Name: William John PollockBorn: 8 July 1905, Monaghan
Died: 3 January 1961, Belfast
Height:
Weight:
Position: Right-Half
Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1928), 2 Amateur Caps (1927-1928); Irish League: 4 Caps (1928-1929).
Club Honours: (with Belfast Celtic) Irish League Champion 1925/26, 1926/27, 1927/28, 1928/29, 1932/33; Irish Cup Winner 1925/26, Runner-Up 1928/29; City Cup Winner 1925/26, 1930/31, Runner-Up 1926/27; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1926/27, Runner-Up 1924/25, 1931/32, 1932/33; Gold Cup Winner 1925/26, Runner-Up 1930/31; Charity Cup Winner 1928/29, Runner-Up 1924/25, 1929/30, 1930/31.
Club Career:
Teams
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Seasons
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Signed
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Fee
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League
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FA Cup
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Other
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Glenbank Swifts
|
-
|
-
|
Amateur
|
(Falls League)
|
||
Ligoniel
|
24/25
|
-
|
Amateur
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Belfast Celtic
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24/25-33/34
|
-24
|
Amateur
|
-
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-
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-
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Dundalk
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26/27
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Nov-26
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Guest
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4/1
|
-
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5/0
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Glenbank
|
-
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Oct-34
|
-
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-
|
-
|
-
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Brantwood
|
34/35-35/36
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Feb-35
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
TOTALS
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-
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£-
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-
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-
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-
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Biography:
Born in Monaghan in 1905, Billy Pollock’s family was one of many which soon moved to Belfast in search of work. Prior to taking to football Pollock had represented Ulster Juniors at hockey. A whole-hearted right-half or left-half, Pollock graduated from the Belfast minor leagues to sign for Belfast Celtic on their return to the Irish League in 1924.
Pollock was drafted into the Celtic team almost immediately as an Amateur before signing professional forms on the 17th March 1928. During his Amateur days, like many other Northern players he was coaxed South to Dundalk where he appeared in 1926/27, their first in the Free State League. On several occasions he "doubled", appearing for Celtic on the Saturday and for Dundalk the following day. He played in four consecutive Irish League title winning sides from 1925/26 to 1928/29 and figured in many other successes with Belfast Celtic. Surprisingly Celtic had very little success in the Irish Cup, managing only one win (v Linfield in 1926) and losing out 2-1 to Ballymena in 1929 Final.
Capped for the only time against France in 1928, it was a largely inexperienced side, made up almost entirely of Irish League players. France won 4-0 at Buffalo in Paris, and it proved to be Pollock's only senior international outing. He did however represent the Irish League on four occasions, tasting victory just once and also gained two Amateur Caps against England.
Medal Found in Puddle
Ireland Cap Details:
21-02-1928 France.. A L 0-4 FR
Summary: 1/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.
Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
06-11-1926 England. H L 0-3
12-11-1927 England. A D 1-1
Summary: 2/0. Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 1.
Picture kindly supplied by Roy Cathcart. Biographical details by George Glass with additional information from Jim Murphy.
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