The Birmingham City Connection

A second club with a strong Northern Ireland connection (particularly in recent years) has now confirmed there return to top-flight English football…

Founded: 1875
Previous Names: Small Heath Alliance (1875-1888); Small Heath (1888-1895); Birmingham (1905-1945).
Grounds: 1875, waste ground near Arthur Street; 1877, Muntz Street, Small Heath; 1906, St. Andrews.

League History:
Founder members of Football Alliance 1889/90-1891/92; Founder members of Football League Division Two (II) 1892/93-1893/94; Division One (I) 1894/95-1895/96; Division Two (II) 1896/97-1900/01; Division One (I) 1901/02; Division Two (II) 1902/03; Division One (I) 1903/04-1907/08; Division Two (II) 1908/09-1920/21; Division One (I) 1921/22-1938/39; Division Two (II) 1939/40-1947/48; Division One (I) 1948/49-1949/50; Division Two (II) 1950/51-1954/55; Division One (I) 1955/56-1964/65; Division Two (II) 1965/66-1971/72; Division One (I) 1972/73-1978/79; Division Two (II) 1979/80; Division One (I) 1980/81-1983/84; Division Two (II) 1984/85; Division One (I) 1985/86; Division Two (II) 1986/87-1988/89; Division Three (III) 1989/90-1991/92; Division One (II) 1992/93-1993/94; Division Two (III) 1994/95; Division One (II) 1995/96-2001/02; FA Premier League (I) 2002/03-2005/06; Championship (II) 2006/07; FA Premier League (I) 2007/08; Championship (II) 2008/09.

Club Honours:
FA Premier League Best Season: 10th (2003/04).
Best Season: 6th Division One (I) (1955/56).
Football League Championship (I) Runners-Up (1) 2006/07.
Football League Division One (II) Play-Off Winners (1) 2001/02.
Football League Division Two (II) Champions (4) 1892/93 (not promoted after test-match series), 1920/21, 1947/48, 1954/55; Runners-Up (5) 1893/94 (promoted after Test-Match series), 1900/01, 1902/03, 1971/72, 1984/85.
Football League Division Two (III) Champions (1) 1994/95.
Football League Division Three (III) Runners-Up (1) 1991/92.
FA Cup Runners-Up (2) 1930/31, 1955/56.
Football League Cup Winners (1) 1962/63; Runners-Up 2000/01.
Football League Associate Members’ Cup/Football League Trophy Winners (2) 1990/91, 1994/95.

European Competitions:
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Runners-Up (2) 1958/60, 1960/61; entrants (4) 1955/58, 1961/62.

Players capped by the Irish FA while with Birmingham:
.................BCFC......League.........Caps
Player......... Career ..App(sb)/Gls .at Club Total
Brennan. R.A. 1949..... .. 39( 0)/ 7 ..... 3 . ( 5)
Brown... John 1938..... .. 34( 0)/ 6 ..... 3 . (10)
Ferris.. R.O. 1948-1952 .. 93( 0)/ 3 ..... 3 . ( 3)
Johnson. D.M. 2001-date . .......... .... 30 . (46)*
McCarthy J.D. 1997-2001 . 107(17)/ 8 .... 14 . (18)
Taylor.. M.S. 2003-date . .......... .... 31 . (60)*#
......................................... 84

* Still active with club and country
# Cap total includes those won while on loan from Fulham as deal became permanent during season.

Other Players to have been capped by the IFA and played for Birmingham:
Quinn... S.J. 1992..... ... 1( 3)/ 0 ..... 0 . (50)
Sonner.. D... 2000-2001 .. 47( 9)/ 3 ..... 0 . (13)

Other Links:
Peter Doherty played as a War-Time guest at St. Andrews
Michael Hughes was on loan at Birmingham from Wimbledon in the spring of 2002. A contractual dispute between the two clubs forced him to miss a year of his career.
Both Jimmy McLaughlin (12 Caps, 1961-1962) and current international Tony Capaldi came through the ranks at Birmingham without making a first-team appearance.
Former Youth international Jim Hagan was with Birmingham in the 1980s, though he was famously never awarded a Full cap.
More recently David Howland has been capped at Youth level while at St. Andrews.

George McCartney

A star of the Under-21 set-up; a goal-scoring international debut; Premiership experience - George McCartney was marked as a star from the off. Then there followed injuries, an alleged fear of flying and a falling out with Lawrie Sanchez. Will he make a successful return to the international stage?

