Johnny Jaap (August 12, 1895 – May 1, 1974) was a Scottish-American soccer

inside right Forwards (also known as attackers) are outfield positions in an association football team who play the furthest up the pitch and are therefore most responsible for scoring goals as well as assisting them. As with any attacking player, the role ...

. He played seven seasons in the American Soccer League and one with Hearts. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Jaap was born in Bellshill, Scotland, and moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. His family settled in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

where he grew up playing soccer from a young age. He began his career in 1912 with a series of amateur and semi-professional teams in the Pittsburgh area. In 1921, he moved to Philadelphia Field Club of the first division American Soccer League. His first game came on February 13, 1922, a 5-2 victory over the

Fall River F.C. Fall River Football Club, also referred to as Fall River Field Club, was the name used by two United States soccer clubs, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. Both played in the American Soccer League during the early 1930s. The name is often used ...

Jaap played seven games with Philadelphia, but returned to the minor leagues for several years. In September 1925,

Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation was an American steelmaking company headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For most of the 20th century, it was one of the world's largest steel producing and shipbuilding companies. At the height of its succe ...

signed Jaap. Jaap remained with Bethlehem until it folded in 1930. During that time, Jaap won four league titles with Philadelphia/Bethlehem and the 1926 National Challenge Cup. In the Challenge Cup, a 7-2 win over

St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C. St. Louis Scullin Steel was a U.S. soccer team established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. It spent seven seasons in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning three league titles and one National Challenge Cup. History In 1918, Scullin Steel of St. Lo ...

, Jaap scored one of the Bethlehem goals. After Bethlehem Steel folded, Jaap moved to Scotland for one season with Hearts. He was back in the United States with the

Newark Americans Newark Americans were a team in the first American Soccer League. They were founded in 1930, but folded following the spring 1932 season. Year-by-year Defunct soccer clubs in New Jersey American Soccer League (1921–1933) teams 1930 establ ...

for one season. After retiring from playing, Jaap became a youth coach. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1953. Japp died in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

, aged 78.

References

External links

Bethlehem Steel profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jaap, Johnny 1895 births 1974 deaths Footballers from Bellshill Castle Shannon SC players Scottish men's footballers British emigrants to the United States Soccer players from Pittsburgh American men's soccer players American Soccer League (1921–1933) players Bethlehem Steel F.C. (1907–1930) players Philadelphia Field Club players Heart of Midlothian F.C. players Newark Americans players National Soccer Hall of Fame members Men's association football forwards