Liam Coyle

Following in his father’s footsteps into the Northern Ireland side, Liam Coyle then recovered from serious injury to embark on a long and glittering career with Derry City…

Name: Liam Coyle
Born: 21 May 1968, Londonderry
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1989); League of Ireland Caps.
Club Honours: (with Derry City) League of Ireland Champion 1988/89, 1996/97; FAI Cup Winner 1988/89, 1994/95, 2002, Runner-Up 1993/94, 1996/97; Football League of Ireland Cup Winner 1988/89, 1993/94, 1999/00 (with Glentoran) Irish Cup Winner 1995/96.
Awards: FAI National League Player of the Year 1995; PFAI Player of the Year 1994/95; PFAI Young Player of the Year 1988/89.

Club Career:
Club...... --Seasons-- Signed --Fee-- --League-- -FA Cup- LgeCup Europe -Other-
Brandywell Harps ..... ...... ..Youth
Derry City 88/89-89/90 ...... ....... ???(?)/ 17 ?(?)/ ?. ?(?)/? 2(0)/0 ??(?)/?
Coleraine. 90/91...... Sep-90 ...Free ..0(0)/. 0 ...... ........ ...... .1(0)/0
Omagh Town 92/93...... Jul-92 ...Free .30(0)/ 16 2(0)/ 1. 2(0)/1 ...... .8(0)/2
Derry City 93/94-95/96 Aug-93 ....... .68(0)/ 16 ?(?)/ ?. ?(?)/? 2(0)/0 ??(?)/?
Glentoran. 95/96...... Dec-95 £35,000 ..9(3)/. 4 4(0)/ 1. ...... ...... .3(2)/1
Derry City 96/97- 2003 Aug-96 £42,000 ???(?)/ 50 ?(?)/15* ?(?)/? 2(0)/0 ??(?)/?
Totals.... ........... ...... £77,000 107(3)/103 6(0)/17. 2(0)/1 8(0)/0 12(2)/3
* Total FAI Cup goals in three spells

Biography:
Liam Coyle burst onto the League of Ireland scene during the 1988/89 season. He scored a hat-trick against Cobh Ramblers on his debut, was crowned Young Player of the Year, finished the season as “Treble” winner with Derry, and was capped by Northern Ireland in an end-of-season friendly with Chile (following in the footsteps of his father, Fay). He was unlucky not to mark his international debut with a goal, his header from a corner forcing a superb save from the goalkeeper.

The following season started brightly too, as Coyle starred in a European Cup first round tie with Benfica at the Brandywell. Benfica manager Sven Goran Eriksson immediately offered to sign Coyle on a six-month loan deal, and Manchester United were also set to make a bid. A serious knee injury however ruled Coyle out of the second leg in Lisbon. Further investigations revealed the extent of his condition – he had Osteo Necrosis, and doctors warned that if he played again he could be confined to a wheelchair.

Essentially Coyle’s career was over at 21 years-old. Derry played Newcastle United in a benefit match for the young striker, but he refused to believe that he would never play again. He travelled the world and was treated by the top consultants in their field. He made an abortive comeback with Coleraine in September 1990, but lasted just one match. Coyle then turned to a faith-healer, and in combination with heavy knee strapping, made an impressive impact on the Irish League with Omagh in the 1992/93 season. Coyle returned to Derry City in August 1993, and soon enough was showing the skills and trickery that had brought him such acclaim as a youngster. He added further FAI Cup and League Cup medals to his collection, and was Ireland’s double player of the year in 1995.

In December 1995 Coyle moved to Glentoran in a £35,000 deal, a record between Irish clubs. He was unhappy about leaving the Brandywell behind and would later describe it as the "low point" of his career. He lasted just six months at the Oval, picking up an Irish Cup medal, before being allowed to leave. Glens’ manager Tommy Cassidy put it like this, “(Coyle) is one of the most skilful Irish players in history, but he had to go - he was missing training and other players were taking note”. Coyle returned to Derry City for a combined fee of £42,000 (that also included Declan Devine), and immediately helped the Candystripes to another League of Ireland title.

As the years moved on Coyle continued to regularly find the net until the injuries began to take their toll. In 2002 he scored his only FAI Cup Final goal in his fifth appearance, as Derry defeated Shamrock Rovers 1-0. His last ever goal for the club proved to be even more important. In December 2003 Derry found themselves in a promotion-relegation play-off with near neighbours Finn Harps. With the game in extra-time it was the 35 year-old Coyle who came off the bench to score the winner, and maintain Derry’s Premier Division status.

In January 2004, following years of playing through the pain barrier, Coyle announced his retirement from playing. He had scored a modern-day club record 113 goals in almost 400 games for Derry, and was acclaimed from all-quarters as the greatest player in their history. He stayed at the Brandywell as Chief Scout, and has since made clear his ambitions to one day manage the club.

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
26-05-1989 Chile... (h) L 0-1 FR sub

Summary: 0(1)/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.

Northern Ireland’s One Cap Wonders

- Most Capped - Top Goalscorers - Youngest Players - Oldest Players -

- Premier Players - Cup Finalists - Award Winners - Million Pound Men -

- Dual Internationals - Captains - Goalkeepers - One Cap Wonders -

From State of the Game.
August 30th, 2006 by Robin Peake

Sven-Goran Eriksson's reign has ended in tatters. He will be remembered not for his almost impeccable record in qualifying (England only ever lost one competitive qualifying match under the Swede - a fact not lost on the 14,000 Green and White army who were at Windsor Park little over a year ago.) He will not even be remembered for a 5-1 demolition of Germany in their own back yard - The fact that England fans still gloat over this and the German team has since reached a World Cup final and Semi-final is testament to the under achieving and over hyped nature of the English team and it's surrounding media circus.

Eriksson will be remembered for his love of the female species, his appalling lack of sense in dining with Peter Kenyon and discussing all about Becks and co to a chap dressed in a few tea towels. He will be remembered for his fondness of overhauling the team at half time, which was so great that FIFA introduced a cap on substitutions in friendlies. Erickson was not shy to dish out call ups. Caps were handed out willy-nilly to players who were never fit to wear the shirt. Michael Ricketts, Alan Thompson, Andy Johnson and Francis Jeffers were all given a go and none lasted as long as a sweaty Sven under the sheets.Nevertheless, England is not the only country to be associated with short lived international careers. Northern Ireland has had its fair share too. Consider the Irish team which played it's very first international against England in 1882. Two members of the team (Buckle and McGaw) failed to add to their tally of one cap after the game and only 4 of the team went on to win more than 3 caps; although taking into consideration the team lost 13-0 maybe this wasn't such a bad thing!

One cap wonders aren't just a thing of the past though. John Cowan (1970), Liam Coyle (1989), Paul Williams (1991) and Trevor Wood (1995) all failed to impress on their international debuts. Rory Hamill who came on against Canada in 1999 found his international career but similarly short. Another debutant that night, Glenn Ferguson, went on to win 5 caps.