Name: George McCartney
Born: 24 April 1981, Belfast
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight: 12.07 st
Position: Defender

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 20 Full Caps (2001-2005), 5 Under-21 Caps (2000-2001), Under-18, Under-16, Under-15.
Club Honours: (with Sunderland) Football League Championship Winner 2004/05.

Club Career:
Clubs.......... --Seasons-- --League-- -FACup- FL Cup Other
Sunderland..... 00/01-05/06 117(17)/ 0 10(3)/0 6(2)/0 2(0)/0
West Ham United 06/07- date

Biography:
George McCartney rose through the ranks at Sunderland, signing as a professional in August 1998. He made his debut for the Black Cats in a 2-0 defeat at Leicester City in February 2001, gradually establishing himself as a first-team regular over the next season and a half. A versatile player, he has featured most regularly at left-back at club level, though also proved useful at centre-back.

Having played regularly at Under-21 level through the 2002 European Championship qualifying campaign Sammy McIlroy had no hesitation in including him in the Full squad. An unused substitute for the World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Czech Republic in June 2001 and against Denmark that September, he replaced Colin Murdock at centre-half to make his debut against Iceland. He marked the occasion with a goal in a 3-0 victory (his only senior goal at any level to date), and retained his place for a 1-0 win over Malta the following month.

At club level McCartney both suffered relegation and celebrated promotion with Sunderland, and rose to become club captain. Only injuries ruled him out of the first eleven. The story was similar at international level, though he missed a match in Armenia apparently because he was scared to fly there. The appointment of Lawrie Sanchez brought a much tougher regime to the Northern Ireland set-up, and McCartney felt he was forced to play through injuries. Friction between the player and manager grew until, on the eve of a friendly against Malta in August 2005, McCartney announced he would not make himself available for selection under Sanchez.

Due to injuries McCartney had a limited role in Sunderland’s return to the Premiership in 2005/06, playing just thirteen times as they were relegated in last place. Although still ruled out by injury Alan Pardew stepped in to sign him for West Ham on the eve of the 2006/07 campaign in a £1,000,000 deal. He had to wait until October before making his Hammers debut, and put in a number of valiant performances as the club successfully fought relegation.

In June 2007, with Lawrie Sanchez replaced as Northern Ireland manager by Nigel Worthington, McCartney announced that he would again be available for international selection. He made his return to the international scene in a 3-1 win over Liechtenstein.

West Ham Site Bio

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
05-09-2001 Iceland...... H W 3-0 WCQ 1 Goal
06-10-2001 Malta........ A W 1-0 WCQ
13-02-2002 Poland....... N L 1-4 FR sub
27-03-2002 Liechtenstein A D 0-0 FR
17-04-2002 Spain........ H L 0-5 FR
21-08-2002 Cyprus....... H D 0-0 FR
12-10-2002 Spain........ A L 0-3 ECQ
16-10-2002 Ukraine...... H D 0-0 ECQ
12-02-2003 Finland...... H L 0-1 FR
02-04-2003 Greece....... H L 0-2 ECQ
03-06-2003 Italy........ A L 0-2 FR
11-06-2003 Spain........ H D 0-0 ECQ
06-09-2003 Ukraine...... A D 0-0 ECQ
10-09-2003 Armenia...... H L 0-1 ECQ
11-10-2003 Greece....... A L 0-1 ECQ
18-02-2004 Norway....... H L 1-4 FR
08-09-2004 Wales........ A D 2-2 WCQ sub
13-10-2004 Austria...... H D 3-3 WCQ
09-02-2005 Canada....... H L 0-1 FR
04-06-2005 Germany...... H L 1-4 FR
(Still active)

The Sunderland Connection

With Sunderland's return to the top-tier of English football now guaranteed, NIFG looks back on the impact made by (Northern) Irishmen on the team once termed the "Bank of England Club"...

Founded: 1879

Previous Names: Sunderland & District Teacher's Association (1879-1880)

Grounds: 1879, Blue House Field, Hendon; 1882, Groves Field, Ashbrooke; 1883, Horatio Street; 1884, Abbs Field, Fulwell; 1886, Newcastle Road; 1898, Roke Park; 1997, Stadium of Light.

