Name: Thomas John McKee Priestly*Born: 11 March 1911, Belfast
Died: 28 July 1985, Belfast
Height:
Weight:
Position: Forward
Representative Honours: Ireland: 2 Full Caps (1932-1933), 3 Amateur Caps (1932-1933); League of Ireland: 3 Caps (1937-1939).
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1932/33; Belfast Charity Cup Winner 1932/33.
Club Career:
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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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Cookstown
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(South Derry League)
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Coleraine
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Jul-28
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Amateur
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Linfield
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32/33
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Sep-32
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Amateur
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-
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-
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-
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Chelsea
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33/34
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Jun-33
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£2,000
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23/1
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4/1
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Shelbourne
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TOTALS
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£2,000
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Biography:
Tommy Priestly was born to Thomas and Martha Priestly at 164 Dunluce Avenue, less that half-a-mile from Windsor Park. It was however as a Coleraine player that he was included as inside-left in the Ireland line-up to face Scotland in September 1932. Although he had been a regular in the Ireland Amateur side over the previous few seasons, he had not actually turned out for the Bannsiders during that campaign. Within days he was a Linfield player and featured in that season’s Co. Antrim Shield and Charity Cup successes.
A controversial character, Priestly could not be mistaken on the field of play as he sported a rugby-style skull cap. The red cap was to cover his premature baldness caused by a childhood illness, and brought much derision from opposition fans. Although eccentric in demeanour, Priestly was a solid player, and one of the games thinkers.
A native of Lower Windsor Avenue, Priestly had been a long-time follower of Linfield’s fortunes, and once he arrived at the club he was reluctant to leave. After a mid-week friendly with Sheffield Wednesday he rejected a move to Hillsborough. The story was the same when offered the chance to move to Rangers, but he eventually left Linfield for Chelsea on 7 June 1933. The move, valued at between £2,000 and £3,000 hinged on the precarious financial situation at Windsor Park and the fact Priestly had been offered the job of schoolmaster at Arthur Street School, Peckham.
Shortly after his move to Stamford Bridge, Priestly returned to Windsor Park for an international match with England. He lasted just a season with Chelsea, his club career brought to a close after mud entered his eye, causing a major problem. Although Chelsea retained his registration through to 1939, Priestly returned to the field with Shelbourne. While with Shels he was selected three times by for the League of Ireland, tasting success on each occasion with victories over the Yugoslav, Irish and Scottish Leagues.
With his playing days behind him Priestley became a school principal in Lambeg. He remained a regular match-day visitor to the Windsor Park press box up until his sudden death following an operation at the Royal Victoria Hospital in July 1985.
Ireland Cap Details:
17-09-1932 Scotland H L 0-4 BC
14-10-1933 England. H L 0-3 BC
Summary: 2/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 2.
Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
23-01-1932 Scotland H W 4-0 1 Goal
28-01-1933 Scotland A L 0-6
18-02-1933 England. H W 4-3
Summary: 3/1. Won 2, Drew 0, Lost 1.
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| 1937 League of Ireland vs Yugoslavia |
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