Against Spain in 2002 Northern Ireland fielded two substitutes who are unlikely to be seen in the green shirt again - Lee McEvilly and Pat McCourt got 27 and 16 minutes of action respectively. McCourt may never grace the shirt again but should McEvilly continue to impress with Wrexham (who turned down an offer from Bradford for him in June) then he may re-enter the fold.

One player who looks as likely to adding to his international tally as you or I is Brian McClean. A glitch (IFA terminology for disastrous mistake) means that the Motherwell man is not and never was eligible to play for Northern Ireland.

As a Northern Ireland team full of withdrawals headed out to America for a confidence boosting, money spinning tour, Lawrie Sanchez took with him a bunch of raw uncapped youngsters to give them a chance to impress. Six players made their international debuts either in New York or Chicago. Sammy Clingan and Jeff Hughes impressed and deservedly played against both Uruguay and Romania.

Of the other four who only featured in one game, who will be confined to the history books as a one cap wonder? Will it be Kyle Lafferty, seen as many as James Quinn's long term successor? Alan Blayney who joins Michael Ingram and Alan Mannus in the queue behind long standing duo Taylor and Carroll? Or either of the Dungannon born pair of Mark Hughes and Sean Webb?

One thing is for certain, whether you win one cap or 119, pulling on the green shirt of your country is unparalleled in terms of achievement and pride. Let's hope to see some of this pride shine through in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

- Most Capped - Top Goalscorers - Youngest Players - Oldest Players -

- Premier Players - Cup Finalists - Award Winners - Million Pound Men -

- Dual Internationals - Captains - Goalkeepers - One Cap Wonders -

Harry Chatton

Name: James Harold A. Chatton
Born: 23 April 1899, Enniskillen
Position: Right-Half / Centre-Half

Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Full Caps (1924-1925). Irish Free State: 3 Full Caps (1931-1934).
Club Honours: (with NY Nationals) ASL Champion 1928/29; Lewis Cup Winner 1928/29; (with Shelbourne) League of Ireland Champion 1930/31; (with Cork) FAI Cup Winner 1933/34.

Club Career:
Clubs.............. --Seasons-- -League-
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy .................. (Scottish Junior)
Dumbarton.......... 20/21-22/23 .40(0)/0*
Partick Thistle.... 23/24-25/26 .86(0)/2
Indiana Flooring... 26/27...... .34(0)/1 (American Soccer League)
Heart of Midlothian 26/27........ 0(0)/0
New York Nationals. 27/28-29/30 127(0)/2 (American Soccer League)
Shelbourne......... 30/31-31/32 .23(0)/0
Dumbarton.......... 31/32-32/33
Cork............... 33/34
* Scottish League Division One Appearances only (20/21-21/22)

Biography:
Born in Enniskillen, Harry Chatton moved to Scotland with his family as a child. A commanding centre-half, he was playing in the Scottish League with Partick Thistle when the IFA selectors first called him up in October 1924 for a Home Nations game with England. He won two further caps for the IFA, against Scotland the following February, and again against England in October 1925.

After returning to play in Ireland with Shelbourne, Chatton was selected by the FAI for a game against Spain on 26th April 1931. That summer he returned to Scotland to play for Dumbarton and on 13th December he captained the FAI’s team in the return game against Spain. Chatton’s third and final FAI cap was won in 1934, whilst playing for Cork, in a 5-2 defeat by Holland. His first two caps had been as left-half, and the last at right-back.

Wikipedia

(Northern) Ireland Cap Details:
22-10-1924 England. A L 1-3 BC
28-02-1925 Scotland H L 0-3 BC
24-10-1925 England. H D 0-0 BC

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

Jimmy Chambers

Name: Robert James Chambers
Born: 26 July 1908, Mullaghglass
Position: Winger
Died: 1977

Representative Honours: Ireland: 12 Full Caps / 3 Goals (1921-1931); Irish League: Caps.
Club Honours: (with Belfast Celtic) Irish League Champion 1919/20; (with Distillery) Belfast Charities Cup Winner 1920/21; County Antrim Shield Runner-Up 1920/21.

Club Career:
Belfast Celtic (Irish League); Distillery (Irish League); Newry Town (Irish League); Bury (Football League) 1925/26-1929/30 (28/7 League); Nottingham Forest (Football League) 1931/32 (9/1 League).

Biography:
Jimmy Chambers was a nippy winger, able to perform equally well on both flanks. It was as a centre-forward however that Chambers made his international bow in 1921, finding the net in Ireland's 2-1 defeat by Wales. That same season he played for Distillery in both the Co. Antrim Shield and Belfast Charities Cup finals, finishing with a winners' medal in the latter.

Chambers won Inter-League honours in the 1923/34 season, the club’s first season in the Irish League before finally taking his chances across the Irish Sea when signed by Bury in 1925. Although he added a further eight caps during his time with Bury, Chambers struggled to make an impact in the Football League, playing just 28 games in six seasons.

A move to Nottingham Forest in August 1931 brought a brief resurgence in Chambers' international career, and he added three caps during his time at the City Ground. Injuries began to affect his game, and Chambers left Forest after just one season.

In a ten year international career, Jimmy Chambers won 12 caps, and scored a total of three goals. The highlight of his career was undoubtedly his role in the 7-0 crushing of Wales in February 1930, the match in which Joe Bambrick scored six times.

Ireland Cap Details:
09-04-1921 Wales... (A) L 1-2 BIC 1 goal
22-10-1927 England. (H) W 2-0 BIC
04-02-1928 Wales... (H) L 1-2 BIC 1 goal
25-02-1928 Scotland (A) W 1-0 BIC 1 goal
22-10-1928 England. (A) L 1-2 BIC
02-02-1929 Wales... (A) D 2-2 BIC
23-02-1929 Scotland (H) L 3-7 BIC
01-02-1930 Wales... (H) W 7-0 BIC
22-02-1930 Scotland (A) L 1-3 BIC
19-09-1931 Scotland (A) L 1-3 BIC
17-10-1931 England. (H) L 2-6 BIC
05-12-1931 Wales... (H) W 4-0 BIC

Summary: 12/3. Won: 4, Drew: 1, Lost: 7.

Billy Caskey

A legend in Irish League circles as well as in the brief history of the NASL, Billy Caskey had a long and often controversial footballing career...

Name: William T. Caskey
Born: 12 October 1953, Belfast
Height: 5.10 ft
Weight: 12.02 st
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 7 Full Caps / 1 Goal (1978-1982); Irish League: 11 Caps / 1 Goal (1987-1990).
Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Irish League Champion 1976/77, 1987/88; Irish Cup Winner 1984/85, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1989/90; Gold Cup Winner 1976/77, 1977/78, 1986/87; Ulster Cup Winner 1976/77, 1988/89, 1989/90; Irish League Cup Winner 1988/89; Floodlit Cup Winner 1987/88, 1989/90; City Cup Winner 1974/75; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1989/90; Co. Antrim Centenary Chalice Winner 1987/88; (with Tulsa Roughnecks) NASL Soccer Bowl Winner 1983.
Awards: NI Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year 1977; NI PFA Player of the Year 1988; NI PFA Most Promising Newcomer 1975.