League History:

Elected to the Football League (I) 1890/91-1891/92; First Division (I) 1892/93-1957/58; Second Division 1958/59-1963/64; First Division (I) 1964/65-1969/70; Second Division (II)1970/71-1975/76; First Division (I) 1976/77; Second Division (II) 1977/78-1979/80; First Division (I) 1980/81-1984/85; Second Division (II) 1985/86-1986/87; Third Division (III) 1987/88; Second Division (II) 1988/89-1989/90; First Division (I) 1990/91; Second Division (II) 1991/92; First Division (II) 1992/93-1995/96; FA Premier League (I) 1996/97; First Division (II) 1997/98-1998/99; FA Premier League (I) 1999/00-2002/03; First Division (II) 2003/04; Football League Championship (II) 2004/05; FA Premier League (I) 2005/06; Championship (II) 2006/07; FA Premier League (I) 2007/08.

Club Honours:

FA Premier League Best Season: 7th (1999/00, 2000/01).

Football League (I) Champions (6) 1891/92, 1892/93, 1893/94, 1901/02, 1912/13, 1935/36, Runners-Up (5) 1893/84, 1897/98, 1900/01, 1922/23, 1934/35.

Football League (II) Champions (4) 1995/96, 1998/99, 2004/05, 2006/07.

Football League Second Division (II) Champions (1) 1975/76, Runners-Up (2) 1963/64, 1979/80, Play-Off Winners (1) 1989/90 (awarded promotion spot following Swindon Town's relegation for making illegal payments).

Football League Third Division (III) Champions (1) 1987/88.

FA Cup Winners (2) 1937, 1973, Runners-Up 1913, 1992.

Football League Cup Runners-Up 1985.

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European Competitions:

European Cup Winners' Cup entrants (1) 1973/74.

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Players Capped by the Irish FA while at Sunderland:

.................SAFC......League.........Caps

Player......... Career ..App(sb)/Gls .at Club Total
HARVEY... M... 1959-1971 311 (5)/ 5 ......34 (34)

BINGHAM.. W.L. 1950-1957 206 (0)/45 ......33 (56)

McCARTNEY G... 2000-2005 117(17)/ 0 ......20 (20)*

GRAY..... P... 1993-1995 108 (7)/34 ......13 (26)

CROSSAN.. J.A. 1962-1964 .82 (0)/39 ......12 (24)

WHITLEY.. Jeff 2003-2005 .65 (3)/ 2 ......12 (20)*

PARKE.... J... 1964-1967 .83 (2)/ 0 ......11 (14)

FINNEY... T... 1974-1975 . 8 (7)/ 1 ...... 7 (14)

NICHOLL.. J.M. 1982..... .29 (0)/ 0 ...... 5 (73)**

McCONNELL J.E. 1905-1907 .39 (0)/ 0 ...... 4 (12)

LAWTHER.. W.I. 1959-1960 .75 (0)/41 ...... 2 ( 4)

BUCKLE... H.R. 1902-1905 .43 (0)/14 ...... 1 ( 2)

INGHAM... M.G. 2004..... . 1 (1)/ 0 ...... 1 ( 3)*

O'NEILL.. J... 1961..... . 7 (0)/ 6 ...... 1 ( 1)

ROGAN.... A.G. 1991-1992 .45 (1)/ 1 ...... 1 (18)

........................................ 157
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Excludes Jonny Evans who has won two caps while at Sunderland on loan from Manchester United in the second half of the 2006/07 season.

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* Still active players

** Excludes three appearances made while on loan in 1981/82 season

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Other Players to have been capped by the IFA and played for Sunderland:

CAMBELL.. W.G. 1964..... . 5 (0)/ 0 ...... 0 ( 6)

HEGAN.... D... 1973..... . 3 (3)/ 0 ...... 0 ( 7)***

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*** Was also on Sunderland's books in the early 1960s without playing a game.

.

Other links:

Jimmy Shields (1 Cap in 1956 while with Southampton) was with Sunderland in the mid-1950s without playing a League match for them.

Norman Clarke won one of his two Under-23 caps while with Sunderland, and made 4 League appearances in 1962/63.

John Fraser played 22 games, scoring once, for Sunderland between 1958-1960 and won a 'B' Cap in 1959.

In more recent times Trevor Carson and Robbie Weir have won Youth Caps while with Sunderland.

Lawrie McMenemy managed both Sunderland and Northern Ireland with "little success".

