Former U.S. MNT forward and Hall of Famer Jackie Hynes passes away at 92

Former U.S. Men’s National Team forward and National Soccer Hall of Famer Jackie Hynes passed away on Saturday, Aug. 3. Hynes was 92.

The Scotland native, Purple Heart recipient and former New York City firefighter made four appearances for the U.S. MNT in September of 1949 for the North American Football Confederation Championship. That tournament served as qualification for the 1950 FIFA World Cup. The USA was the runner-up to Mexico and Hynes started in all four matches.

Hynes’ funeral will be held on Thursday, Aug. 8, with a 10 a.m. ET mass at Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church and burial at St. Peter’s Cemetery, both in West Brighton in Staten Island, N.Y.

Despite multiple knee surgeries, Hynes maintained a professional career that included several New York-based clubs in the American Soccer League. He played for more than a decade with the New York Americans, had two stints with Brookhattan, was the 1956 ASL Most Valuable Player for the Brooklyn Hakoah and in the only season for Staten Island-based Colombo, Hynes helped the team win an ASL championship in 1959-60.

Hynes was born in Lochgelly, Scotland, in 1920 and moved to Tompkinsville, in Staten Island, at age 13. He served at World War II and was a New York City firefighter from 1947-75.

Hynes was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1977.