Club Career:
Teams........... --Seasons-- --League-- FA Cup FL Cup -Europe- PlayOff
East Belfast.......................................................... (Amateur League)
Glentoran....... 74/75-78/79 136 (4)/58 (all domestic) 10(0)/0
Tulsa Roughnecks 1978........ 27 (-)/11 (Regular Season) ...... 1(-)/1 (NASL)
Derby County.... 78/79-79/80 .26 (2)/ 3 1(0)/0 1(0)/0
Tulsa Roughnecks 1980 - 1984 128 (-)/22 (Regular Season) ...... 6(-)/3 (NASL)
Glentoran....... 84/85....... 33 (-)/ 5 (all domestic)
Tulsa Roughnecks 1985....... (Exhibitions)
Dallas Sidekicks 85/86....... 46 (-)/27 (Regular Season) ...... 4(-)/1 (MISL)
Glentoran....... 86/87-92/93 236(16)/51 (all domestic) .7(0)/1
Dundela......... 94/95-95/96 .?? (?)/10 ?(?)/0 ?(?)/1 ......... ?(?)/1 (B Division)
Abbey Villa .......................................................... (Northern Amateur League)
Meadowbank ........................................................... (Down Area League)
Totals ..................... 632(22)/187 1(0)/0 1(0)/1 17(0)/1 11(0)/6

Biography:
Having grown up as a Linfield supporter, when Billy Caskey signed for Glentoran from East Belfast few could have imagined the impact he would have at the Oval. A hard-working and courageous centre-forward, Caskey’s first season brought a return of 12 goals in 26 appearances, a City Cup Winner’s medal and the title of the Irish League’s Most Promising Newcomer. The next three seasons brought plenty more goals and a host of medals and the attentions of the wider footballing world. At the end of March 1978 Caskey took up the offer of playing in the NASL with Tulsa Roughnecks (were he was later joined by Glens teammate Vic Moreland), and he helped them to the Play-Offs in their first season as an NASL franchise.

Early in the 1978/79 season Caskey returned to Belfast, but it was to be a fleeting visit only as Derby County boss Tommy Doherty tabled a £90,000 joint bid for him and Moreland. The pair made their Football League debuts in a 2-1 home win over Southampton on the 23rd September 1978. Caskey hit a purple patch in front of goal in November, finding the net three times in a five game spell, and earning a call-up to the Northern Ireland team. He marked his international debut with a goal in a 2-0 win over Bulgaria on the 29th November, when once again he was joined on the field by another debutant, Vic Moreland.

Although his Derby and Northern Ireland careers never saw another goal, Caskey maintained his place in both sides through 1979. In the closing months of the 1979/80 season he returned to Tulsa, once again joined by Moreland. His remarkable consistency in the NASL brought 162 appearances (only Moreland appeared more times for Tulsa) and 37 goals (only two behind the franchise record). In 1983 he helped Tulsa to the Soccer Bowl, only to miss the final with a knee injury. Billy Bingham must have been keeping an eye on the NASL as he included Caskey, Moreland, Dave McCreery (also at Tulsa) and Jimmy Nicholl (then with Toronto Blizzard) in his initial squad for the 1982 World Cup, and Caskey won, what turned out to be, his final cap in a warm-up friendly defeat by France and didn’t make the final squad of 22.

With the NASL’s collapse, Caskey returned to Glentoran in 1984, this time to be joined by Terry Moore. By now a tough-tackling midfielder, he added the Irish Cup Winner’s medal which had previously eluded him to his collection following a replayed Final win over Linfield. In the summer of 1985 he was once again moved back to Tulsa Roughnecks, playing in a farewell series of exhibition matches. Signed by Dallas Sidekicks, where he once again featured alongside Moreland, in August 1985, he spent an impressive season in indoor soccer playing as the teams “enforcer”, helping them to the Play-Offs. His MISL career was brought to an ignominious end when he assaulted a referee during a game with Minnesota in August 1986 and he was banned for three seasons.

The prodigal son returned to Glentoran once again for the 1986/87 season, and he did not look a bit of his 32 years. In his first season back he helped the Glens to Irish Cup and Gold Cup successes, and followed that up with the League and Cup double the following season as well as the Northern Ireland PFA’s Player of the Year Award. Caskey also added Irish League representative honours to his collection, scoring in a 2-2 draw with the Football League in 1987. In 1990 he put in a Man of the Match performance in the Irish Cup Final defeat of Portadown, and played his eleventh and final game for the Irish League in the Centenary match against Manchester United. Finally in 1993, at the age of 38, Caskey ended his senior playing career. He had helped Glentoran to eighteen major honours whilst playing 442 games and scoring 110 goals over a nineteen year period.

Caskey remained at the Oval as assistant-manager to Robert Strain, but was regarded as surplus to requirements when Strain was replaced by Tommy Cassidy in the summer of 1994. He continues to take an active interest in the game; alongside younger brother and former Glens teammate John, he acts as coach and occasional player for Donaghadee-based Down Area League team, Meadowbank.

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
29/11/78 v Bulgaria (A) W 2-0 ECQ 1 goal
07/02/79 v England. (A) L 0-4 ECQ
02/05/79 v Bulgaria (H) W 2-0 ECQ
19/05/79 v England. (H) L 0-2 BIC
06/06/79 v Denmark. (A) L 0-4 ECQ sub
17/10/79 v England. (H) L 1-5 ECQ sub
24/03/82 v France.. (A) L 0-4 FR. Sub

Summary: 4(3)/1. Won 2, Drew 0, Lost 5.

Tommy Cassidy

One of the few players to survive the era of Best and Dougan through to the successes of the early 1980s, but for injuries Cassidy may have earned more that his 24 caps…

Name: Thomas A. Cassidy
Born: 18 November 1950, Belfast
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight: 12.05 st
Position: Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 24 Full Caps / 1 Goal (1971-1982), Youth Caps.
Club Honours: (with Glentoran) City Cup Winner 1969/70; (with Newcastle) FA Cup Runner-Up 1973/74; League Cup Runner-Up 1975/76; Texaco Cup Winner 1973/74, 1974/75; Anglo-Italian Cup Winner 1972/73; (with Burnley) Football League Division Three Champion 1981/82; (with APOEL) Cyprus Cup 1984.

Club Career:
Ards Boys; Glentoran (Irish League) 1968/69-1970/71 (12(1)/8 Domestic, 1/0 Europe); Newcastle United 1970/71-1979/80 (170(10)/22 League, 22(1)/1 FA Cup, 17(2)/3 League Cup, 3/0 Europe, 13(1)/2 Other); Burnley (Football League) 1980/81-1982/83 (70(2)/4 League, 8(1)/1 FA Cup, 8(2)/2 League Cup); APOEL Nicosia (Cyprus).

Biography:
As a teenage striker Tommy Cassidy made an impressive impact on the Irish League. In 1969, after just a handful of senior appearances, he scored a hat-trick in the City Cup Final, as Glentoran saw off Bangor 7-1. Early the following season, having found the net four times in just six appearances, Newcastle United came calling with a £15,000 bid. In October 1970 Cassidy found himself at an English First Division club after just fourteen senior outings for Glentoran.