Bernard McNally

Name: Bernard McNally
Born: 17 February 1963, Shrewsbury (England)
Height: 5.07 ft
Weight: 10.12 st
Position: Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 5 Full Caps (1986-1988).
Club Honours: (with West Brom) Football League Division Two Play-Off Winner 1992/93 (promoted).

Club Career:
Shrewsbury Town (Football League) 1980/81-1988/89 (278(4)/23 League, 3 League Cup goals); West Bromwich Albion (Football League) 1989/90-1994/95 (137(19)/10 League, 1 FA Cup goal, 1 League Cup goal); Hednesford Town (Football Conference) 1996/97-1997/98 (41(1)/3 League); Telford United (Football Conference).

Biography:
A committed Christian and son of a Cookstown man, Shrewsbury born Bernard McNally signed professional forms with his hometown club on his eighteenth birthday. He went on to spend nearly a decade with the Shrews, making over 300 first-team appearances.

McNally was first given a chance at international level in the build up to Mexico '86, and earned himself a place in Northern Ireland's squad for the Finals despite having made just one appearance. Over the following two years he won a further four caps, without ever establishing himself in Billy Bingham's plans.

McNally left Shrewsbury in 1989 for West Bromwich Albion where he spent six years in which he tasted both relegation from, and promotion to, the second tier of English football.

After leaving the pro-game in 1995, he joined Conference side Hednesford for 18 months (playing in a 3-2 FA Cup Fourth Round defeat by eventual finalists Middlesbrough in 1997), before he finished his playing days with a month long spell as a non-contract player at Telford United. An ankle injury eventually finished his career.

McNally returned to West Brom in 2002, coaching various age groups, before being appointed as Centre of Excellence Director. He left the role in July 2004 to become the first manager of AFC Telford United (following the Liquidation of Telford United FC at the close of the 2003/04 season), and he led them to promotion from the Unibond League First Division to the Unibond Premier League in their first season.

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Northern Ireland Cap Details:

23-04-1986 Morocco... W 2-1 FR
12-11-1986 Turkey.... D 0-0 ECQ sub
14-10-1987 Yugoslavia L 0-3 ECQ

17-02-1988 Greece.... L 2-3 FR
21-05-1988 Malta..... W 3-0 WCQ sub

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

Stephen McBride

Name: Stephen D. McBride
Born: 2 May 1964, Lurgan
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight: 12.06 st
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 4 Full Caps (1990-1991), 1 Under-23 Cap / 1 Goal (1990); Irish League: 2 Caps (1990).
Club Honours: (with Glenavon) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1987/88, 1990/91, 1995/96; Irish League Cup Winner 1989/90; Floodlit Cup Winner 1988/89; Gold Cup Winner 1990/91; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1990/91, 1995/96; Mid-Ulster Cup Winner.
Awards: Ulster Footballer of the Year 1991; NI Football Writers’ Player of the Year 1991.

Club Career:
Clubs..... --Seasons-- Signed --Fee-- --League--- FA Cup -Europe- -Other-
Linfield.. 82/83-83/84 ..1978 ..Youth ..6 (0)/. 5 1(0)/0 ....... 0(1)/. 0
Motherwell 83/84-84/85 Feb-84 £15,000 ..0 (3)/. 0 0(1)/0 .......
Linfield.. 84/85-85/86 ..1984 ....... ..0 (0)/. 0 ...... ....... 6(5)/. 0
Glenavon.. 85/86-95/96 Oct-85 ....... 249(11)/123 ?(?)/? 10(0)/2 ?(?)/125
Linfield.. 96/97-97/98 Jul-96 £20,000 .33 (0)/. 8
Bangor.... 98/99...... May-98 ....... ..3 (0)/. 1 ...... ....... 1(2)/. 2
Crusaders. 98/99...... Nov-98 ....... ..4 (5)/. 0 2(6)/0
Totals.... ........... ...... £35,000 295(19)/137 3(7)/0 10(0)/2 7(8)/127

Biography:
Stephen McBride was appointed manager at Glenavon in June 2008 having previously been coach at the club.

More to follow.

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
17-10-1990 Denmark...... H D 1-1 ECQ sub
06-02-1991 Poland....... H W 3-1 FR sub
11-09-1991 Faroe Islands A W 5-0 ECQ sub
13-11-1991 Denmark...... A L 1-2 ECQ

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

Lawrie, Please Don't Go!

