Dan McNiven
Dan McNiven
Dan McNiven
● Dan McNiven, c1922 (SSG)

born in Scotland

Daniel McNiven was born on Tuesday, 23rd December, 1902, in Carmunnock, Glasgow.

The forward signed for George Easton's Thistle on Tuesday, 3rd May, 1921, having most recently been with Alva Albion Rangers.

Aged 18, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 20th August, 1921, in a 3-2 win at home to Morton in the SFL First Division.

That day, Dan became a member of our scoring debutant's club.

He played his last game for the club on Wednesday, 29th March, 1922, in a 3-0 defeat away to Falkirk in the SFL First Division, having appeared as a Jag on 5 occasions.

His club-list included Alva Albion Rangers, Partick Thistle, Bethlehem Steel, New York Field Club, New York Giants and Indiana Flooring.

We don't know where or when Dan died. *

* If you can help us to improve any of these marked points on The Thistle Archive, then please do get in touch →

Bio Extra

"Big Dan" McNiven was a centre-forward who led the American Soccer League scoring chart in 1922-1923. 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.

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.

(WIK)



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