Although Cassidy’s Football League debut didn’t take long to arrive, he made his first appearance in a 2-0 defeat at Southampton on 7th November 1970, he had to wait three seasons to establish himself in the Newcastle first eleven. Prior to establishing himself, a rare senior outing was made in the 2-1 1973 Anglo-Talian Cup Final defeat of Fiorentina. By that time he was playing more normally as an attacking midfielder, and in his first season as a regular (1973/74) he helped Newcastle to a Texaco (British Isles) Cup Final victory over Burnley and an FA Cup Final appearance against Liverpool. The following season Cassidy was troubled by injury and made just nine League appearances, though he did play in the first leg of the Texaco Cup Final as Newcastle retained the trophy 3-1 on aggregate against Southampton. The following season Newcastle were back at Wembley for another final, losing out 2-1 in the League Cup to Manchester City.

Cassidy’s Northern Ireland career had begun at the end of his first season in English football, coming on as a substitute for Eric McMordie in a 1-0 Home Nations defeat by England. The following season he made a further substitute appearance in a 1-1 European Championship Qualification match against the Soviet Union. As with his club career he had to bide his time before establishing himself in the international set-up. The real breakthrough with Northern Ireland came in 1973/74 as well, he marked his fourth cap, his first as a starter, with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Scotland. It was to be his only international goal, and the last time he was on a victorious Northern Ireland team until 1979.

Through the mid-1970s, injuries permitting, Cassidy was a regular in the Northern Ireland team, until a falling out with Danny Blanchflower saw him banished from the set-up for two years. He did however return to favour for Blanchflower’s last few matches, starting in a 5-1 defeat by England at Wembley, and coming of the bench during a 1-0 victory over the Republic at Windsor Park.

Groin, knee and ankle injuries had taken their toll on Cassidy’s pace, and by the time Billy Bingham was appointed Northern Ireland manager in 1980, Cassidy was more at home as a defensive midfielder. Bingham used Cassidy in this role for each of his first nine games in charge, thus allowing the likes of McIlroy, Brotherston, Finney and O’Neill to make a suitable attacking impact. He played an important role in Northern Ireland’s 1980 Home Nation Championship success, helping bring the old trophy back to Belfast for the first time in 66 years.

A £30,000 move to Burnley, freshly relegated to Division Three, in the summer of 1980, did not initially harm Cassidy’s international career, but over the following few seasons it became clear that Bingham was favouring players featuring regularly at a higher level. A few moments of glory in green remained however. In November 1981 he was called-up to replace Martin O’Neill for the final World Cup Qualifier against Israel, a must win game to insure a place in Spain. Sure enough, Northern Ireland won 1-0, and Cassidy travelled with the squad to the Finals. In Spain he made a single appearance, coming off the bench for the injured Sammy McIlroy, and helping to steady ten-man Northern Ireland, during the historic 1-0 win over the hosts. Spain brought the curtain down on Cassidy’s, somewhat up-and-down, international career in the most glorious of fashions.

Having helped Burnley to the Third Division title before travelling to Spain, Cassidy brought his Football League career to a close in 1983, before moving to play for APOEL in Cyprus. He later managed the club, leading them to the Cypriot League Championship, but left when he blew the whistle on high-level corruption in the game. He returned to the north-east of England to manage Gateshead, and was linked with the Newcastle job in 1992 prior to the arrival of Kevin Keegan. In 1994 he returned to the Oval as manager of a demoralised Glentoran, and helped them to an early success in the Gold Cup. The rest of his time with the Glens proved difficult, with high-profile cup final failures and expensive transfer flops such as Liam Coyle being tempered only slightly by an Irish Cup Final win over Glenavon in 1996. Under pressure from the fans, Cassidy left Glentoran in December 1997.

In 1998 Cassidy was appointed manager of Ards, but was sacked in October 1999 when the board weren’t satisfied with their prospects of promotion from the First Division – they were second at the time. Less than a month later Cassidy took charge of League of Ireland Sligo Rovers, but couldn’t save them from relegation from the Premier Division at the end of his first season. Sligo just missed out on promotion the following year when they lost the final match of the campaign 4-1 to Home Farm, and Cassidy left the club that summer. He briefly scouted Irish League players for then Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy, before returning to management with Northern League Division One club, Workington. He guided the Reds to promotion to the Premier League in 2004, and runners-up spot the following season saw the club promoted to the Football Conference Northern Division.

Northern Ireland Caps Details:
15-05-1971 England....... H L 0-1 BIC sub
13-10-1971 USSR.......... H D 1-1 ECQ sub
26-09-1973 Bulgaria...... H D 0-0 WCQ sub
11-05-1974 Scotland...... H W 1-0 BIC 1 goal
15-05-1974 England....... A L 0-1 BIC
18-05-1974 Wales......... A L 0-1 BIC
04-09-1974 Norway........ A L 1-2 ECQ
08-05-1976 Scotland...... H L 0-3 BIC
11-05-1976 England....... A L 0-4 BIC
14-05-1976 Wales......... A L 0-1 BIC
27-04-1977 West Germany.. A L 0-5 FR. sub
17-10-1979 England....... H L 1-5 ECQ
21-11-1979 Rep of Ireland H W 1-0 ECQ sub
26-03-1980 Israel........ A D 0-0 WCQ
16-05-1980 Scotland...... H W 1-0 BIC
20-05-1980 England....... A D 1-1 BIC
23-05-1980 Wales......... A W 1-0 BIC
11-06-1980 Australia..... A W 2-1 FR
15-06-1980 Australia..... A D 1-1 FR
18-06-1980 Australia..... A W 2-1 FR
15-10-1980 Sweden........ H W 3-0 WCQ
19-11-1980 Portugal...... A L 0-1 WCQ
18-11-1981 Israel........ H W 1-0 WCQ
25-06-1982 Spain......... N W 1-0 WCF sub

Summary: 18(6)/1. Won 9, Drew 5, Lost 10.

