Jimmy Douglas (January 12, 1898 in East Newark, New
Jersey – March 5, 1972 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey) was a U.S. soccer
goalkeeper who spent his career in the first American Soccer League
(ASL). He earned nine caps with the U.S. national team, making his first
appearance for the "Stars and Stripes" at the 1924 Summer Olympics.
Notably, he finished his international career at the 1930 FIFA World
Cup, where he posted the first "clean sheet" in World Cup history.
Douglas was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1953.
Douglas began his organized playing career with the youth club,
Central Juniors of Newark, New Jersey in 1907 when he was nine years
old. Over the next fourteen years he played for a variety of amateur
teams including Ryerson, Antlers, Erie and Swansons. In 1922, he signed
with Harrison F.C. of the American Soccer League (ASL). However, he
remained an amateur, refusing to accept any payment.Archived October 28,
2009 at the Wayback Machine In the 1922-1923 ASL season, Douglas played
twenty-three games, winning fourteen and gaining a 2.44 goals against
average (GAA). In 1923, he moved to the Newark Skeeters (at times called
Newark F.C.). Douglas spent two seasons with Newark, still maintaining
his amateur status.
In the fall of 1925, Douglas began playing
for the New York Giants. However, the Newark Skeeters still listed
Douglas on their rosters and the Giants were forced to forfeit several
games after teams complained to the league.Archived October 28, 2009 at
the Wayback Machine After the Giants got that problem straightened out,
Douglas continued to play for them until October 1927 when he moved to
the Fall River Marksmen.Archived October 28, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
After one season in Fall River, Douglas then played twelve games of the
1928-1929 season with Philadelphia Field Club before moving to the
Brooklyn Wanderers for three games. He then finished the season back
with the Fall River Marksmen.
In 1929, Douglas joined the New
York Nationals. In 1930, Charles Stoneham, owner of the Nationals,
renamed his team the New York Giants when the original Giants changed
their name to New York Soccer Club. Douglas continued with the new
Giants through the 1930 spring and fall season before moving to the New
York Americans in 1931. He played only seven games, then retired.
Douglas earned nine caps with the U.S. national team between 1924
and 1930. His first game came as a member of the national team in the
1924 Summer Olympics. He backstopped the U.S. to a 1-0 victory over
Estonia on May 25, 1924, Douglas was named the game’s MVP. Then four
days later, the U.S. lost to Uruguay which put the U.S. out of the
tournament. Douglas then played the next two 1924 U.S. games. In 1925,
he was in the nets for a U.S. 1-0 shutout of Canada in Montreal.
In 1930, he returned to the national team at the 1930 FIFA World
Cup. Douglas shutout Belgium and Paraguay before losing to Argentina in
the semifinals. About four minutes into that game, Douglas twisted his
knee, then two U.S. players were injured. As the rules did not allow
substitutes at the time, Douglas and his teammates were forced to play
injured. Following the World Cup, the U.S. traveled to Rio de Janeiro
where it lost 4-3 to the Brazil. Douglas finished his U.S. career with
four wins and three shutouts.
The National Soccer Hall of Fame
inducted Douglas in 1954. Douglas died on March 5, 1972 in Point
Pleasant, New Jersey. |
