over to the North American Soccer League (NASL)
Top Scorer: Jim Lefkos, Syracuse Scorpions, 22
Most Valuable Player: Robert Waugh, New York Inter
Coach of the Year: Norman Sutherland, Washington Dart
* 1969 ASL All-Star Team *
Goal: Lincoln Phillips (Washington)
Back: Frank Dunleavy (Syracuse)
Charlie Mitchell (Rochester Lancers)
Halfback: Alberto Trik (Philadelphia Ukrainians)
Willie Evans (Washington)
Jose Montero (Boston)
Forward: John Kerr (Washington)
Yao Kankam (Syracuse) * played on 1972 Astros squad
Jim Lefkos (Syracuse)
Frank Odoi (Syracuse)
Gerry Browne (Washington)
1970
Santos, Brazil
6/12/70 Santos 8 Boston Astros 1 (at Everett Stadium, MA)
6/16/70 Santos 7 Boston Astros 3 (at Pawtucket, RI)
Varzim, Portugal: July 16, 1970 - July 29, 1970
Results: 2 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses.
6/24/70 Varzim (Portugal) 3 vs. K. S. Ruch (Poland) 6 (at Chicago)
7/5/70 Varzim (Portugal) 5 vs New Bedford Portuguese 0 (at New Bedford)
7/6/70 Varzim (Portugal) 2 vs Boston Astros (ASL) 0 ( at Boston)
7/16/70 Varzim (Portugal) 2 at Atlanta Chiefs (NASL) 1
7/19/70 Varzim (Portugal) 1 at Washington Darts (NASL) 3
7/21/70 Varzim (Portugal) 0 at Dallas Tornado (NASL) 1
7/23/70 Varzim (Portugal) 2 at St. Louis Stars (NASL) 1
7/26/70 Varzim (Portugal) 0 a t Kansas City Spurs (NASL) 0
7/29/70 Varzim (Portugal) 2 at Rochester Lancers (NASL) 3
American Soccer League : 1970
With the defection of Washington and Rochester, the ASL was down to six teams, with just two of them left in the New York metropolitan area-Newark Sitch and New York Inter; the other clubs were Philadelphia Spartans, Philadelphia Ukrainians, Syracuse Scorpions, and
Boston Astros.
By the close of the 1970 season, New York Inter was suspended and Newark withdrew; Syracuse folded; and Philadelphia Ukrainians jumped to the old German American League, but not before winning the 1970 ASL crown.
For a time, it looked as if it would be the league’s last. The season was shortened from 16 to 10 games because two teams wanted to enter the US Open Challenge Cup competition. The league considered moving to a fall/spring season to accommodate them, but most of the clubs were already committed to other leagues for that time, so this idea was dropped.
On a more positive note, the Ukrainian Nationals continued their dynasty by winning their 7th league title in ten years. Juan Paletta of the Philadelphia Spartans won the scoring title, with 6 goals in 8 games. Leading goalkeeper Horazio Valdez of the Ukrainian Nationals had four shutouts in nine games, allowing only 10 goals for a 1.11 GAA average.
The ASL used NASL referees this year, and reaction to their superior performance was favorable from players and fans alike.
Final ASL League Standings, 1970
G W T L GF GA PTS
Philadelphia Ukrainians 9 6 1 2 17 10 13
Philadelphia Spartans 8 5 0 3 20 15 10
Boston Astros 8 3 1 4 13 18 7
Syracuse Scorpions 6 2 0 4 10 9 4
Newark Ukrainian Sitch 5 0 2 3 2 10 2
CHAMPION: Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals
After the season, Philadelphia Ukrainians and Newark folded.
Leading Scorers:
G GP
Juan Paletta, Philadelphia Spartans 6 8
Willie Mfum, Ukrainian Nationals 6 9
Leading Goalkeeper: Horazio Valdez, Ukrainian Nationals - 1.11 GAA, 4 SO
Most Valuable Player: Albert Trik, Philadelphia Ukrainian
Coach of the Year: (not available)
December 1970
The Lowell Boys Club is being treated to a soccer clinic under the tutelage of one of this country's top pros, John Bertos, coach and general manager of the Boston Astros of the American Professional Soccer League.
Bertos has undertaken the task of propping Lowell youngsters on the finer points of soccer. Before an enthusiastic crowd of over 115 boys, Bertos held his first session at the Lowell Boys Club.
Program Director Bill Lapointe announced that the second class will be held next Monday. The clinic will continue every Saturday thereafter until the Club is satisfied that local youngsters have a sound knowledge of the world's most popular game.
1971
June 17, 1971
John Bertos Sells Soccer
by OWEN FLYNN , Sports Editor
If soccer ever develops here in New England, and it is bound to, what with ethnic groups moving in, Lowell's John Bertos will have to be given all the credit for the development of the game.
