Shamus O'Brien
Encyclopedia
William Shamus O’Brien was a U.S.
-Scottish soccer inside left
. During his Hall of Fame
career, O’Brien spent eight seasons in the first American Soccer League
and another five in the second American Soccer League.
when his father was hired by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. However, the family did not remain in Virginia, but moved to Kearny, New Jersey
where O’Brien was immersed in one of the country’s most productive soccer regions. He began his career with Ryerson Juniors, winning the 1925 New Jersey state cup. He then briefly moved to Hartley before turning professional in the fall of 1925.
of the American Soccer League
signed O’Brien. In 1928, the Giants, along with two other teams from the ASL, were suspended from the league for playing U.S. Open Cup matches. The suspension was part of the Soccer Wars which pitted the ASL and the U.S. Soccer Football Association for control of professional soccer in the U.S. When the ASL boycotted the Open Cup, the Giants defied the league and played its games anyway, leading to its suspension. USSFA then assisted the three suspended ASL clubs to merge with several teams from the Southern New York Soccer Association to form the Eastern Soccer League
. O’Brien and the Giants played the 1928-1929 season in the ESL before returning to the ASL in the fall of 1929. However, he also played one game with the New York Nationals
. In 1930 the owner of the Giants was forced to sell the club as he also owned New York Hakoah
, another ASL team. Under the new ownership, the Giants became the New York Soccer Club
. In the spring of 1931, O’Brien moved to the second New York Giants
. This version of the Giants was in no way related to the earlier Giants. This Giants team folded at the end of the 1931-1932 season and O’Brien moved to the New York Americans
. The first American Soccer League finally collapsed in 1933, to be replaced by the second ASL. With the change in league, O’Brien left the Americans to sign with the Kearny Irish Americans in 1933. The Irish-Americans won the 1933-1934 league titles before becoming known as the Kearny Irish. O’Brien retired from playing professionally in 1938.
Although selected for the United States team to compete in the first World Cup
, he had to decline the offer because at that time he was not a U.S. citizen.
O’Brien was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1990.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-Scottish soccer inside left
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...
. During his 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:...
career, O’Brien spent eight seasons in the first 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...
and another five in the second American Soccer League.
Youth
While born in Scotland, O’Brien’s family immigrated to the United States when he was eleven. They initially settled in Newport News, VirginiaNewport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
when his father was hired by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. However, the family did not remain in Virginia, but moved to Kearny, New Jersey
Kearny, New Jersey
Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
where O’Brien was immersed in one of the country’s most productive soccer regions. He began his career with Ryerson Juniors, winning the 1925 New Jersey state cup. He then briefly moved to Hartley before turning professional in the fall of 1925.
Professional
In 1925, the New York GiantsNew York Giants (soccer)
New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...
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...
signed O’Brien. In 1928, the Giants, along with two other teams from the ASL, were suspended from the league for playing U.S. Open Cup matches. The suspension was part of the Soccer Wars which pitted the ASL and the U.S. Soccer Football Association for control of professional soccer in the U.S. When the ASL boycotted the Open Cup, the Giants defied the league and played its games anyway, leading to its suspension. USSFA then assisted the three suspended ASL clubs to merge with several teams from the Southern New York Soccer Association to form the Eastern Soccer League
Eastern Professional Soccer League (1928-1929)
The Eastern Professional Soccer League, better known as the Eastern Soccer League , was a U.S. soccer league which existed for only a season and a half in 1928 and 1929. Born of the internecine strife between U.S...
. O’Brien and the Giants played the 1928-1929 season in the ESL before returning to the ASL in the fall of 1929. However, he also played one game with the New York Nationals
New York Nationals (soccer)
New York Nationals were a New York soccer team which played in the American Soccer League between 1927 and 1930. A New York Nationals team also played in the United Soccer League in 1984.-History:...
. In 1930 the owner of the Giants was forced to sell the club as he also owned 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...
, another ASL team. Under the new ownership, the Giants became the New York Soccer Club
New York Soccer Club
New York Soccer Club was the name of a New York soccer team that, in 1930, played briefly in the American Soccer League. Between 1923 and 1930 they had been known as the New York Giants. In 1930 they merged with the Fall River Marksmen to become the New York Yankees. Then in 1931 this club absorbed...
. In the spring of 1931, O’Brien moved to the second New York Giants
New York Giants (soccer)
New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...
. This version of the Giants was in no way related to the earlier Giants. This Giants team folded at the end of the 1931-1932 season and O’Brien moved to the New York Americans
New York Americans (soccer)
The New York Americans were an American soccer club founded in 1931. Based in New York, New York, it played in both the first and second American Soccer Leagues.-History:...
. The first American Soccer League finally collapsed in 1933, to be replaced by the second ASL. With the change in league, O’Brien left the Americans to sign with the Kearny Irish Americans in 1933. The Irish-Americans won the 1933-1934 league titles before becoming known as the Kearny Irish. O’Brien retired from playing professionally in 1938.
Although selected for the United States team to compete in the first 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 had to decline the offer because at that time he was not a U.S. citizen.
O’Brien 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 1990.