Over 70 Years and Counting..

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Team in 1950's

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1961 game in Marquette Park

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Men's Team Game

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Men's Team in 2020's

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Goalie Practice

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History of the Liths Soccer Club

The first 30 years are excerpted from an article written by Jonas Juska entitled Chicagos FK Lituanica that was part of the book ”Išeivijos Lietuvių Sportas 1944/84” (Sports in the Lithuanian Diaspora 1944/48).  The article is in Lithuanian and available to read here.  The pictures in the article are a must see.

On January 14, 1951 a meeting was held of a newly organized soccer team at which it was officially named Football Club Lituanica.  This meeting was attended by 27 soccer enthusiast and they elected the first Club Board members: E. Vengianskas (chairman),i: K. Baltramonaitis, L. Kriaučiūnas, V. Numgaudas and E. Šulaitis.

The team joined the National Soccer League Chicago and played in the second division.  They finished in third place that first season tallying 8 wins, 5 losses and 3 draws and were invited to participate in the winter indoor league.  Within the American Soccer community, the team was named the Liths Soccer Club (shortened from the Lithuanian name). Due to numerous unforeseen issues the team was unable to finish out the season.

In mid-1951 the club had combined with other Lithuanian sports clubs and adopted the name Perkūnas for the team; continuing to use the “Liths” name in American soccer competitions.  They played their first game as Perkūnas in late 1952 against Toronto’s Vytis.  The club no longer participated in the NSL and exclusively played in Lithuanian soccer tournaments.

In 1955, prior to participating in the North American Lithuanian sports tournament in Cleveland, the club decided to participate as the Chicago Lithuanian Football Club Vainutis (also known as Club Vainutis).  This was the name suggested by their sponsor M. Pauparas.

In 1956 playing as the Liths they returned to the NSL and won the second division to be promoted up to the first.  The team had won 22 out of 28 games.

In early 1957 the club decided to return to its original name and officially became the Chicago Lithuanian Football Club Lituanica; however, they continued to play in the NSL as the Liths.  The numbers on the club had swelled so that the club was able to field 3 teams during the outdoor season:  men’s, reserves and youth.  This same year the team finally finished first in the Lithuanian tournament.

In 1959 the club fielded a men’s and youth team in the Lithuanian tournament and both finished first.  The victories were not finished.  In the NSL the teams finished first in both the outdoor and indoor leagues and were promoted to the major division.

As we entered the next decade the club found itself in turmoil.  The men’s team couldn’t maintain its position in the major division, in spite of adding good players from Brazil and England, and were relegated down to the first division. 

The club was growing but expenses were rising, so the club bought a tavern on 69th Street in the Marquette Park community and were able to accumulate a good amount of money before selling off the business after a couple of years of operation.  Other funds were generated by hosting New Year’s Eve galas at the Bridgeport Auditorium.  50 donors/sponsors were gained from this effort.

In 1961 the men’s team once again was promoted to the major division but a year later was relegated back down to the first division.  It was determined that a lack of talent was responsible so to solve this it was decided to recruit and train youngsters from the local school.  There was a large group that signed up but the enthusiasm waned rapidly and only a few made it to playing with the men’s team.  There was a player crisis.

It took a few years, but the club gained some momentum and the men’s team regained major division status only to be relegated back down a year later.

The 1970’s proved to be better with the club growing and gaining more donors/supporters with everything peaking in 1975.  The club had Mayor Richard J. Daley proclaim October 11 as Liths Soccer Club Day.  6 teams participated in the NSL. And the Illinois General Assembly granted one year college scholarships to several players.

In 1978, then president Gediminas Bielskus, organized a committee to purchase and renovate a burned-out house in the neighborhood and turn it into a home for the club.  It was officially opened on June 15, 1978 with numerous politicians in attendance together with all the club members. This new home generated enthusiasm that had been waning and the club had a resurgence.  And as the decade turned over the men’s team once again was promoted to the major division in the NSL

In the early 1980’s the club had up to 7 teams playing in the NSL.  In 1982 it was decided to leave the NSL and join the Metropolitan Soccer League where most of the European team were competing and in 1983 the men’s team was once again promoted to the major division and remained there for many years.

The future of the club was starting to look bleak as the players were aging and no new talent was growing in the system.  Things improved when new immigrants from Lithuania began arriving and the club got stronger.  In 1992 the men’s team won the major division championship in the Metropolitan Soccer League, an accomplishment that took over 40 years to meet.

Towards the end of the 1990’s the dynamics of the Lithuanian community were changing and the club found itself selling its club house in Marquette Park and moving to the playing field to Lemont at the Lithuanian World Center.

The last 2 decades have been difficult for the Liths Soccer Club.

Fielding a men’s first division team for both indoor and outdoor league play became difficult and unpredictable due to a lack of players. Over the last several years they were able to field over-40 and over-50 “Old-timers" teams comprised of older ex-first team players. The over 40 Old-timers team represented the club well culminating with a first place finish in 2019.

Towards the end of 2018 a small group started up the “Iron Wolf Academy” to work with young children and teach them the skills necessary to become good soccer players., These young people will hopefully grow into becoming members of the adult teams and thus make the club strong and viable. The L:iths Club has a strong commitment to that end.

In early 2024 a new board was elected composed of enthusiastic and dedicated parents of academy students. This energetic group promised to enhance the club as a whole as it strives to make it to the century mark.

This website is dedicated to documenting the history and current activities of the club.