Arnie Oliver
Encyclopedia
Arnold “Lucky Arnie” Oliver (May 22, 1907 in New Bedford, Massachusetts
– October 16, 1993 in New Bedford, Massachusetts
) was a U.S. soccer inside forward
. He spent at least six seasons in the American Soccer League
. He was a member of the U.S. team at the 1930 FIFA World Cup
and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
, a local amateur club which joined the professional American Soccer League
in 1925. However, Oliver remained an amateur and when the Indians folded during the season, he moved to the Defenders Club, winning the 1926 National Amateur Cup
title with them. Following the Amateur Cup final, Oliver turned professional when he signed with the New Bedford Whalers
. He played only one game with the Whalers and in 1927, he moved to the Hartford Americans
. However, they were kicked out of the league after only ten games and Oliver moved to J&P Coats for the remainder of the season. He spent most of the 1928-1929 season with J&P Coats, but finished the season with the New Bedford Whalers
. Oliver then moved to the Pawtucket Rangers
for the fall 1929 season. In the fall of 1930, he began the season with the Marksmen before transferring to the Providence Gold Bugs
. In the spring of 1931, he played with Fall River F.C.
then with the Pawtucket Rangers
in the fall of 1931. Some sources state Oliver ended his career in the American Soccer League
in 1931, others say 1935. However, all agree that he finished his career with the amateur Santo Christos in 1938.
for the 1930 FIFA World Cup
. He did not enter any of the U.S. games at the tournament but played several exhibition games during the U.S. team's South American tour following the cup. However, none of those games are considered full internationals.
Oliver was inducted in to the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1968, the New England Soccer Hall of Fame in 1981 and the UMass Dartmouth Hall of Fame in 1997.
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
– October 16, 1993 in New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
) was a U.S. soccer inside forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He spent at least six seasons in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. He was a member of the U.S. team at the 1930 FIFA World Cup
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Club career
Oliver, the son of British immigrants, began his career with the New Bedford Quisset Mill, a cotton mill, club when he was fourteen. He then played with the Shawsheen IndiansShawsheen Indians
Shawsheen Indians were an United States soccer club based in Andover, Massachusetts during the early 1920s.-History:The Shawsheen Football Club, known by its nickname The Indians, was founded by George Park and played in the New Bedford Industrial Soccer League in the early 1920s...
, a local amateur club which joined the professional American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
in 1925. However, Oliver remained an amateur and when the Indians folded during the season, he moved to the Defenders Club, winning the 1926 National Amateur Cup
National Amateur Cup
The National Amateur Cup is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation...
title with them. Following the Amateur Cup final, Oliver turned professional when he signed with the New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...
. He played only one game with the Whalers and in 1927, he moved to the Hartford Americans
Hartford Americans
The Hartford Americans was an American soccer club based in Hartford, Connecticut that was member of the professional American Soccer League. They joined the league in 1927, but were dropped early in the season to balance the league after the Philadelphia Celtic was suspended after only 10...
. However, they were kicked out of the league after only ten games and Oliver moved to J&P Coats for the remainder of the season. He spent most of the 1928-1929 season with J&P Coats, but finished the season with the New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...
. Oliver then moved to the Pawtucket Rangers
Pawtucket Rangers
J. & P. Coats was an American soccer club team of the J. & P. Coats Company based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island having been founded in 1900.The club played won the Rhode Island League in 1914 then was an inaugural member of the semi-pro Southern New England Soccer League...
for the fall 1929 season. In the fall of 1930, he began the season with the Marksmen before transferring to the Providence Gold Bugs
Providence Gold Bugs
The Providence Clamdiggers was a member of the American Soccer League. They were renamed the Providence Gold Bugs before the spring half of the 1928/29 season...
. In the spring of 1931, he played with Fall River F.C.
Fall River F.C.
Fall River Football Club, also referred to as Fall River Field Club, was the name used by two United States soccer clubs, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. Both played in the American Soccer League during the early 1930s. The name is often used incorrectly to refer to Fall River Marksmen, another...
then with the Pawtucket Rangers
Pawtucket Rangers
J. & P. Coats was an American soccer club team of the J. & P. Coats Company based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island having been founded in 1900.The club played won the Rhode Island League in 1914 then was an inaugural member of the semi-pro Southern New England Soccer League...
in the fall of 1931. Some sources state Oliver ended his career in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
in 1931, others say 1935. However, all agree that he finished his career with the amateur Santo Christos in 1938.
National team
In 1930, Oliver was called into the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
for the 1930 FIFA World Cup
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
. He did not enter any of the U.S. games at the tournament but played several exhibition games during the U.S. team's South American tour following the cup. However, none of those games are considered full internationals.
Coaching
Following his retirement from playing, Oliver coached extensively. In 1966, he became the first head coach of the UMass Dartmouth men’s soccer team. From the team’s founding in 1966 through the 1969 season, Oliver took the team to a 40-11-2 record.Oliver was inducted in to the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1968, the New England Soccer Hall of Fame in 1981 and the UMass Dartmouth Hall of Fame in 1997.