Jack Hynes
Encyclopedia
John “Jack or Jackie” Hynes is a former U.S.-Scottish soccer forward
. He spent over twenty years in the American Soccer League
, twice earning league MVP recognition. In 1949, he earned four caps with the U.S. national team
. In addition to playing professional soccer, Hynes was a New York City fireman from 1947 to 1975 and served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
on Staten Island
, New York
. He played on the Curtis soccer team, spending two seasons as the team captain. However, he did not confine himself to high school soccer, but also played for the professional Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic
of the American Soccer League
(ASL). In 1938, Brooklyn went to the U.S. Open Cup
where the team lost the home and away series to Chicago Sparta
, 8-0 on aggregate. Hynes came on as a substitute in the game in Chicago. After the Open Cup, Hynes moved to Swedish F.C. which played in the National Soccer League of New York
. In 1940, Swedish F.C. won both the league and cup titles. They repeated the cup title in 1941, the same year that Hynes moved back to the ASL where he joined the New York Americans
. While Hynes began his career as an amateur, he received a nominal payment for games and in 1939 the president of USSF
declared Hynes and fellow Swedish F.C. player, Gene Olaff
, to be professionals.http://soccerhalloffame.org/Spotlight%20HallofFamer/GeneOlaff_spotlight.htm
Hynes spent only two years with the Americans before joining the U.S. Army's 80th Division during World War II
. Despite significant wounds received during the Battle of the Bulge
, Hynes recovered and rejoined the Americans with whom he played until 1952. He then signed with Brookhattan
, but in 1954, he moved across town to Brooklyn Hakoah
. In 1956, he was named the ASL MVP. The next season, Hakoah won the ASL championship. Despite these achievements, Hynes moved back to Brookhattan in 1957. He was once again the league MVP and second on the league’s scoring list. In 1959, Hynes made one last move, this time to Colombo
, an expansion ASL club in Brooklyn. Hynes both played and coached Colombo, but the team lasted only the 1959-1960 season before folding. Despite being a first year team, Colombo won the ASL championship. By this time Hynes legs were failing and a fifth operation on his knees led him to retire from playing professionally.
when he was selected for the squad which competed in the 1949 NAFC Championship
. That year, the cup was used as the North America
n regional qualification tournament for the 1950 FIFA World Cup
. The U.S. finished second out of the three teams and qualified for the World Cup finals. However, Hynes was not selected for the finals team after the New York Times published remarks Hynes had made criticizing USSF
’s player selection process.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1950.html
. He also coached his old National Soccer League of New York team, Swedish F.C.http://soccerhalloffame.org/Spotlight%20HallofFamer/LloydMonsen_spotlight.htm
In 1977, Hynes was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
In 1997, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association inducted Hynes into its Hall of Fame.http://www.enysoccer.com/News/163115.html
In 2001, the soccer great suffered a mini-stroke on Thanksgiving. Thankfully he made it through and is still talking soccer.
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 over twenty years 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...
, twice earning league MVP recognition. In 1949, he earned four 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...
. In addition to playing professional soccer, Hynes was a New York City fireman from 1947 to 1975 and served in the U.S. Army in World War II. 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:...
.
Playing career
Hynes emigrated to the United States from Scotland when he was thirteen years old. When he arrived in the U.S., he entered Curtis High SchoolCurtis High School
Curtis High School operated by the New York City Department of Education is one of seven public high schools located in Staten Island, New York City, New York. It was founded on February 9, 1904 and was the first high school on Staten Island.-History:...
on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He played on the Curtis soccer team, spending two seasons as the team captain. However, he did not confine himself to high school soccer, but also played for the professional Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic
Brooklyn 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...
(ASL). In 1938, Brooklyn went to the U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
where the team lost the home and away series to Chicago Sparta
Chicago Sparta
The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
, 8-0 on aggregate. Hynes came on as a substitute in the game in Chicago. After the Open Cup, Hynes moved to Swedish F.C. which 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...
. In 1940, Swedish F.C. won both the league and cup titles. They repeated the cup title in 1941, the same year that Hynes moved back to the ASL where he joined 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:...
. While Hynes began his career as an amateur, he received a nominal payment for games and in 1939 the president of USSF
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
declared Hynes and fellow Swedish F.C. player, Gene Olaff
Gene Olaff
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.-Youth:Olaff’s father was a Swedish seaman who jumped ship...
, to be professionals.http://soccerhalloffame.org/Spotlight%20HallofFamer/GeneOlaff_spotlight.htm
Hynes spent only two years with the Americans before joining the U.S. Army's 80th Division during 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...
. Despite significant wounds received during the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, Hynes recovered and rejoined the Americans with whom he played until 1952. He then signed with 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....
, but in 1954, he moved across town to Brooklyn Hakoah
Brooklyn Hakoah
Brooklyn Hakoah is a former United States soccer team club based in Brooklyn, New York that played in the American Soccer League.-Brooklyn Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players of SC Hakoah Wien, they played in the American Soccer League in 1929...
. In 1956, he was named the ASL MVP. The next season, Hakoah won the ASL championship. Despite these achievements, Hynes moved back to Brookhattan in 1957. He was once again the league MVP and second on the league’s scoring list. In 1959, Hynes made one last move, this time to Colombo
Colombo (soccer)
Colombo was an American soccer club based in Staten Island, New York that was a member of the American Soccer League. While only in existence for one year, the team took the ASL title under the direction of player-coach, and future Hall of Famer, Jack Hynes....
, an expansion ASL club in Brooklyn. Hynes both played and coached Colombo, but the team lasted only the 1959-1960 season before folding. Despite being a first year team, Colombo won the ASL championship. By this time Hynes legs were failing and a fifth operation on his knees led him to retire from playing professionally.
National team
Hynes earned four 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...
when he was selected for the squad which competed in the 1949 NAFC Championship
1949 NAFC Championship
Mexico: Raúl Córdoba, Felipe Zetter, Carlos Laviada, José Antonio Roca, Mario Ochoa, Héctor Ortíz, Antonio Flores, Luis Luna, Horacio Casarín, Luis "Pirata" de la Fuente, Carlos Septién...
. That year, the cup was used as the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n regional qualification tournament 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...
. The U.S. finished second out of the three teams and qualified for the World Cup finals. However, Hynes was not selected for the finals team after the New York Times published remarks Hynes had made criticizing USSF
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
’s player selection process.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1950.html
Post-playing career
After retiring from playing, Hynes was both a high school and collegiate referee and coach. His coaching stints included Wagner CollegeWagner College
Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...
. He also coached his old National Soccer League of New York team, Swedish F.C.http://soccerhalloffame.org/Spotlight%20HallofFamer/LloydMonsen_spotlight.htm
In 1977, Hynes 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 1997, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association inducted Hynes into its Hall of Fame.http://www.enysoccer.com/News/163115.html
In 2001, the soccer great suffered a mini-stroke on Thanksgiving. Thankfully he made it through and is still talking soccer.