Bibliography - Books

The following is a list of books which have been used in the creation of this site (click on the links to buy):

Reference Books:
(Annual Publications)
Rothmans/Sky Sports Football Yearbooks (1971/72 - 2007/08 Editions) Compiled/Edited by Tony Williams, Roy Peskett, Leslie Vernon, Jack Rollin, Peter Dunk, Glenda Rollin.
Football League Club Directory (1986 & 1989 Editions) Edited by Tony Williams
The Official Football League Yearbook (1991 Edition) Edited by Barry J. Hugman
Panini's Football Yearbook (1988/89 & 1989/90 Editions) Edited by Peter Dunk
The Daily Telegraph Football Yearbook (87/88 Edition) Edited by Jack Rollin & Norman Barrett
The Official Football Association Yearbook (1984/85 Edition)
Playfair Football Annual (1955/56 - 2000/01 Editions) Edited by Albert Sewell, J.T. Bolton, John Camkin, Peter Dunk, Lionel Francis, Jack Rollin, Glenda Rollin
Playfair Football Who's Who (2000 Edition) Jack Rollin
Gamages Association Football Annual (1921/22 Edition) Edited by Alfred Davis, H.R. McDonald
Sunday Chronicle / Empire News / News of the World Football Annual (1947/48 - 2004/05 Editions) Edited by Harold Mayes, Ivan Sharpe, David Jack, Frank Butler, Malcolm Gunn, Patrick Collins
News Chronicle Football Annual (1950/51 - 1961/62 Editions) Edited by Charles Buchan, John Camkin, Frank Taylor
Daily Worker Football Annual (1948/49 Edition) Edited by F.W. Deards & Fulton Geddes
Sport Association Football Yearbook - The Blue Book of Soccer (1949 Edition)
Sporting Record Football Annual (1951/52 Edition) Edited by Harold King
Daily Mail Football Guide (1959/60 Edition) Edited by Roy Peskett
BBC Sport Match of the Day Football Yearbook (2004/05 Edition) Compiled by Terry Pratt
Irish Sports Almanac (1999 Edition) Edited by Damian Dowds
The (Belfast Telegraph) Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook (1969/70 - 2007/08 Editions) Edited by Malcolm Brodie, Ronald Rosser.
Irish Football Yearbook / Northern Ireland Football Yearbook / Northern Ireland Players Directory / Official Irish League Yearbook (1990/91 - 2003/04 Editions) Edited by Marshall Gillespie
Irish Football Handbook (1991/92 - 1994/95 Editions) Edited by Dave Galvin & Gerry Desmond
The Supporters' Guide to Irish Football (1997 & 1998 Editions) Edited by John Robinson
The Supporters' Guide to Northern Irish Football (2006 & 2007 Editions) Edited by John Robinson
The Supporters' Guide to Eircom FAI Clubs (2006 Edition) Edited by John Robinson
Virgin FA Carling Premiership Pocket Annual (97/98 Edition) Bruce Smith

(Other Reference Books)
Football - The Complete Facts, Stats and Records (1998) Kier Radnedge
Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (2004) Michael Joyce
Soccer: The International Line-Ups & Statistics Series - Northern Ireland 1882-1997 (1998) Edited by Michael Robinson, Statistics by Marshall Gillespie
Rothmans Football League Players Records - The Complete A-Z 1946-1981 (1981) Compiled by Barry J. Hugman
PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946-2005 (2005) Edited & Compiled by Barry J. Hugman, Asst Editors Michael Featherstone, Michael Joyce & Alan Platt
Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888/89 to 1978/79 (1980) Ian Laschke
A Century of English International Football 1872-1972 (1972) Morley Farror & Douglas Lamming
Football in Northern Ireland - A Statistical Record 1881-2005 (2005) Alex Graham
Football in the Republic of Ireland - A Statistical Record 1921-2005 (2005) Alex Graham
England Schoolboys International Players' Records 1907-99 (1999) Edited by Gavin Willacy
British and Irish Special and Intermediate Internationals (2002) Edited by Keith Warsop
The British Home Football Championship 1884-1984 (2003) Compiled by Richard Samuel
The Complete Results & Line-Ups of the Olympic Football Tournaments 1900-2004 (2004) Colin Jose
The Encyclopaedia of Association Football (1957) Compiled by Maurice Golesworthy
50 Years of FA Cup Finals 1883-1932 (1932) Edited by Mike Ross (modern re-print)
Pictorial History of English Football (1998) Robert Jeffery with Mark Gonnella
The Sixties Revisited (1992) Jimmy Greaves with Norman Giller
The Seventies Revisited (1994) Kevin Keegan with Norman Giller
Scottish League Players' Records Division One 1890/91-1938/39 (2007) Steve Emms & Richard Wells
Scottish League Players' Records Division One 1946/47-1974/75 (2004) Richard Beal & Steve Emms
Scottish League Players' Records Premier Division & Premier League 1975/76-1999/2000 (2002) Steve Emms
The Breedon Book of Scottish Football Records (1995) Gordon Smailes
Soccer at War: British Football and Footballers During World War Two (2005) Jack Rollin
Freestaters: The Republic of Ireland Soccer Team 1921-1939 (2007) Donal Cullen

General Books about (Northern) Irish Football:
100 Years of Irish Football (1980) Malcolm Brodie
Six Glorious Years - Following Northern Ireland 1980-86 (1994) Ronnie Hanna
The Eleven (1997)
Coming Home - A Tribute to Northern Ireland International Football (2000) Alan McMurdy
Association Football and Society in Pre-Partition Ireland (2004) Neal Garnham
The Irish Football Association 125 Years - The History (2005) Compiled/Edited by Malcolm Brodie & Billy Kennedy
There's Always One - 10 Years of Watching Northern Ireland (2005) Shaun Schofield
Northern Ireland's Greats - 100 Top Football Heroes (2005) Dean Hayes
Northern Ireland: International Football Facts (2006) Dean Hayes
The Fermanagh & Western FA Centenary Dinner Booklet (2007)

General Football Books:
Terry Venables' Football Heroes (2001) Terry Venables with Jane Nottage & Alex Montgomery
One Cap Wonders: The Ultimate Claim to Football Fame (2001) Grahame Lloyd
Living to Play: From Soccer Slaves to Socceratti - A Social History of the Professionals (2003) John Harding with Gordon Taylor

