Nathan "Nat" Agar (July 26, 1887 – June 24, 1978) was an English-American soccer player, coach, referee, team owner and league executive. He was part of the formation of the

United States Football Association The United States Soccer Federation (USSF), commonly referred to as U.S. Soccer, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, the federation is a ...

, but later fought it as a team owner and league official of the American Soccer League and Southern New York State Football Association during the 1928 "Soccer War." He also coached three

United States national team The United States national team or Team USA may refer to any of a number of sports team representing the United States in international competitions. Olympic teams Additionally, these teams may compete in other international competitions such as ...

games against

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in 1925 and 1926.

Early career

At some point in the early 1900s, Agar immigrated to the United States from his native England. In 1905, he founded his first team, Critchleys. In 1906, he was instrumental in the founding of the New York Amateur Association Football League. Agar was elected as the league's secretary, a position he held until at least 1911. He was also president of the league in 1910. In January 1909, Agar broke his leg while challenging for the ball. He remained with Critchleys until it folded following the 1912–13 season. He then played at least one season, 1916–17 with

New York Clan MacDonald The New York Clan MacDonald were a Scottish American professional soccer club. They spent several seasons in both the National Association Football League and New York State Football Association. History In 1907, Clan MacDonald joined the Nationa ...

of the New York State Association Football League and at least one season, 1919–20 with Longfellows of the New York State League.

Referee

Agar also served as a referee for the New York Amateur Association League, being assaulted while officiating a game in April 1910.

USFA

While Agar was part of the founding of the

in 1913. However, he later became one of the major forces opposing the USFA during the 1928–1929 "Soccer War."

American Soccer League

In 1922, Agar entered the realm of professional team ownership when he entered the

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. Later versions joined the original American Soccer League and the reorganized American Soccer Le ...

into the American Soccer League. The ASL was set for its first season and the Wanderers would play at Hawthorne Field, a dedicated soccer facility owned by Agar. Agar also chose to manage the team and played several games during the team's first two seasons. In 1926,

Hakoah Vienna SC Hakoah Vienna (german: Sport Club Hakoah Wien; ' means "the strength" in Hebrew) is a Jewish sports club in Vienna, Austria. Prior to World War II, it produced several Olympic athletes and was notable for fielding an entirely Jewish associati ...

, one of the top Austrian teams toured the U.S. The team was composed entirely of Jews, many of whom were favorably impressed with the United States. Agar, who was also Jewish, immediately began negotiations to sign the players and in December 1926, brought the several Hakoah stars to the Wanderers. Despite the additional talent, the Wanderers remained a mid-table team for much of its existence.

Southern New York State Football Association

During the Soccer War, the USFA brokered the creation of the

Eastern Soccer League Eastern may refer to: Transportation *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai * Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways * Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991 * Eastern Air ...

composed of three teams suspended from the American Soccer League as well as several teams from the Southern New York State Football Association. The SNYFA considered the ESL to be encroaching on its territory, and, when the association president, Dr. Manning, resigned, Agar was elected in his place. Agar then led the SNYFA in leaving the USFA and allying itself with the ASL against the USFA.

National team coach

In June 1926, Agar was selected to coach the U.S. national team in a two-game, home and away, series with

. The U.S. lost the first, 1–0, in Canada, but won the November rematch 6–1, in the U.S. On June 11, 1926, Agar again led the U.S. to a 6–2 victory over Canada.National team coaching records

References

External links

Jewish athletes profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agar, Nat 1887 births 1978 deaths Businesspeople from New York (state) Jewish American sportspeople American soccer chairmen and investors American soccer coaches American Soccer League (1921–1933) coaches American Soccer League (1921–1933) players American soccer referees Brooklyn Wanderers (1922–1931) players British emigrants to the United States English men's footballers English football managers English football referees English Jews Sportspeople from Brooklyn Soccer players from New York City Footballers from Sheffield United States men's national soccer team managers Men's association football forwards 20th-century American businesspeople