John Nanoski
Encyclopedia
John “Duke” or “Jukey” Nanoski (born June 14, 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) is a former U.S. soccer center forward
who spent most of his career in the American Soccer League
. He led the league in scoring twice. He was one of only two players inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1993, the other being Pelé
.
where he attended Stetson High School. While growing up he played for several youth clubs, the Philadelphia Athletic Club, Westmoreland S.C., and Lehigh S.C. When he was sixteen he joined a lower division amateur city team by the name of the Kensington Quoit Club. Over two season, the team rose through the third, then second division. That led to Nanoski turning professional in 1937.
of the American Soccer League
. Brooklyn finished second in the league that season, but won the 1939 U.S. Open Cup 5-1 on aggregate in the two game series over Chicago's Bricklayers and Masons F.C.
Nanoski scored three of Brooklyn’s goals, including the game winner in the 1-0 away victory in Chicago. Nanoski led the league in scoring with twenty goals in the 1941-1942 season. However, Brooklyn could not capitalize on his production and finished at the bottom of the standings. The team folded following the season and Nanoski moved to the Philadelphia Americans. He again led the league in scoring during the 1944-1945 season. He played with the Americans through the 1947-1948 season, winning the league title in 1944, 1947 and 1948. In 1948, he joined the Brooklyn Wanderers
, but the team folded one game into the season. According to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Nanoski played with the Trenton Highlanders
at some point in his career. The Highlanders spent the 1938-1939 season in the ASL. Before that they had existed as an amateur club. There are no details on when Nanoski played for them.
Nanoski was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1993.
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 center 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 spent most of 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...
. He led the league in scoring twice. He was one of only two players 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 1993, the other being Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
.
Youth
Nanoski grew up in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, 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,...
where he attended Stetson High School. While growing up he played for several youth clubs, the Philadelphia Athletic Club, Westmoreland S.C., and Lehigh S.C. When he was sixteen he joined a lower division amateur city team by the name of the Kensington Quoit Club. Over two season, the team rose through the third, then second division. That led to Nanoski turning professional in 1937.
Professional
In 1937, Nanoski joined the Kensington Blue Bells in the Pennsylvania League. He scored 54 goals as the Blue Bells won the 1938 league title. That brought him to the attention of the professionals which led to his signing with Brooklyn St. Mary's CelticBrooklyn St. Mary's Celtic
Brooklyn Celtic was a name used by at least two U.S. soccer teams. The first was an early twentieth century amateur team which was formed in August 1910 and dominated the New York Amateur Association Football League from 1912 to 1917. The second was a member of the professional American Soccer...
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...
. Brooklyn finished second in the league that season, but won the 1939 U.S. Open Cup 5-1 on aggregate in the two game series over Chicago's Bricklayers and Masons F.C.
Bricklayers and Masons F.C.
Bricklayers and Masons F.C., also known as Chicago Bricklayers, was a U.S. soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois which joined that city's Association Football League in 1914. Over the next twenty years, Bricklayers won two Peel Cups and was the runner up in the 1928 and 1931 National Challenge...
Nanoski scored three of Brooklyn’s goals, including the game winner in the 1-0 away victory in Chicago. Nanoski led the league in scoring with twenty goals in the 1941-1942 season. However, Brooklyn could not capitalize on his production and finished at the bottom of the standings. The team folded following the season and Nanoski moved to the Philadelphia Americans. He again led the league in scoring during the 1944-1945 season. He played with the Americans through the 1947-1948 season, winning the league title in 1944, 1947 and 1948. In 1948, he joined the Brooklyn Wanderers
Brooklyn Wanderers
The Brooklyn Wanderers was a U.S. soccer team which was a founding member of the National Association Football League in the late nineteenth century. It later joined the American Soccer League.-History:...
, but the team folded one game into the season. According to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Nanoski played with the Trenton Highlanders
Trenton Highlanders
The Trenton Highlanders were an American soccer club based in Trenton, New Jersey that was a member of the professional American Soccer League.The Highlanders had been previously an amateur club...
at some point in his career. The Highlanders spent the 1938-1939 season in the ASL. Before that they had existed as an amateur club. There are no details on when Nanoski played for them.
Nanoski 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 1993.