Club Histories:
(by Club)
Ards
- Red and Blue Heaven (2007)
Arsenal
- Player by Player (1998) Ivan Ponting
- Green Gunners - Arsenal's Irish (1991) Stephen McGarrigle
Aston Villa
- Who's Who of... (2004) Tony Matthews
Belfast Celtic
- Paradise Lost & Found (1999) Padraig Coyle
Birmingham City
- Who's Who of... (2003) Tony Matthews
Blackburn Rovers
- An A-Z (1993) Dean Hayes
Cardiff City
- Who's Who of... (2006) Dean Hayes
Celtic
- Who's Who of... (1994) Eugene McBride & Martin O'Connor with George Sheridan
Chelsea
- Player by Player (1998) Peter Lovering
- Who'd Who Of... (2005) Tony Matthews
Coventry City
- An A-Z (2000) Dean Hayes
Derby County
- Who's Who of... (2004) Gerald Mortimer
Derry City
- A History of... 1929-1972 (1986) W.H.W. Platt
- Eddie McMahon's Derry City (c.2003) Eddie McMahon
Dundalk
- The History of... - The First Hundred Years (2003) Jim Murphy
Everton
- Player by Player (1998) Ivan Ponting
- Who's Who of (2004) Tony Matthews
Gillingahm
- The Men Who Made... - The League Years (2001) Roger Triggs
Glentoran
- A Complete Record (2001) Roy France
Grimsby Town
- Mariner Men... - Who's Who 1892-2007 (2007) Rob Briggs & Dave Wherry
Huddersfield Town
- The Light at the End of the Tunnel: An A-Z... (2004) Tony Matthews
Hull City
- Who's Who of... 1904-1984 (1984) Douglas Lamming
Ipswich Town
- Who's Who of (2006) Dean Hayes
Leeds United
- Player by Player (1992) Andrew Mourant
Linfield
- 100 Years (1985) Malcolm Brodie
Lisburn Distillery
- The Whites - A History Of... (2004) Dawson Simpson
Liverpool
- Pocket Annual 95-96 (1995) Edited by Peter Fitzpatrick
- The Anfield Encyclopedia (1995 Ed.) Stepen F. Kelly
- Player by Player (1996 Ed.) Ivan Ponting
- The Hamlyn Illustrated History of... (1997 Ed.) Stephen F. Kelly
- The Official Fans' Guide (1997) David Walmsley
- Factfile (1998) Hugh & Ian Westbrook
- Who's Who Of... (2006) Tony Matthews
- The Liverpool Story (1978) Derek Hodgson
Manchester United
- Player by Player (1994) Ivan Ponting
- United Irishmen (1998) Chris Moore
Middlesbrough
- Who's Who Of... (2007) Dave Allen, Graham Bell, Gordon Cox, Claire Foy, Harry Glasper, Peter Harris, Dean Hayes, Mark Hooper, Nathan Judah, Mike McGreary & Dave Robson
Norwich City
- An A-Z (1998) Dean Hayes
Nottingham Forest
- The Forest Who's Who (2004) Tony Matthews
Notts Couty
- Meadow Lane Men - The Complete Who's Who... 1888-2005 (2005) Garth Dykes
Preston North End
- Who's Who of... (2006) Dean Hayes
QPR
- Heroes In Hoops: ...Who's Who (2003) John Marks
Rangers
- Player by Player (1997) Bob Ferrier & Robert McElroy
- All-Time Greats (1998 Ed.)
- Factfile (1998) John Scott
Stoke City
- Who's Who of... (2005) Tony Matthews
Tottenham Hotspur
- Player by Player (1993) Ivan Ponting
- The White Hart Lane Encyclopedia (1996) Dean Hayes
West Bromwich Albion
- 100 Greats (2002) Tony Matthews
- Who's Who of (2005) Tony Matthews
West Ham
- Who's Who Of... (2005) Tony Hogg
Wigan Athletic
- Who's Who of... in the Football League 1978-2004 (2004) Dean P. Hayes

(Auto)Biographies:
(by Player)
George Best
- Blessed (2003) George Best with Roy Collins
- Scoring At Half Time (2003) George Best with Martin Knight
Billy Bingham
- Soccer with the Stars (1962) Billy Bingham
- Billy (1986) Robert Allen
Danny Blanchflower
- Danny Blanchflower's Soccer Book (1959) Danny Blanchflower
- A Biography of A Visionary (1997) Dave Bowler
Peter Doherty
- Spotlight on Football (1948) Peter Doherty
Derek Dougan
- Doog Doog (1980) Derek Dougan
- The Sash He Never Wore... Twenty Five Years On (1997) Derek Dougan
Harry Gregg
- Harry's Game (2002) Harry Gregg with Roger Anderson
David Healy
- The Story So Far (2007) Ivan Martin
Willie Irvine
- Together Again (2005) Willie Irvine with Dave Thomas
Pats Jennings
- My Autobiography (1983) Pat Jennings with Reg Drury
Sammy McIlroy
- Manchester United: My Team (1980) Sammy McIlroy
Peter McParland
- Going For Goal (1960) Peter McParland
Terry Neill
- Revelations of a Football Manager (1985) Terry Neill
Martin O'Neill
- The Biography (2003) Alex Montgomery
Lawrie Sanchez
- The Northern Ireland Years (2007) Heather Jan Brunt
Norman Whiteside
- My Memories of Man Utd (2003) Norman Whiteside
- Determined (2007) Norman Whiteside

Tommy Casey

A midfield dynamo, the diminutive Tommy Casey was a versatile asset to Northern Ireland through the glorious ‘fifties…

Name: Thomas Casey
Born: 11 March 1930, Comber
Height: 5.08½ ft
Weight: 11.03 st
Position: Wing-Half / Inside-Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 12 Full Caps / 2 Goals (1955-1958), Youth Caps.
Club Honours: (with Newcastle) FA Cup Winner 1954/55.

Club Career:
Belfast YMCA; East Belfast; Bangor (Irish League); Leeds United (Football League) 1949/50 (4/0 League); Bournemouth & Boscombe (Football League) 1950/51-1951/52 (66/2 League); Newcastle United (Football League) 1952/53-1957/58 (116/8 League, 16/2 FA Cup, 2/0 Other); Portsmouth (Football League) 1958/59 (24/1 League, 1/0 FA Cup); Bristol City (Football League) 1959/60-1962/63 (122/9 League, 15/0 Cup); Inter-Roma (Toronto) (Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League) 1963; Gloucester City player-manager (Southern League).

Biography:
A product of Belfast junior football, Tommy Casey moved into senior football as an amateur with Bangor. Because of his amateur status, Bangor received no fee following his move to Leeds United in May 1949. A year at Elland Road brought little success for the dynamic midfielder, and he was allowed to leave in August 1950, signing for Division Three (South) Bournemouth.

Two seasons with Bournemouth allowed Casey to come to terms with life in English football, and in August 1952 he joined First Division Newcastle United for £7,000 on the recommendation of Bill McCracken. At St James’ Park Casey was never really a guaranteed starter, although he was always reliable when called upon. Usually a tough-tackling left-half, he was also more than capable of playing in a creative role, evidenced by his selection when required in the forward line. In 1955 Casey played in six of Newcastle’s matches as they won the FA Cup, but it was only after left-half rival Charlie Crowe strained angle ligaments the week before the Final that Casey’s place in the team was assured.

Casey made his international debut against Wales in April 1955, stepping in as deputy for Bertie Peacock. Over the next three years he found himself in-and-out of the side, making way when Peacock was available. He did play in three games during Northern Ireland’s successful 1958 World Cup qualifying campaign, scoring in the 3-0 win over Portugal at Windsor Park. At the finals he played twice, both times in the forward line, as Peter Doherty searched for a reliable goalscorer.

On returning from Sweden, Casey signed for Portsmouth for £8,500. He maintained his place in Northern Ireland’s forward line for the first international of the season, wearing the number nine shirt he scored in a 3-3 draw with England. Eleven days later he played his final international, back as wing-half, as Northern Ireland were hammered 2-6 by Spain in Madrid.

After a less than a season at Fratton Park, during which Portsmouth barely escaped relegation from the First Division, Casey was signed by Bristol City, then managed by Irish-boss Peter Doherty, in a £6,000 deal. He was a popular figure at Ashton Gate, but could do little to save City from relegation to Division Three in 1960. After four years Casey left Bristol City to become player-manager of Gloucester City.

Casey later coached or managed at Swansea Town, Ammanford Town, Distillery (manager from January 1967 to October 1968), Everton, Coventry City, Grimsby Town (manager from February 1975 to November 1976), KR Reykjavik and Harstaad, before leaving the game altogether to work as a fish monger in Portbury, near Bristol.

