The first known record of a soccer match in St. Louis was on May 28th, 1875. The game was played at Grand Avenue Baseball Park, which would later become Sportsman's Park, home of the St. Louis Browns and the renamed team, the St. Louis Cardinals. 134 years after that match, St. Louis has finally procured its own Major League Soccer team. Our city now eyes an MLS Cup to complement the Stanley Cup and our many Commissioner's Trophies. St. Louis has become Nirvana for sports fans.
The addition of an MLS team likely means that more kids (and adults) will be interested in playing soccer. And although there are loads of YouTube videos out there that will teach offensive and defensive strategies, nothing beats a good ol' fashioned book. We're your source for authoritative information on how to bend the ball, chip pass, and strike.
Training Secrets of the World's Greatest Footballers
The Soccer Games and Drills Compendium
If you just love the game and want a captivating soccer read, check out this soccer-lover's book list:
Excited to have Major League Soccer in St. Louis? The library carries a variety of books on soccer history, various players, and soccer instruction. Here are some of our favorites from the collection.