An important group of medals and presentations awarded to Tommy Raeside and relating to The American Soccer League, established in 1921 as the first s

An important group of medals and presentations awarded to Tommy Raeside and relating to The American Soccer League, established in 1921 as the first significant organisation of well paid professional soccer in the United States of America, the lot comprising i, ii & iii for Bethlehem Steel FC and iv, v & vi for River Fall FC i) an 18ct. gold and diamond American Soccer League Championship ring season 1926-27, the inner band engraved with the initials T.R. and inscribed AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE, B.S.F.C. [BETHLEHEM STEEL FOOTBALL CLUB], CHAMPS 26 - 27 ii) a 10k. gold model of a soccer ball inscribed N.C.C.C., EASTERN DIV., CHAMPIONSHIP, 1925-26, BETHLEHEM STEEL F.C., T. RAESIDE, attached by a chain to a gold-filled Dennison 'Star' trademark pocket watch, No.547700, which in all probability was not part of the presentation, Tommy Raeside choosing to wear his soccer ball award on his pocket watch chain iii) a USFA player's badge for the above match with red, white & ball medal ribbon inscribed U.S.F.A., GRAND FINAL, N.C.C.C., SEASON 1925-1926, BROOKLYN, N.Y., SUNDAY APRIL 11, BEN MILLER F.C., Vs. BETHLEHEM F.C. iv) a 10k. gold model of a soccer ball inscribed N.C.C.C., EASTERN DIV., CHAMPIONSHIP, 1923-24, FALL RIVER F.C., red, white & ball medal ribbon v) a gold-mounted silver medal inscribed A F A, 23 24, FALL RIVER F.C., RUNNER UP, THOMAS RAESIDE, black ribbon suspension vi) a 10k. gold & enamel medal inscribed AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP COMPETITION 1924 1925, FALL RIVER F.C., RUNNERS UP, THOMAS RAESIDE, red, white & ball medal ribbon Tommy Raeside was a Scot who had played centre-half for Dumbarton Bo'ness and King's Park (Stirling) before emigrating to America and playing in the infant years of the professional American Soccer League. He played for Fall River Marksmen in Massachusetts and the Bethlehem Steel Corporation's team in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Bethlehem Steel were a major force in early American soccer in the guise of several different League organisations. Tommy Raeside was a member of the team who won Championship rings in season 1926-27 and National Challenge Cup medals the season before when they beat Ben Millers (Missouri) 7-2 at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn. Raeside had already won a National Challenge Cup medal with Fall River Marksmen in 1923-24 who beat Vesper Buick (MO) 4-2 at High School Field, St Louis, Missouri. In 1923-24 Raeside also won a runners-up medal in the American Football Association's Open Cup when Fall River were beaten by Raeside's future club Bethlehem Steel. The scoreline was 1-0.