New Haven, Conn., is a city steeped in history. The first submarine, steamboat, cotton gin and revolver all were invented in New Haven. The first public telephone was placed in New Haven. Louis’ Lunch, a restaurant in New Haven, is advertised as the first restaurant to serve hamburgers.
The city is home to Yale University (the third-oldest institution of higher learning in the country), the Peabody Museum of Natural History and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (the fourth-oldest orchestra in the country).
Thus, it comes as no surprise that the city, as well as the county, has a deep history in soccer, dating back to its first team, Ansonia F.C., which played in Ansonia in New Haven County around 1887. The sport’s popularity has continued to grow through the years.
"You have soccer in the community and at the high school," said Rudy Meredith, the Yale women’s soccer head coach. "You have it in college, so you have it in high school, and the high schoolers look to play somewhere. You have club, and they look to play at the high school level. The youth soccer has grown since I first started. I see more kids playing pickup. There’s more soccer going on."
