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Jack Doran

Name: John Francis Doran
Born: 3 January 1896, Belfast (or Dublin)*
Died: 1940

Height:
Weight:
Position: Centre-Forward

Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Full Caps (1920-1922).

Club Career:


Teams
Seasons
Signed
Fee
League
FA Cup
Other
St Mary's School
-
-
Youth
(Newcastle upon Tyne)
St Wilfred's
-
-
-
(Newcastle upon Tyne)
Gillingham
12/13
Aug-1912
-
-
(Southern League)
Gravesend United
12/13
Oct-1912
-
-
-
North.Shields.Athletic
-
Dec-1912
-
-
(North.Eastern.League)
Newcastle Empire
-
-
-
-
-
Coventry City
14/15
May-1914
-
1/ 2
(Southern League)
Brentford
18/19
Jan-1919
-
0/ 0
(Southern League)
Newcastle United
18/19
Mar-1919
-
0/ 0
-
-
Norwich City
19/20
May-1919
-
-
(Southern League)
Brighton & Hove Albion
20/21-21/22
Mar-1920
-
71/44
14/11
-
Manchester City
22/23
Aug-1922
-
3/ 1
-
-
Crewe Alexandra
23/24
Jan-1924
-
16/ 1
-
-
Mid-Rhondda United
24/25
Jul-1924
-
-
(Southern League)
Shelbourne
24/25
Dec-1924
-
/ 7
-
-
Fordsons
25/26
c/s-1925
-
0/ 0
-
-
Boston Town
-
Aug-1925
-
-
(Midland League)
Waterford Celtic
-
-
-
-
-
-
TOTALS
-
-
91/55
14/11
-

Biography:
Born in Ireland, but brought up in the north-east of England, Jack Doran was discovered playing junior football in Newcastle. In May 1914 he signed for Coventry City but played just one game for them, scoring twice, before enlisting in the 17th Middlesex Regiment (1st Football Battalion) in February 1915. He was awarded the MM while in France in October 1916 and a Good Conduct Badge. During the war he continued to play football with some success for the regimental football team. Demobbed as a Corporal in February 1919, Doran resumed his playing career with Norwich City then Brighton & Hove Albion.

Doran was a prolific goalscorer during his two seasons with Brighton in the early 1920s. It was feats such as a five goal haul in a 7-0 Division Three (South) victory over Northampton in November 1921 and a total return of 55 goals in 85 games that convinced the Irish selectors of Doran’s potential international pedigree. His form did not transfer to the international scene, as he failed to score in any of his three international appearances.

Transferred to Manchester City for the 1922/23 season, Doran was given little chance to shine in First Division football, scoring once in three appearances. He moved to Crewe Alexandra in Division Three (North) after a single season at Maine Road, but he failed to regain his goalscoring form of old. Although he also featured at centre-half for Crewe, a return of one goal in a season would no doubt have disappointed him, even that goal was something of an oddity:

On 3rd March 1924, in a match against Bradford, Crewe were awarded a penalty for handball – Doran’s effort was saved by ‘keeper, Alf Laycock. A few minutes later another handball offence was committed, and another penalty awarded. This time Doran shot wide, but a retake was awarded. This time Doran’s teammate, William Goodwin stepped-up, only to hit the crossbar. Once again the referee spotted an infringement and it was Doran who stepped up again to score (at last). Laycock had faced four penalties in the space of five minutes; Doran had taken three of them and found the net just once.
Ireland Cap Details:
23-10-1920 England. H L 0-2 BC
22-10-1921 England. A D 1-1 BC
01-04-1922 Wales... H D 1-1 BC

Summary: 3/0. Won 0, Drew 2, Lost 1.


* often listed as being Dublin-born, but other records suggest Belfast (see comment below)

Club details courtesy of Martin O'Connor.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Interesting comment on the pentaly scenario - Surely such a bizarre run of events must transpire from a referee's determination to fix the game?
Bertmart
jcd said…
Interesting theory BM. Given the proliferation of match fixing/betting scandals in the English game right up to the 1960s (or even 90s), it would perhaps be no surprise.

However, I've seen no proof that this is a case in point... does anybody have any juicy revelations?
Anonymous said…
Just a note on Jack's Birthplace,I believe he was born in Belfast not Dublin. On the 1901 Census he is living with his maternal Grandparents Charles & Bridget Keenan in Shanmagry, Altmore, Tyrone and his birthplace is Belfast City, also he is in the Civil Registration Indexes For Belfast Jan-Mar 1896. He was the Husband of my Grand Aunt.
Anonymous said…
Jack was signed up in Coventry on the 10th Feb 1915 ad was Enlisted on 15 Feb 1915 at London in the 17th Middlesex Regmt (1st Football), this Battalion was made up of Professional Footballers. This is from his war service Record.He is mentioned and there is a photograph of him with the Regimental Football Team (they never lost a match) in the book on the Battallion in WW1 "When the Whistle Blows".
He was never in the RAOC, he was awarded the MM in France Oct 1916 and a Good Conduct Medal but not a DCM. He was Demobbed as a Corporal in Feb 1919.
Will said…
I can't find any record of a "Good Conduct Medal" by that name and no other medals of the time I can find tally with someone who signed up for short service in the war, they're all for long service. So what was the award?
jcd said…
Not my area Will. Anyone any further details?
Paul said…
Hi Guys

The "Good Conduct Medal", wasn't!

Jack was awarded a "Good Conduct Badge" whilst with the 17th Battalion Middx Reg.

Paul