Benny McLaughlin
Encyclopedia
Bernard "Benny" McLaughlin, Jr. (born April 10, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) is a former U.S. soccer forward
who starred in the American Soccer League
in the 1940s and 1950s. He earned twelve caps with the U.S. national team
, was a member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic soccer team and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1977.
neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. He attended Northeast Catholic High School
, graduating in 1946. He then attended Temple University
where he was a 1946 first team All American
soccer player.
which competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics
. However, the experience was not pleasant for him as the U.S. lost 9-0 to Italy. McLaughlin then went on to play for the U.S. national team
. His first game with the senior team came in another bruising loss, this time an 11-0 defeat at the hands of Norway
on August 6, 1948. In those years, the national team played only a handful of games a year, but McLaughlin saw time in nearly all of them. In 1949, he was integral to the U.S. as it qualified for the 1950 FIFA World Cup
. He was selected to the finals squad, but did not travel with the team to the tournament for two reasons, he was unable to get time off from work and was planning his wedding. Despite that, McLaughlin continued to play with the national team until 1955. That year, he earned his last cap in an August 25 loss to Iceland
.
of the American Soccer League
(ASL), remaining with the team through the 1954 season. In 1949, he scored ten goals and in 1952 was voted the ASL MVP. The Nationals won the ASL title four times while McLaughlin played for them, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953. In 1955, he joined New York Brookhattan
. In 1958 he moved to Uhrik Truckers
. In 1961, he spent a single season with New York Hakoah
. He then moved to the German American Soccer League
, playing for the New York German-Hungarians from 1961-1963. He then finished his career with the amateur Erzgebirge club of Philadelphia from 1963 to 1965. Years later, Len Oliver, a veteran of the American Soccer League, wrote, “The smaller McLaughlin inspired us with his finesse, dribbling opponents one-on-one throughout the game, lithe, snaking through defenses, setting up other attackers with deadly through pass., a little guy taking on the biggest defenders. bouncing up from bruising tackle, and also possessing a devastating shot.”
In 1977, McLaughlin was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
. In March 2008, he was inducted into the Northeast Catholic High School Soccer Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Philadelphia Oldtimers Soccer Hall of Fame.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
) is a former U.S. soccer 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...
who starred 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 the 1940s and 1950s. He earned twelve caps with the U.S. national team
United 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...
, was a member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic soccer team and was inducted into 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 1977.
Youth and college
McLaughlin, one of the best U.S. soccer players of his era, was born in the KensingtonKensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. He attended Northeast Catholic High School
Northeast Catholic High School
Northeast Catholic High School opened in 1926 as Northeast Catholic High School for Boys, and is located at 1842 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is under the administration of the high school system of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia and its sports teams...
, graduating in 1946. He then attended Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
where he was a 1946 first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
soccer player.
Olympic and national team
In 1948, McLaughlin was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer teamUnited States at the 1948 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 300 competitors, 262 men and 38 women, took part in 126 events in 19 sports.- Gold:*Harrison Dillard — Athletics, Men's 100 metres...
which competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
. However, the experience was not pleasant for him as the U.S. lost 9-0 to Italy. McLaughlin then went on to play for the U.S. national team
United 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...
. His first game with the senior team came in another bruising loss, this time an 11-0 defeat at the hands of Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
on August 6, 1948. In those years, the national team played only a handful of games a year, but McLaughlin saw time in nearly all of them. In 1949, he was integral to the U.S. as it qualified for the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
. He was selected to the finals squad, but did not travel with the team to the tournament for two reasons, he was unable to get time off from work and was planning his wedding. Despite that, McLaughlin continued to play with the national team until 1955. That year, he earned his last cap in an August 25 loss to Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
.
Professional career
Even while in college, McLaughlin spent time with several top amateur and professional teams in Philadelphia. He began with the Lighthouse Boys Club, a local youth athletic club founded in 1902 by various local benevolence societies. The Lighthouse were one of the top youth clubs of the era, taking the 1938 McGuire Cup. However, records do not show when he played with the team that year. In 1945, he moved to the Philadelphia NationalsPhiladelphia Nationals
Philadelphia Passon was an American soccer club based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was a member of the professional American Soccer League.Before the 1941/42 season, the club became the Philadelphia Nationals...
of 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...
(ASL), remaining with the team through the 1954 season. In 1949, he scored ten goals and in 1952 was voted the ASL MVP. The Nationals won the ASL title four times while McLaughlin played for them, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953. In 1955, he joined New York Brookhattan
Brookhattan
New York Brookhattan was an American soccer club based in New York, New York that was a member of the professional American Soccer League. The club joined the ASL for its final season....
. In 1958 he moved to Uhrik Truckers
Uhrik Truckers
Philadelphia German-American was an American soccer club based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was an inaugural member of the professional American Soccer League.Before the 1941/42 season the club became known as the Philadelphia Americans...
. In 1961, he spent a single season with New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah is a former United States soccer club based in New York City.-New York Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players from SC Hakoah Wien, including among others Béla Guttmann and Rudolph Nickolsburger, they initially played in the Eastern Soccer League in the fall of 1928. In 1929...
. He then moved to the German American Soccer League
German American Soccer League
The German American Soccer League is the previous name of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, a semi-professional and amateur soccer league which was founded in 1923. The league competes primarily in the New York metropolitan area and northern New Jersey.-History:In 1923, five teams, S.C. New York,...
, playing for the New York German-Hungarians from 1961-1963. He then finished his career with the amateur Erzgebirge club of Philadelphia from 1963 to 1965. Years later, Len Oliver, a veteran of the American Soccer League, wrote, “The smaller McLaughlin inspired us with his finesse, dribbling opponents one-on-one throughout the game, lithe, snaking through defenses, setting up other attackers with deadly through pass., a little guy taking on the biggest defenders. bouncing up from bruising tackle, and also possessing a devastating shot.”
Post-playing career
Today, McLaughlin lives in Philadelphia. He has 6 children and 12 grandchildren.In 1977, McLaughlin was inducted into 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 March 2008, he was inducted into the Northeast Catholic High School Soccer Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Philadelphia Oldtimers Soccer Hall of Fame.