Bertos began playing and managing the Lowell Astros some eight years ago and for a time the team fared well here in Lowell. An ambitious sort, Bertos managed to gain a franchise in the American Soccer League.
He naturally took his team to Boston maintaining the Astros name and the club has been playing top notch soccer ever since.
The Astros will face their biggest test next Wednesday, when they host Germany's Rot-Weiss Essen soccer team on the astro-turf of Boston University's Nickerson Field. The match was moved from Brother Gilbert Stadium in Malden in order to accommodate what looks like a sellout crowd.
The Germans, who are used to playing their matches in the fall, winter and spring months under conditions varying from hard frozen earth to soupy mud, are highly interested in playing on "mud sod".
Bertos has a rugged team headed by fullback Paul Sideropoulos, a converted striker who holds the US small college record for 108 goals in a single season, and Mike Kreopolides, a speedy halfback who is a prime candidate for next year's Olympic team.
The striker line is anchored by Klass DeBoer of Sudbury and Lowell's Carlos Carvalho, a pair of standout players. Bertos has been instrumental in bringing a large number of Brazilian players here, many of whom are playing on smaller teams.
Carvalho however is his best import, and the combination of Europeans and South Americans playing on the same team has made for a faster game.
Bertos has also conducted a number of clinics and, in fact, is ever ready to teach a group of interested players. His work is paying off too since a number of teams have been developed here in Lowell among our Spanish speaking population and of course, Manny Freitas has his "Lusitanos" playing in the Greater Boston League.
We watched the Spanish speaking players at O'Donnell park last Sunday, and noted some nice booters. In fact, Bertos is scouting the local players since he is ever seeking good talent.
John Bertos, it must be admitted, is doing a yeoman job selling soccer, and with ethnic groups increasing rapidly, he might just succeed.
Wagner Leao
Subject: Wagner on Benfica vs. Boston Astros : August, 20, 1971 Dilboy Stadium
Recollections of Wagner Leao
"The weird thing that I remember that night vividly, there were people hanging from posts, trees...an amazing crowd....of course, John was very happy (made big bucks) , personally, I had probably my best game as an Astro, and got paid triple for that one...."
One thing I am sure of, the game was played in the Boston area, attendance? There people everywhere, certainly the biggest crowd the Astros had ever had. (5,000 plus)
Benfica was late arriving from the airport, the crowd was getting impatient, so John sent out Itamar and myself to juggle the ball (fancy tricks) to entertain them until they were ready.
It was a tremendous evening!
I believe some the Portuguese papers must some kind of record of the game.
It was a heck of game, probably one of the best of the Astros history...unfortunately we lost 1 to zero, goal scored by Jordão great portuguese internacional at dying moments of the game
worthy of a research
Another note of interest, Gustavo Carias (regular keeper) did not start, he was replaced by Djair (he had a superb evening also)....Gus came in late in the game and took the goal...lol." Wagner Leao, 2015
American Soccer League - 1971
Meanwhile, things looked bleak for the country’s oldest professional league. For a time, there were only two teams lining up for the 1971 ASL season: Boston Astros and Philadelphia Spartans.
The Philadelphia Ukrainians, one of the most successful and longest running franchises in league history, moved to the German-American league, and Newark Sitch was forced to withdraw due to their inability to secure a playing field.
If not for the efforts of Eugene Chyzowych, the league might have folded. Rather than give up, Chyzowych fought back: he took over the as league president, and called friends around the country to get them to invest in the league. Chyzowych even found coaches and helped organize the teams for the new owners.
He persuaded New York Greeks-winners of the National Open Challenge Cup from 1967 through 1969-to take over the vacant Inter franchise; the club won the 1971 title with a 7-1-2 record.
A new group of soccer enthusiasts resuscitated the dormant Syracuse franchise, and an expansion team was awarded to Northern Virginia. The league faced major scheduling problems due to the difficulty of many teams in securing playing fields. New York’s Bob Hatzos was named league MVP,
while John Bertos of Boston was the ASL Coach of the Year.
Final ASL League Standings, 1971
Before the season, New York Greeks and Virginia were added. Syracuse became the Suns.
G W T L GF GA PTS
New York Greeks 10 7 2 1 27 10 16
Boston Astros 10 6 2 2 26 9 14
Philadelphia Spartans 10 6 1 3 16 13 13
Syracuse Suns 10 3 0 7 17 38 6
Virginia Capital Cavaliers 10 1 1 8 17 33 3
CHAMPION: New York Greeks.
After the season, Virginia Capital moved to Washington, and Syracuse folded.
Top Scorer: Charlie Duccilli, Philadelphia Spartans, 11 goals Most Valuable Player: Bob Hatzos, New York Greeks
Coach of the Year: John Bertos, Boston Astros
