HONESDALE — Welcome back to “From the Archives,” a weekly series of photographs and memories culled from my three decades of covering the local news and sports scene.Today’s photo takes us back to the early 1970s when high school soccer was just beginning to carve out a niche in Wayne County.On the pitchAccording to legendary […]
HONESDALE — Welcome back to “From the Archives,” a weekly series of photographs and memories culled from my three decades of covering the local news and sports scene.Today’s photo takes us back to the early 1970s when high school soccer was just beginning to carve out a niche in Wayne County.On the pitchAccording to legendary Independent Sports Editor Keith Sutton, organized soccer was first played locally in 1931.Harris W. Woodley, a teacher at Waymart High School, spearheaded the effort. The first official match was played that very year with Waymart defeating Pleasant Mount Vocational School by a score of 6-0.Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Delaware Valley copped the league crown that year, posting an 8-1-1 record. Paupack earned runner-up honors at 8-2-0, while Western Wayne placed third with a mark of 7-3-0.
Unfortunately, there are no names on the back of the photo, so we’re reaching out for help. If any of these faces look familiar, please contact Kevin Edwards via email at kedwards@gannett.comShare your feedback on this week’s “From the Archives” and stay tuned for our next installment.
Local all-stars
The late great Carl Bell of Damascus High School served as league chairman.After a decades-long hiatus catalyzed by World War II, a new high school soccer league was formed in 1963. The “original” members were Honesdale, Wallenpaupack Area, Waymart, Narrowsburg, Lake Consolidated and Delaware Valley.
Woodley’s teams dominated the early history of local scholastic soccer, going undefeated for three straight seasons.
Let us know
If you have for a suggestion for a photo you’d like to see, please email me at kedwards@gannett..com
This week’s archival photo was shot by Robert Jennings Sr. for the paper. It depicts the 1971 Wayne League all-stars.There are many similar photos in the archive from over the years.
