A true sporting enthusiast, and first-class administrator, John Condy was also more than capable with the ball at his feet...Name: John Condy
Born: 1861, Belfast
Died: 4 September 1931, Belfast.
Position: Inside-Forward
Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Full Caps / 1 Goal (1882-1886).
Club Honours: (with Distillery) Irish Cup Winner 1883/84, 1885/86; Belfast Charities Cup Runner-Up 1883/84.
Club Career:
Distillery 1880/81-1885/86 (25/4 Competitive, 66/6 Friendly)
Biography:
John Condy was a founding member of Distillery, he played in their first ever match, and was the club’s first secretary. A strong forceful left-sided forward, he helped the club to their first Irish Cup win, 5-0 over Wellington in 1884. In the same season he scored the equaliser in the Charity Cup semi-final against Ulster, as Distillery went on to claim the replay 5-0. In the final however, Distillery went down 0-2 to Cliftonville.
Condy made his international debut in Ireland’s second ever game, finishing on the wrong end of a 7-1 defeat by Scotland. He had come in as replacement for James Buckle of Cliftonville who was unable to travel. The result must have been tempered slightly by Ireland’s first ever goal, scored by Condy’s fifteen year-old club-mate, Sam Johnston. Condy added further caps to his collection in 1886, scoring his only goal in his final outing against Scotland.
In 1886 Condy also won his second Irish Cup, helping Distillery defeat Limavady 1-0 in a bad-tempered and rain sodden match. The Irish FA decided to withhold the Cup and medals, only for Distillery’s Bob Baxter to take them to court. The judge ruled in Baxter’s favour, awarding each member of the team £1 in lieu of medals.
Ireland Cap Details:
25-02-1882 Wales... (a) L 1-7 FR
13-03-1886 England. (h) L 1-6 BC
20-03-1886 Scotland (h) L 2-7 BC 1 goal
Summary: 3/1. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.
Additional information by George Glass.
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