Anglo-American Cigarette Co. - Geschenken Album - Sigaretten-Voetballersportretten (1924-26) (Moslem Cigaretten) (02)

1924-25
Geschenken Album - Sigaretten-Voetballersportretten
Anglo-American Cigarette Co., Eindhoven / Moslem Cigaretten
Netherlands
1000 cards

Paul Bowditch has provided scans of two different versions of this card.
Eddy Hamel is an interesting character, probably the first American to play at the top level in Dutch football. He was born in New York City on 21 October, 1902 and was of Jewish descent, his parent having moved from the Netherlands. He moved to Amsterdam in his teenage years and as a youth he played for Amsterdamsche FC (AFC). He played for AFC Ajax from 1922 until 1930 and scored 8 goals in 125 appearances as a right winger. He was the first Jewish player and also as the first American to play for the Ajax first team and even had his own fan club in the 1920's, which would line up on his side of the field at the beginning of every game, and then switch sides to be on his side of the field in the second half. After his retirement as a player, Hamel managed Alcmaria Victrix for three years and continued to play in an Ajax veteran squad. He was arrested by the Nazis in late 1942 and died at the Auschwitz concentration camp on 30 April, 1943.
An incomplete checklist of over 900 cards can be found here - Anglo-American Cigarette Co. - Geschenken Album - Sigaretten-Voetballersportretten (1924-26) (Moslem Cigaretten).

Hamel (Ajax, Amsterdam)

E. Hamel (Ajax, Amsterdam)