Jimmy Douglas (American Soccer) - Playing Career

Playing Career

Douglas began his organized playing career with the youth club, Central Juniors of Newark, New Jersey in 1907 when he was nine years old. Over the next fourteen years he played for a variety of amateur teams including Ryerson, Antlers, Erie and Swansons. In 1922, he signed with Harrison F.C. of the American Soccer League (ASL). However, he remained an amateur, refusing to accept any payment. In the 1922-1923 ASL season, Douglas played twenty-three games, winning fourteen and gaining a 2.44 goals against average (GAA). In 1923, he moved to the Newark Skeeters (at times called Newark F.C.). Douglas spent two seasons with Newark, still maintaining his amateur status. In the fall of 1925, Douglas began playing for the New York Giants. However, the Newark Skeeters still listed Douglas on their rosters and the Giants were forced to forfeit several games after teams complained to the league. After the Giants got that problem straightened out, Douglas continued to play for them until October 1927 when he moved to the Fall River Marksmen. After one season in Fall River, Douglas then played twelve games of the 1928-1929 season with Philadelphia Field Club before moving to the Brooklyn Wanderers for three games. He then finished the season back with the Fall River Marksmen. In 1929, Douglas joined the New York Nationals. In 1930, Charles Stoneham, owner of the Nationals, renamed his team the New York Giants when the original Giants changed their name to New York Soccer Club. Douglas continued with the new Giants through the 1930 spring and fall season before moving to the New York Americans in 1931. He played only seven games, then retired.