Eugene A. Olaff (September 23, 1920 – January 17, 2017) was an American soccer goalkeeper. He played in the
National Soccer League of New York and the
American Soccer League. Olaff also earned one
cap
A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...
with the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
in 1949. Prior to his death, he resided in
Florence Township, New Jersey
Florence Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 12,109, reflecting an increase of 1,363 (+12.7%) from the 10,746 counted in the 2000 Census, ...
.
Youth
Olaff's father was a Swedish seaman who jumped ship in the United States. He joined the U.S.
National Guard
National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards.
Nat ...
in order to gain his U.S. citizenship and married Irene MacGregor. Olaff was born in 1920 and his sister in 1927. After his mother died in 1937, the year Olaff graduated from high school, and his father in 1941, Olaff took on the responsibility of raising his younger sister while also marrying in 1941.
Soccer career
Youth
By that time he was married in 1941, Olaff had established himself as an accomplished goalkeeper. He began playing organized soccer with the semi-professional Bayonne Rangers’ youth team in 1933 with his size leading to his being put in the net. While playing for the Rangers, Olaff also competed with the
Bayonne High School
Bayonne High School (BHS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Bayonne, in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, operated by the Bayonne Board of Education. The school has been ...
soccer team, graduating to the Rangers’ senior team by the time he finished high school.
Professional
In 1936, Olaff left the Rangers to sign with the professional
New York Brookhattan of the
American Soccer League (ASL). He spent a season on Brookhattan's reserve team, never seeing first team action, before moving to Hatikvoh F.C. of the
National Soccer League of New York (NSL) in 1937. In 1939, Hatikvoh won the league cup. In 1939, he moved to Swedish F.C. of the NSL where he won a second league cup in 1940. The next season, Olaff moved back to the ASL, this time with
Brooklyn Hispano
The Brooklyn Hispano was an American soccer club based in Brooklyn, New York that was an inaugural member of the reformed American Soccer League. The club was named the Brooklyn Giants for the 1942/43 season only.
The Hispano club competed in th ...
. Olaff and his teammates won the 1943
National Challenge Cup. In 1944, Olaff gained his first double when Hispano won its second National Cup in addition to a league title. Olaff's professional career took a hit with the entry of the U.S. into
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. He joined the U.S. Navy, becoming a diver. While he was able to continue playing with Hispano while also serving in the navy, in the fall of 1944, he was deployed to
Bari,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
. He returned to New Jersey in 1946, but was hired by the New Jersey State Police. At the time, members of the State Police were required to live in barracks. In order to continue to play with Hispano, Olaff needed to request a pass each weekend. Despite this limitation, he remained with Hispano and won the 1946 Lewis Cup. In May 1946 he twice played against a touring
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...
side, representing the New York region and the American Soccer League. Liverpool manager
George Kay
George Kay (21 September 1891 – 18 April 1954) was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.
The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be play ...
told the
Liverpool Echo
The ''Liverpool Echo'' is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales – a subsidiary company of Reach plc and is based in St Paul's Square, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Sunday, and is Liver ...
newspaper that he was good enough for the English 1st Division but there was no chance of persuading him to give up a police career that allowed him to retire on a pension at the age of fifty. He retired from football in 1953.
/sup>
National team and the 1950 FIFA World Cup
Olaff earned one cap
A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...
with the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
in a 4–0 loss to Scotland national football team, Scotland on June 19, 1949.
/sup> He also played an unofficial game in 1948 against Israel national football team, Israel.
/sup> As the U.S. began preparations for the upcoming 1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup was the fourth edition of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football championship for senior men's national teams and held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July 1950. The planned 1942 and 1946 World Cups were ...
, the national team coach approached Olaff about joining the U.S. team. Olaff was forced to decline the invitation as the State Police refused to approve his request for a leave of absence.
Attire
When Olaff began playing, Stanley Chesney was the dominant U.S. goalkeeper. Olaff imitated Chesney in both his style of play and attire, a baseball cap and pants
Non-soccer career
Throughout his life, Olaff held a number of jobs to supplement the meager pay, ranging from nine to thirty dollars per game, for playing soccer. This included time as a janitor, shipping clerk and a metal finisher with General Motors.
During World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, Olaff was inducted into the U.S. Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...
, becoming a diver. He spent his first year in the navy attending diving schools on the east coast, allowing him to continue competing with Hispano. In 1944, he was deployed to Italy to conduct salvage operations in the Adriatic and was discharged from the navy in March 1946.
After leaving the navy, Olaff was hired by the New Jersey State Police. During his nearly 30 years with the State Police, Olaff was an academy instructor, deputy superintendent, chief of staff and finally, superintendent in 1975. He also created the police underwater unit using his wartime experience.
In 1978, Olaff was hired by D.B. Kelly Associates, a newly established security firm. He remained with D.B. Kelly until at least 1996.
Olaff was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1971. He died in January 2017 at the age of 96.REMEMBERING GENE OLAFF: 1920-2017
/ref>
References
External links
* ttp://www.florence-soccer.com/News/dance2004.htm Florence Township profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olaff, Gene
1920 births
2017 deaths
United States Navy personnel of World War II
American state police officers
American Soccer League (1933–1983) players
Bayonne High School alumni
Brooklyn Hispano players
National Soccer Hall of Fame members
National Soccer League of New York players
Brookhattan players
People from Florence Township, New Jersey
Sportspeople from Bayonne, New Jersey
Soccer players from Hudson County, New Jersey
United States men's international soccer players
American men's soccer players
Men's association football goalkeepers
United States Navy sailors