The release of the FIFA World Rankings today illustrates further what the Northern Ireland team has achieved under Lawrie Sanchez's management - From an all-time low of 124th when Lawrie took over in January 2004, we now sit proudly in 33rd - equalling our highest ever placing (way back in May 1994).

Who knows what more we can achieve with Lawrie at the helm?

Update 11 May 2007. Unfortunately Lawrie didn't listen to my plea and has taken the Fulham job permanently. With mixed emotions I must express my disappointment, but also wish a man who brought an unexpected level of success well for the future.

Arthur Stewart

Steely half-back Arthur Stewart had a near two-decade career in the Irish and Football Leagues, punctuated with some fantastic successes…

Name: Arthur Stewart
Born: 13 January 1942, Ballymena
Height: 5.08 ft
Weight: 11.00 st
Position: Half-Back/Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 7 Full Caps (1967-1968), Amateur, Youth, 1 Schoolboy Cap (1957); Irish League: 5 Caps (1961-1974).
Club Honours: (with Ballymena) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1973/74; Gold Cup Winner 1974/75; Ulster Cup Winner 1960/61; (with Glentoran) Irish League Champion 1963/64, 1966/67, 1967/68; Irish Cup Winner 1965/66, Runner-Up 1966/67; Gold Cup Winner 1962/63, 1966/67, 1977/78; City Cup Winner 1964/65, 1966/67; Ulster Cup Winner 1966/67.
Awards: Ulster Footballer of the Year 1974.

Club Career:
Ballymena United 1957/58-1960/61; Glentoran 1961/62-1967/68 (279/41 Domestic, 8/0 Europe); Detroit Cougars guest (USSA) 1967 (12/2); Derby County 1967/68-1969/70 (29(1)/1 League, 1/0 FA Cup, 4/1 League Cup); Ballymena United player-manager 1970/71-1975/76; Distillery 1975/76; New Jersey Americans (ASL) 1976; Bangor 1976/77 (5 League goals); Cliftonville 1976/77; Glentoran player-manager 1977/78-1978/79 (15(1)/0 Domestic, 2(1)/0 Europe).

Biography:
As Ballymena came out of their golden-age of the late-fifties one of their most recognised stars was the teenage Arthur Stewart. Already a youth and amateur international, he transferred to Glentoran in the summer of 1961 and soon drew comparison with some of the game’s leading stars, a “second Danny Blanchflower” with the ability to produce a “Johnny Haynes-like through ball”. Within months of his arrival at the Oval, Stewart, still just nineteen, had appeared for the Irish League, and by the season’s end had made 52 appearances as Glentoran finished sadly in the shadow of Linfield, a status best illustrated by their 5-0 defeat in the Co. Antrim Shield that saw Linfield complete their domestic “clean-sweep”.

It took Glentoran until the mid-sixties to emerge fully from their near-decade lull. A Gold Cup win in 1963, Stewart’s scoring twice in the 2-1 semi-final win over Distillery, set the ball rolling on one of their most consistently successful periods. By now Stewart was becoming more noted as the hard-tackling rock on which the Glens’ great side was built, with his passing range and consistent goalscoring making him close to the complete midfielder. The Gibson Cup arrived at the Oval for the first time in eleven years in 1964 and the following season a fifteen year wait for an Irish Cup success was ended.

1967 proved to be perhaps the best year of Stewart’s long career. The 1966/67 began with the an Ulster Cup success, by February the Gold Cup and Irish League title had also been claimed, and the City Cup was added with a final win over Linfield in May. Only the Co. Antrim Shield slipped through Glentoran’s fingers, with Linfield gaining a measure of revenge in a 2-1 semi-final win. Stewart was rewarded for his form with his first cap, in a 0-0 Home Nations draw with Wales. With Stewart freshly crowned as the club’s Player of the Year, the Glens departed for America to take part in the trail-blazing US Soccer Association championship. The Detroit Cougars, the name given to the Glens team, held their own against teams from across the world – including Stoke, Wolves, Hibs and Shamrock Rovers – finishing with a 3-6-3 record.

