shake our hands, and ask: ‘How are
you guys doing? Do you have any
relatives there?’ and what’s going
on. Everyone is so supportive.”
This is reflected in Philadelphia
where the Nationals have been raising
funds for the Philadelphia-based
United Ukrainian American Relief
Committee (UUARC), with whom they
have partnered. “Two of our opposing
teams delivered cheques made payable
to the UUARC, one in the amount of
$1,000, one just under that, because
these opposition teams took up
collections,” adds Eugene Luciw.
“All of the teams we play, will, at
this time in some way, shape or
form, show solidarity with Ukraine.
“Typically there will be a joint
photograph taken with the Ukrainian
flag. I was touched by one opponent
that arrived to play with the Ukrainian
flags pinned to their jerseys.
“Our teams simply being Ukrainian
and having the Ukrainian colours and
emblem just lights up awareness
throughout. We’re a very well-known
and successful club in our area
regionally, and even nationally, such
that the word Ukraine, the colours,
leads to constant awareness.”
The success Eugene speaks of is
perhaps a surprise to some outside
the United States. It’s easy to think of
American soccer solely in terms of the
relatively short-lived National American
Soccer League (NASL), graced by the
likes of Pele,Johan Cruyff and George
Best, and the current top division,
Major League Soccer (MLS), which
itself is only 27 seasons old.
But the side from Philadelphia are
among the most successful teams in
American soccer history. The US Open
Cup is the longest-running national
competition in the country, having
first been contested in1913-14, and
the Nationals have won it four times.
In a country where true regional-
to-national competition is rare due
to the franchise system and a lack of
promotion and relegation, the Open
Cup is one of the ways to measure
historical success, and the Ukrainian
Nationals are right up there as one of
the most successful clubs. Only twosides have won it more – Bethlehem
Steel and Maccabee Los Angeles –
and they are both now defunct.
In terms of the wider picture of
US sport, where the concept of the
“franchise” can sometimes mean teams
struggle to forge an identity, these
clubs and many others like them in the
lower leagues offer it naturally rather
than through branding or marketing.
Therefore, it’s not just past success
that makes these clubs important. That
they retain roots that date back to the
middle of the last century is also a big
achievement in the American soccer
landscape.
In a nation where, over the years,
sports teams regularly disband,
rebrand, or even relocate due to
the franchise model seen at the
top level, these clubs have endured,
and this sees them come into their
own in moments like these.
“It becomes a natural community,”
Eugene Luciw continues. “Folks who
never experienced that natural tie of
community, even in soccer fellowship,
with a heritage to it, however that
heritage may be defined, that’s where
they felt a strength. They didn’t need to
develop the brand. If you are branded,eyewitness
HHistory...excerpts
ffrom a late1960s
mmatchday programme