Davey Brown
Encyclopedia
David “Davey” Brown is a former U.S. soccer
forward
. He spent most of his career playing for teams in New Jersey and New York, gaining his greatest fame with the New York Giants
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
for the 1917-1918 National Association Foot Ball League (NAFBL) season. When West Hudson withdrew from the NAFBL at the end of the season, Brown moved to Paterson F.C. where he spent the next two seasons. At the end of the 1919-1920 season, Paterson withdrew from the league despite finishing in the top half of the standings each season. Brown then moved to Erie A.A. for the 1920-1921 NAFBL season. At the end of that season, Erie A.A. switched to the newly established American Soccer League
(ASL) and changed its name to Harrison Erie Soccer Club (S.C.). In various publications the team was also known as Harrison S.C. and Harrison Field Club (F.C.). Regardless of the name, Brown remained with this team through the end of the 1922-1923 season. He then spent a single season with the Newark Skeeters
in the Skeeters’ first season in the ASL.
In 1924, Brown moved to the New York Giants
where he gained his greatest fame three years later. In the 1926-1927 season, he scored fifty-two goals in thirty-eight games, one of the most productive seasons by any player in an American outdoor league. However, that season was an anomaly. While Brown was a consistent goal scorer, he more typically would score between eleven and twenty-eight goals a season.
With the onset of the Soccer War in 1928, Brown’s career becomes erratic. When the Giants were suspended by the ASL, Brown moved to the Brooklyn Wanderers
for three games. However, he then rejoined the Giants, when they began playing in the newly established Eastern Professional Soccer League. In 1930, the Giants rejoined the ASL, but under new ownership and a new name, the New York Soccer Club
. New York SC folded at the end of the 1930 fall season and Brown moved to the second New York Giants. When the New York Giants had become the New York Soccer Club
, Charles Stoneman, owner of both the ASL New York Nationals and the American baseball team New York Giants
decided to rename his Nationals club the Giants. By that time the Great Depression
and the Soccer Wars had begun to decimate the American Soccer League. Brown played out the 1931 season with the Giants but moved to the Brooklyn F.C. in 1932. The ASL collapsed in 1933 to be replaced by the second, and unrelated, American Soccer League. Brooklyn SC joined the second ASL but failed twelve games into the season. Brooklyn Celtic then joined the league, absorbing most of Brooklyn F.C.'s players as well as the team's record. Brown remained with Celtic until his retirement in 1935.
In addition to his regular teams, Brown served as a guest player twice, in 1919 and in 1920. In 1919, Bethlehem Steel F.C.
signed Brown as a guest player during the team’s Scandinavian tour. Bethlehem went 7-2-5 during that tour. Then St. Louis took Brown along for their 1920 European tour. St. Louis went 6-2-6.
in 1925 and 1926. All three games came against Canada
. In those three games, Canada won the first game, by a 1-0 score. The U.S. won the next two games, each with a 6-1 score. Brown got two goals in both wins. He was later injured which prevented him from participating in the 1930 FIFA World Cup
, at which the U.S. placed third.
In 1951, the National Soccer Hall of Fame
inducted Brown.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
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 most of his career playing for teams in New Jersey and New York, gaining his greatest fame with the 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...
. He 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:...
.
Professional career
Brown began his professional career with Ford before moving to West Hudson A.A.West Hudson A.A.
The West Hudson Athletic Association was one of the dominant U.S. soccer teams of the early twentieth century. In 1912, it became the first U.S. team to win a “double” when it took the National Association Football League and American Cup titles...
for the 1917-1918 National Association Foot Ball League (NAFBL) season. When West Hudson withdrew from the NAFBL at the end of the season, Brown moved to Paterson F.C. where he spent the next two seasons. At the end of the 1919-1920 season, Paterson withdrew from the league despite finishing in the top half of the standings each season. Brown then moved to Erie A.A. for the 1920-1921 NAFBL season. At the end of that season, Erie A.A. switched to the newly established 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) and changed its name to Harrison Erie Soccer Club (S.C.). In various publications the team was also known as Harrison S.C. and Harrison Field Club (F.C.). Regardless of the name, Brown remained with this team through the end of the 1922-1923 season. He then spent a single season with the Newark Skeeters
Newark Skeeters
The Newark Skeeters was an American soccer club based in Newark, New Jersey and was a member of the American Soccer League and the Eastern Soccer League.The club folded upon the merger of the ASL & ESL after the fall 1929 season.-Year-by-year:...
in the Skeeters’ first season in the ASL.
In 1924, Brown moved to the 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...
where he gained his greatest fame three years later. In the 1926-1927 season, he scored fifty-two goals in thirty-eight games, one of the most productive seasons by any player in an American outdoor league. However, that season was an anomaly. While Brown was a consistent goal scorer, he more typically would score between eleven and twenty-eight goals a season.
With the onset of the Soccer War in 1928, Brown’s career becomes erratic. When the Giants were suspended by the ASL, Brown moved to 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:...
for three games. However, he then rejoined the Giants, when they began playing in the newly established Eastern Professional Soccer League. In 1930, the Giants rejoined the ASL, but under new ownership and a new name, 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...
. New York SC folded at the end of the 1930 fall season and Brown moved to the second New York Giants. When the New York Giants had become 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...
, Charles Stoneman, owner of both the ASL New York Nationals and the American baseball team New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
decided to rename his Nationals club the Giants. By that time the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the Soccer Wars had begun to decimate the American Soccer League. Brown played out the 1931 season with the Giants but moved to the Brooklyn F.C. in 1932. The ASL collapsed in 1933 to be replaced by the second, and unrelated, American Soccer League. Brooklyn SC joined the second ASL but failed twelve games into the season. Brooklyn Celtic then joined the league, absorbing most of Brooklyn F.C.'s players as well as the team's record. Brown remained with Celtic until his retirement in 1935.
In addition to his regular teams, Brown served as a guest player twice, in 1919 and in 1920. In 1919, Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel Football Club was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1911 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation and played their home games first at East...
signed Brown as a guest player during the team’s Scandinavian tour. Bethlehem went 7-2-5 during that tour. Then St. Louis took Brown along for their 1920 European tour. St. Louis went 6-2-6.
National team
Brown earned three caps with 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...
in 1925 and 1926. All three games came against Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
. In those three games, Canada won the first game, by a 1-0 score. The U.S. won the next two games, each with a 6-1 score. Brown got two goals in both wins. He was later injured which prevented him from participating in 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...
, at which the U.S. placed third.
In 1951, 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:...
inducted Brown.