League:1962 Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League
Date:22 May 1962
Stadium:War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York
Attendance:2,567
Referee:

Match report

Professional soccer made its debut in Buffalo, New York, on Tuesday night May 22, 1962. The local Buffalo White Eagles team had relocated from Toronto and the National Soccer League before the start of the 1962 Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League season.

A crowd of 2,500 watched the match at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo. It was noted that the field was smaller than ordinary pro soccer fields, being only 70 yards wide and 107-yards long. The normal size being reported as 70-80 yards wide and 110-120 yards long.

Former Scottish League and Football League player Eddie McLeod quickly became a fan favourite as he scored three goals to secure a 4-0 win for the home team.

Former Birmingham City and Sunderland star Ted Purdon scored Eagles’ first goal 39 minutes into the first half. Five minutes later Eddie McLeod got his first goal.

23 minutes into the second half Ed McLeod scored on a pass from George Scott. Six minutes later he scored the Eagles’ fourth goal.

Hamilton Steelers had their best chance when former Heart of Midlothian inside forward Robin Stenhouse fired a shot from point-blank range midway into the first half. Former Hearts and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jimmy Brown saved the shot, and got his second successive shutout.

In an interview with the Buffalo Courier-Express after the game Eddie McLeod said: “No, it wasn’t the best game of my career, I scored five goals once for Stoke City in England.”