Archibald “Archie” Stark (December 21, 1897 in Glasgow, Scotland – May 27, 1985 in Kearny, New Jersey) was a U.S. soccer forward who became the dominant player in U.S. leagues during the 1920s and 1930s. He spent nine seasons in the National Association Football League and another twelve in the American Soccer League. He also earned two caps, scoring five goals, as a member of the U.S. national team. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1950.
Although Stark was born in Scotland, he moved to the United States with his family when he was thirteen years old. His family settled in Hudson County, New Jersey where Stark immediately began his organized soccer career with the West Hudson Juniors. Interestingly for a player who made his name as a forward, Stark began as a defender with the Juniors. Stark turned professional a year later when he signed with the Scottish-Americans of the National Association Football League for the 1912-1913 season. At the time he was only fourteen. He remained with the Scottish-Americans for four seasons. In 1915, the Scottish-Americans won the 1915 American Cup, defeating Brooklyn Celtic 1-0 on a Stark goal. The next season, the team lost the AFA championship game when Bethlehem Steel crushed them 3-0. At the end of the 1915-1916 season, Stark moved to the Bayonne, New Jersey club Babcock and Wilcox.