Daniel McNiven

Daniel "Big Dan" McNiven was a Scottish football center forward who led the American Soccer League in scoring in 1922-1923.

Daniel McNiven
Personal information
Full name Daniel McNiven
Date of birth 1902
Place of birth Carmunnnock, Scotland
Position(s) Center Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1921–1922 Partick Thistle 5 (1)
1922–1923 Bethlehem Steel 22 (28)
1923–1924 New York Field Club 19 (11)
1924 New York Giants 4 (2)
1924 Indiana Flooring 7 (1)
Total 57 (43)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

McNiven began his professional career in 1921 with Partick Thistle of the Scottish Football League. He played only five games before leaving Scotland for the United States. Upon reaching the U.S., he signed with Bethlehem Steel of the American Soccer League. He promptly made his mark, scoring twenty-eight goals in twenty-two league games, taking the league scoring title. He also added another four goals in three league cup games. In 1923, he began the season with New York Field Club, maintaining his scoring pace with eleven goals in nineteen league games and another goal in two league cup games. However, he finished the season with the New York Giants.[1] In 1924, he moved to Indiana Flooring, but his career ended seven games into the season when he was arrested on charges of bigamy and adultery. According to the charges, McNiven had married the wife of William Sheridan, the Bethlehem Steel coach in October 1923. In 1924, Sheridan's wife left the U.S. after having him served with divorce papers. At that point, he investigated her, discovering she had married McNiven a year prior and had McNiven arrested. That ended McNiven's football career.[2]

References
  1. Jose, Colin (1998). American Soccer League, 1921-1931 (Hardback). The Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-3429-4. ().
  2. 5 December 1924 The Globe
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