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
20/04/1955 Wales....... (H) L 2-3 BIC
11/04/1956 Wales....... (A) D 1-1 BIC
06/10/1956 England..... (H) D 1-1 BIC
07/11/1956 Scotland.... (A) L 0-1 BIC
16/01/1957 Portugal.... (A) D 1-1 WCQ
10/04/1957 Wales....... (H) D 0-0 BIC
25/04/1957 Italy....... (A) L 0-1 WCQ
01/05/1957 Portugal.... (H) W 3-0 WCQ 1 goal
15/06/1958 West Germany (N) D 2-2 WCF
19/06/1958 France...... (N) L 0-4 WCF
04/10/1958 England..... (H) D 3-3 BIC 1 goal
15/10/1958 Spain....... (A) L 2-6 FR

Summary: 12/2. Won 1, Drew 6, Lost 5.

Eddie Carroll

Eddie Carroll was one of many centre-forwards tried out by the Irish FA’s selection committee in the search for goals. He was given one chance only, failing to make an impact in a 3-0 defeat by Scotland...

Name: Edward Carroll
Born: Bessbrook
Position: Centre-Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1925); League of Ireland: 2 Caps/2 Goals (1928-1929).
Club Honours: (with Dundalk) Irish Free State League Champion 1932/33; (with Dolphin) Irish Free State League Champion 1934/35.

Club Career:
Bessbrook Athletics; Newry Town; Glenavon (Irish League) 1921/22-1924/25; Newry Town on loan (Irish League) 1923/24; Aberdeen (Scottish League) 1925/26-1926/27 (5/1 League); Dundee United (Scottish League) 1926/27 (21/11 League, 4/2 Scottish Cup); Dundalk (Irish Free State League) 1927/28-1928/29 (65/75 Total); Newry Town 1929/30; Dolphin (Irish Free State League) 1930/31-1931/32; Dundalk 1932/33-1934/35 (101/37 Total); Dolphin 1934/35-1936/37; Dundalk 1937/38 (5/1 Total); Drumcondra (League of Ireland); Bessbrook Strollers player-coach.

Biography:
Eddie Carroll began his Junior footballing career with hometown Junior club, Bessbrook Athletics. Later he played with Newry Town before making it to senior football with Glenavon.

In a seventeen year senior career Carroll is reckoned to have scored over 200 goals for his seven clubs, but undoubtedly his best spell was with Dundalk where he scored 113 goals in three spells (47 League, 9 FAI Cup, 41 Shield and 16 Others) and still holds many club goalscoring records.

Capped twice by the Free State League, he scored in a 4-3 win over the Welsh League and a 1-2 defeat by the Irish League.

More to follow.

Ireland Cap Details:
28-02-1925 Scotland (h) L 0-3 BIC

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

Note:

Eddie Carroll was one of a large family of footballers, his brother Frank most notable among them for his career with Belfast Celtic, Manchester City (18 Football League appearances 1920/21-1923/24), Newry Town (player-manager) and Dundee United (where he played alongside Eddie).

Billy Campbell

Billy Campbell was a speedy, impish, but lightly built winger, at a time when Northern Ireland had the Best speedy, impish, lightly built winger …

Name: William Gibson Campbell
Born: 2 July 1944, Belfast
Height: 5.06 ft
Weight: 9.10 st
Position: Outside-Right

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 6 Full Caps / 1 Goal (1967-1970), 3 Under 23 Caps (1964-1967), Amateur Caps, Youth Caps, Junior Caps; Irish League: 3 Caps (1963-1964).
Club Honours: (with Distillery) Irish League Champion 1962/63; City Cup 1962/63, County Antrim Shield 1963/64; (with Dundee) Scottish League Cup Runner-Up 1967/68; (with Linfield) Irish League Champion 1974/75.

Club Career:
Distillery (Irish League) 1960/61-1964/65 (68/25 Domestic, 2/0 Europe); Sunderland (Football League) 1964/65-1965/66 (5/0 League); Dundee (Scottish League) 1966/67-1969/70 (102(1)/19 League, 7/1 Scottish Cup, 26/3 League Cup, 8/0 Europe), Motherwell (Scottish League) 1969/70-1973/74 (71(5)/6 League); Linfield player-manager (Irish League) 1973/74-1975/76; Hamilton Academical (Scottish League) 1976/77 (3/1 League); Lossiemouth (Highland League).

Biography:
Billy Campbell came through the Distillery ranks to make his first-team debut on 29th April 1961, still just 16 years-old. Although he remained very much on the fringe at Grosvenor Park over the next few seasons, he was capped at both Junior and Youth level, before establishing himself in the second-half of the 1962/63 season. Although he missed the Irish Cup Final defeat by Linfield, Campbell played a key role in the League decider against the Blues, scoring twice in a 4-2 win to clinch the Gibson Cup for Distillery for the first time in 57 years – and the last time to date.

The following season Distillery drew the Portuguese Champions Benfica in the first round of the European Cup. In the first leg, played at Windsor Park, Campbell played a key role, along with ex-England and Preston winger Tom Finney who guested for the Whites, in an historic match. Distillery twice took the lead, and then fought back from 3-2 down to draw 3-3. Unfortunately the second leg at the Stadium of Light brought a more expected result, Benfica running out 5-0 winners. The season ended with Campbell scoring the winner in a 2-1 County Antrim Shield Final victory over Glentoran. He also won his first Under-23 Caps, torturing the Wales full-back in a 3-3 draw, and finished with a season total of 15 goals.

In September 1964 Sunderland agreed a £7,000 fee for the 20 year-old Campbell’s signature. He made his League debut in a 3-0 First Division defeat by Sheffield United in November, and over the following two seasons he made just four further appearances. Although his impact at Roker Park was limited, Campbell did add a second Under-23 cap to his collection as the Irish were held 2-2 by Wales at Ninian Park in February 1965.

Campbell moved to Scotland in 1966, signing for Dundee. He soon became popular at Dens Park, and was dubbed, almost inevitably, “King Billy” by the fans. In 1967 he helped the club to the League Cup Final, losing out 5-3 to Celtic. In 1968 the club reached the Fairs Cup semi-final, where they lost 2-1 on aggregate to eventual winners, Leeds United.

Another impressive Northern Ireland Under-23 appearance and continued good form for his club convinced Billy Bingham that Campbell would be an able Full international. He made his debut on the right-wing in the famous 1-0 “hammering” of Scotland at Windsor Park when George Best, on the left-wing, tore the Scots apart. Two years later it was Campbell’s turn to be the star of the show, this time in a 4-1 win over Turkey in which he scored his only international goal.

Mid-way through the 1969/70 season, Campbell signed for Motherwell in a £10,000 deal. Again at Fir Park, Campbell’s wing trickery endeared him to the support. It proved a lean spell for the club who were firmly rooted in mid-table of the Scottish First Division throughout Campbell’s four-and-a-half seasons on their books.

