Gene Olaff
Encyclopedia
Gene Olaff was a U.S. soccer goalkeeper
. He played in the National Soccer League of New York
and the American Soccer League
. Olaff also earned one cap with the United States
in 1949. He currently resides in Florence Township, New Jersey
.
soccer team, graduating to the Rangers’ senior team by the time he finished high school.
(ASL). He spent a season on Brookhattan’s reserve team, never seeing first team action, before moving to Hatikvoh F.C. of the National Soccer League of New York
(NSL) in 1937. In 1939, Hatikvoh won the league cup. In 1939, he moved to Swedish F.C. of the NSL where he won a second league cup in 1940. The next season, Olaff moved back to the ASL, this time with Brooklyn Hispano
. Olaff and his team mates won the 1943 U.S. Open Cup. In 1944, Olaff gained his first double when Hispano won its second Open Cup in addition to a league title. Olaff’s professional career took a hit with the entry of the U.S. into World War II
. He joined the U.S. Navy, becoming a diver. While he was able to continue playing with Hispano while also serving in the Navy, in the fall of 1944, he was deployed to Bari
, Italy
. He returned to New Jersey in 1946, but was hired by the New Jersey State Police. At the time, members of the State Police were required to live in barracks. In order to continue to play with Hispano, Olaff needed to request a pass each weekend. Despite this limitation, he remained with Hispano and won the 1946 Lewis Cup. He retired in 1953.http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blackhistory2007/news/story?id=2763306
in a 4-0 loss to Scotland
on June 19, 1949.http://national.soccerhall.org/history/MNTAlltime_1916-1959.htm He also played an unofficial game in 1948 against Israel
.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det69.html As the U.S. began preparations for the upcoming 1950 FIFA World Cup
, the national team coach approached Olaff about joining the U.S. team. Olaff was forced to decline the invitation as the State Police refused to approve his request for a leave of absence.
was the dominant U.S. goalkeeper. Olaff imitated Chesney in both his style of play and attire, a baseball cap and pants
.
, Olaff was inducted into the U.S. Navy, becoming a diver
. He spent his first year in the Navy attending diving schools on the east coast, allowing him to continue competing with Hispano. In 1944, he was deployed to Italy to conduct salvage operations in the Adriatic and was discharged from the Navy in March 1946.
Olaff was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1971,
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
. He played in the National Soccer League of New York
National Soccer League of New York
The National Soccer League of New York was an amateur U.S. soccer league which served as a lower division for the de facto first division American Soccer League from the 1920s into the 1950s...
and 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...
. Olaff also earned one cap with the United States
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...
in 1949. He currently resides in Florence Township, New Jersey
Florence Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,746 people, 4,149 households, and 2,891 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,106.5 people per square mile . There were 4,391 housing units at an average density of 452.1 per square mile...
.
Youth
Olaff’s father was a Swedish seaman who jumped ship in the United States. He joined the U.S. National Guard in order to gain his U.S. citizenship and married Irene MacGregor. Olaff was born in 1920 and his sister in 1927. After his mother died in 1937, the year Olaff graduated from high school, and his father in 1941, Olaff took on the responsibility of raising his younger sister while also marrying in 1941.Youth
By that time he was married in 1941, Olaff had established himself as an accomplished goalkeeper. He began playing organized soccer with the semi-professional Bayonne Rangers’ youth team in 1933 with his size leading to his being put in the net. While playing for the Rangers, Olaff also competed with the Bayonne High SchoolBayonne High School
Bayonne High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey, operated by the Bayonne Board of Education....
soccer team, graduating to the Rangers’ senior team by the time he finished high school.
Professional
In 1936, Olaff left the Rangers to sign with the professional New York Brookhattan of the American Soccer LeagueAmerican 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). He spent a season on Brookhattan’s reserve team, never seeing first team action, before moving to Hatikvoh F.C. of the National Soccer League of New York
National Soccer League of New York
The National Soccer League of New York was an amateur U.S. soccer league which served as a lower division for the de facto first division American Soccer League from the 1920s into the 1950s...
(NSL) in 1937. In 1939, Hatikvoh won the league cup. In 1939, he moved to Swedish F.C. of the NSL where he won a second league cup in 1940. The next season, Olaff moved back to the ASL, this time with Brooklyn Hispano
Brooklyn Hispano
The Brooklyn Hispano was an American soccer club based in Brooklyn, New York that was an inaugural member of the reformed American Soccer League. The club was named the Brooklyn Giants for the 1942/43 season only....
. Olaff and his team mates won the 1943 U.S. Open Cup. In 1944, Olaff gained his first double when Hispano won its second Open Cup in addition to a league title. Olaff’s professional career took a hit with the entry of the U.S. into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He joined the U.S. Navy, becoming a diver. While he was able to continue playing with Hispano while also serving in the Navy, in the fall of 1944, he was deployed to Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He returned to New Jersey in 1946, but was hired by the New Jersey State Police. At the time, members of the State Police were required to live in barracks. In order to continue to play with Hispano, Olaff needed to request a pass each weekend. Despite this limitation, he remained with Hispano and won the 1946 Lewis Cup. He retired in 1953.http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blackhistory2007/news/story?id=2763306
National team and the 1950 FIFA World Cup
Olaff earned one cap with the United StatesUnited 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...
in a 4-0 loss to Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
on June 19, 1949.http://national.soccerhall.org/history/MNTAlltime_1916-1959.htm He also played an unofficial game in 1948 against Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det69.html As the U.S. began preparations for the upcoming 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...
, the national team coach approached Olaff about joining the U.S. team. Olaff was forced to decline the invitation as the State Police refused to approve his request for a leave of absence.
Attire
When Olaff began playing, Stanley ChesneyStanley Chesney
Stanley “Stan” Chesney was a U.S. soccer goalkeeper. He played in both the first and second American Soccer League and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame....
was the dominant U.S. goalkeeper. Olaff imitated Chesney in both his style of play and attire, a baseball cap and pants
Early life
Throughout his life, Olaff held a number of jobs to supplement the meager pay, ranging from nine to thirty dollars per game, for playing soccer. This included time as a janitor, shipping clerk and a metal finisher with General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
.
Navy
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Olaff was inducted into the U.S. Navy, becoming a diver
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
. He spent his first year in the Navy attending diving schools on the east coast, allowing him to continue competing with Hispano. In 1944, he was deployed to Italy to conduct salvage operations in the Adriatic and was discharged from the Navy in March 1946.
New Jersey State Police
After leaving the Navy, Olaff was hired by the New Jersey State Police. During his nearly thirty years with the State Police, Olaff was an academy instructor, deputy superintendent, chief of staff and finally, superintendent in 1975. He also created the police underwater unit using his wartime experience.D.B. Kelly Associates
In 1978, Olaff was hired by D.B. Kelly Associates, a newly established security firm. He remained with D.B. Kelly until at least 1996.Olaff 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 1971,