DEFENDING OUR HONOR

Battling for the Portland Cup

By Sam Pfeifle

As far as spectator sports attendance in Portland goes, last Wednesday’s soccer match at Deering High School couldn’t stand up to the 3000-plus that watched the Sea Dogs battle the Rock Cats, but the 25 folks who sat in the bleachers of Memorial Stadium under a blazing sun may have seen a challenge of greater import on the pitch before them.

The Fifth Annual Portland Cup was at stake, with the Queen Elizabeth 2 Football Club attempting to retain the trophy they took from Portland Masters United last year after a 4-4 draw (the “away goal” rule was put into effect).

Alas, PMU was unable to wrest the cup from the talented — their center middie played for the English pro club Wolves, according to the program they provided — QE2 club, losing 3 to 1. The lone goal was scored by feisty midfielder Bob Brittingham.

ýWe’re a bit disappointed with the result,” says PMU player/manager Trevor Hughes. “While this is a friendly game, we always play very hard and it is tough to lose. The QE2 team came out very strong in the first half and we struggled to get organized. In the second half, we missed some great opportunities — hitting the post and having another shot deflected just wide.” Yes, disappointing.

It was, however, an exciting continuation of an international rivalry that dates back to 1996. Shawn Moody, PMU’s leading goal-scorer, works at Chase, Leavitt & Co., who’ve been representing owners and charterers of vessels that call on ports in Maine and New Hampshire since 1854. A week prior to the QE2’s ’96 visit, crew supervisor Mashuk Miah asked Moody to arrange a game with a local “football” club. Scrambling, Moody found PMU, who represent Portland in the Men’s Open summer league, and arranged a game with PMU’s Hughes at Back Bay field — with the help of City of Portland Waterfront Department’s Jeff Monroe and Ben Snow as well as the Parks and Rec. Department’s John Wohn.

QE2 won, 5 to 3.

“At the time the first game was set up,” says Moody, “I did not know Trevor or any of the PMU squad and I did not play,” but he’s played in every game since. QE2 did not request a game in ’97, but Moody approached them in ’98, officially setting up the Portland Cup, and buying the trophy (displayed for the first time at the ’99 match). PMU avenged their initial loss with 6-4 and 6-3 victories in the next two years. More importantly, the event grew. QE2 now brings a band to the match, and TV stations have been known to throw a five-second blurb their way.

Rather, I should say “our” way, as I was lucky enough to play in my first Portland Cup this year. And the hit post — that was me. Ouch.