In March 1974, Campbell was appointed player-manager of Linfield. It was a move that the Blues would have welcomed four years earlier, had they not been outbid by Motherwell. Campbell spent a successful eighteen months at Windsor Park, leading them to the Irish League title in 1975. He impressed many at the club with his knowledge and professionalism, and it came as a shock when he resigned in October 1975 with reasons varying from a falling out with the board over player payments to the inability of his wife to settle in Belfast cited.

Campbell returned to Scotland, finishing his senior playing career with Hamilton Academical, making his debut on Boxing Day 1976 in a 1-0 win over Morton. But he made just two further appearances, scoring in a 2-1 defeat by Arbroath, and bowing out following a 1-1 draw with Dumbarton. He later played with Lossiemouth in the Scottish Highland League.

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
21-10-1967 Scotland (h) W 1-0 ECQ/BIC
22-11-1967 England. (a) L 0-2 ECQ/BIC
23-10-1968 Turkey.. (h) W 4-1 WCQ 1 goal
10-09-1969 USSR.... (h) D 0-0 WCQ
18-04-1970 Scotland (h) L 0-1 BIC
25-04-1970 Wales... (a) L 0-1 BIC

Summary: 6/1. Won 2, Drew 1, Lost 3.

Bobby Campbell

Perhaps more legend than footballer, Bobby Campbell was hard-living, hard playing and a goalscorer supreme…

Name: Robert McFaul Campbell
Born: 13 September 1956, Belfast
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight: 12.07 st
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 2 Full Caps (1982); Youth Caps.
Club Honours: (with Bradford City) Football League Division Three Champion 1984/85; Football League Division Four Runner-Up 1981/82.

Club Career:
Clubs.............. --Seasons-- ---League-- -FA Cup- -FL Cup- -Other-
Aston Villa........ 73/74-74/75 ..7 (3)/..1 ......... 2(0)/ 0
Halifax Town....... 74/75..Loan .14 (1)/..0
Huddersfield Town.. 74/75-76/77 .30 (1)/..9 ......... 3(0)/ 1
Sheffield United... 77/78........35 (2)/ 11 ......... 1(0)/ 0 .4(0)/ 2
Vancouver Whitecaps 1978.........13 (-)/..9 .................. 3(-)/ 2 (NASL)
Huddersfield Town.. 78/79.........7 (0)/..3
Halifax Town....... 78/79-79/80 .19 (3)/..3 .1(0)/ 0
Brisbane City...... 1979...Loan (Australian National Soccer League)
Bradford City...... 79/80-82/83 147 (1)/ 76 .6(0)/ 2 15(0)/ 9 .8(0)/ 5
Derby County....... 83/84...... .11 (0)/..4 ......... 1(0)/ 0
Bradford City...... 83/84-86/87 126 (0)/ 45 .6(0)/ 3 .9(0)/ 2 .2(0)/ 1
Wigan Athletic..... 86/87-87/88 .61 (8)/ 27 .7(0)/ 5 .4(0)/ 4 .7(0)/ 0
Totals......................... 470(19)/188 20(0)/10 35(0)/16 24(0)/11

Career Stats:
FL Division Two............... 101 (5)/ 29
FL Division Three............. 193 (9)/ 84
FL Division Four.............. 163 (5)/ 66
FA Cup......................... 20 (0)/ 10
Football League Cup............ 35 (0)/ 16
FL Division Three Play-Off...... 2 (0)/..0
Anglo-Scottish Cup.............. 4 (0)/..3
FL Group Cup.................... 8 (0)/..5
FL Associate Members Cup........ 7 (0)/..1
NASL .......................... 13 (-)/..9
NASL Play-Offs.................. 3 (-)/..2
Totals........................ 549(19)/225

Biography:
If you were to base Bobby Campbell’s footballing career solely on the long list of clubs for which he played, you would be severely underestimating the man. At each club he played for, Campbell left an indelible mark, be it good or bad.

Signed by Aston Villa straight from school in May 1972, Campbell turned professional in January 1974, and made his first team debut as a substitute the following April in a 2-1 defeat by Sunderland, still aged just seventeen. Four days later he came off the bench to score his first senior goal in a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest, and three days after that he made his first senior start against Carlisle. The following season he failed to follow up on his early promise, and was sent on loan to Halifax in February 1974, and sold to Huddersfield for £5,000 two months later.

In July 1977, Campbell joined Sheffield United for £10,000, lasting just one season, and he then spent the summer of 1978 in the NASL with Vancouver Whitecaps. His return of eleven goals in sixteen appearances helped the Whitecaps to the National Conference semi-finals. A return to Huddersfield in September 1978 lasted just a month before he re-joined Halifax. He was sacked by Halifax in May 1979, and moved to Australia for a six months with Brisbane City.

In December 1979 Bradford City decided to take a chance on the, by now, infamous Campbell, and offered him a trial. So impressed were they that a permanent deal was offered and he repaid their faith with a debut goal against Peterborough on the 12th January 1980. The following August Campbell scored what must be his most famous goal, as reigning League Champions Liverpool visited Valley Parade for a League Cup tie and were defeated 1-0. It was a typical Campbell goal too, he used his supreme upper body strength to brush off an all-international defence, to nip the ball home past Ray Clemence. The goal earned high praise for Campbell, many claiming he looked like a player who could go all the way.

It was displays like that against Liverpool, and a total of 92 goals in three-and-a-half seasons with Bradford City that brought Campbell into the thoughts of Billy Bingham for international recognition. However, it was not to be a simple selection for the Irish FA had black-marked him for earlier misdemeanours whilst playing for the Northern Ireland Youth team. It was only representations from the Bradford board that allowed Bingham to consider him for selection. Campbell played in two games during the 1982 British Championship, and earned himself a place in the World Cup Finals squad. In Spain Campbell reverted to his old-ways, his outrageous demands leaving Bingham feeling he may have made a mistake, and Campbell was never called-up again.

A 33 goal haul in the season that followed the Spain World Cup convinced Roy McFarlane to bring Campbell with him when he left Bradford to manage Derby County. The £70,000 fee helped Bradford stave of financial oblivion, but it did not work out for all parties concerned, and Campbell returned to Bradford, initially on loan, in December 1983. A fee of £35,000 was later agreed and normal service was soon resumed as Campbell’s 26 goals shot Bradford to the Division Three championship in 1985. The glory of the title success was greatly tempered by a fire at Valley Parade on the final day of the season which claimed the lives of 56 fans. Along with many of his teammates, Campbell further developed his reputation as a fans’ favourite with many hospital visits over the ensuing months.

Campbell left Bradford in October 1986 having scored a club record 143 goals over his two spells. His destination was Wigan Athletic, who forked out £25,000 for his services. In each of his two seasons at Springfield Park he finished as top scorer, helping the, then Third Division, club to the FA Cup sixth round in 1987, and gaining hero status from another set of fans with a hat-trick in a League Cup win over local rivals Bolton Wanderers.

Campbell retired from playing in 1988 after over 550 senior appearances and 200 goals. He continues as a steward at a working men’s club outside Huddersfield and also worked as 'Football in the Community' Officer at Bradford.