As the 1967/68 campaign began Stewart continued his good-form. He added two further caps, including in the famous 1-0 ‘Best’ victory over Scotland, and his third inter-league appearance before his transfer to Derby County in December 1967 for a £10,000 fee. Brian Clough saw him as the man to add the necessary steel to the struggling Second Division side, Derby rallying late in the season, eventually finishing in eighteenth place and reaching the League Cup semi-final. Any confidence carried over from Derby’s strong finish to the 1967/68 season was seemingly lost over the summer as the team began with four straight defeats - Clough made changes. With Stewart dropped, Derby hit a vein of form that took them to the Second Division championship. After a season as merely top-flight back-up, Stewart returned to Ballymena in August 1970.

Immediately on his return to the Irish League, Stewart reminded anyone who may have forgotten what he was all about. He returned to the Irish League side, but it took his appointment as player-manager in 1971 to take Ballymena near their previous successes. The City Cup success early in his first term in charge was Ballymena’s first trophy for eleven years. It was his performances on the pitch in 1973/74 as Ballymena pushed close for honours, only to lose out to Ards in both the Irish Cup and Blaxnit Cup finals, which earned Stewart the Ulster Player of the Year title. Over the next few seasons success was limited to the Gold Cup, with a win in 1974 and a final defeat by Coleraine in 1975 preceding Stewart’s departure early in 1976.

In March 1976 Stewart signed as a player with Distillery, helping them regain some pride in a season in which they had finished bottom of the Irish League, with an appearance in the Co. Antrim Shield final. That summer he departed for a lucrative five month spell in the American Soccer League with New Jersey Americans. He returned to the Irish League early in the 1976/77 season, taking in brief spells with Bangor and Cliftonville before he accepted a return to Glentoran as player-manager in May 1977.

Stewart’s role as both experienced tactician and seasoned player aided Glentoran to some early successes. They embarked on a European Cup campaign which would take them past Icelandic side Valur and within a whisker of a famous draw with Juventus. The Gold Cup continued as Stewart’s ‘lucky’ competition, Glentoran winning 3-1 against Glenavon in the final having free-scored their way to the decider. While Glentoran lost out to Linfield in the race for the League title, they did defeat Crusaders in the Co. Antrim Shield Final. Stewart however did not select himself for the final show-down, thus missing out on the final local honour needed to complete his collection – he was however presented a winner’s medal by one of his own players (let me know who).

In December 1978 Stewart resigned as Glentoran manager to take the over as head coach at New Jersey Americans. He returned to Northern Ireland as manager of Ballyclare Comrades in 1981 and later managed Ballymoney United. Like many ex-footballers, Stewart’s sporting interests now largely centre around the golf course.

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
12-04-1967 Wales... H D 0-0 ECQ
21-10-1967 Scotland H W 1-0 ECQ
22-11-1967 England. A L 0-2 ECQ
28-02-1968 Wales... A L 0-2 ECQ
10-09-1968 Israel.. A W 3-2 FR
23-10-1968 Turkey.. H W 4-1 WCQ sub
11-12-1968 Turkey.. A W 3-0 WCQ

Summary: 6(1)/0. Won 4, Drew 1, Lost 2.

Joe Ledwidge

Name: Joseph J. Ledwidge
Position: Left-Half

Representative Honours: Ireland: 2 Full Caps (1906); Irish League: 1 Cap (1905).
Club Honours: (with Shelbourne) Irish Cup Winner 1905/06, Runner-Up 1906/07, 1907/08.

Club Career:
Shelbourne (Leinster Senior League/Irish League) 1901/02-1908/09 (51/? Irish League, 23/1 Irish Cup).

Biography:
Joe Ledwidge joined Shelbourne in 1901 while they were playing in the Leinster Senior League. After they joined the Irish League for the 1904/05 season he made a total of 51 League appearances until he left the club in 1909.

Shelbourne's best season in Ledwidge's time was 1906/07 when the finished as Irish League runners-up to Linfield. Shels were more of a Cup team, Ledwidge playing in the 2-0 1906 Irish Cup Final win over Belfast Celtic (the first time a Dublin team had won the trophy) and in the Final defeats by Cliftonville in 1907 and Bohemians in 1908.

In 1906 Ledwidge won two caps for Ireland. The first as Scotland won narrowly 1-0 at Dalymount Park and the second in an exciting 4-4 draw against Wales in Wrexham. He also made an appearance for the Irish League in a 4-0 defeat by the Football League at Hyde Road, Manchester in November 1905.

Wikipedia

Ireland Cap Details:
17-03-1906 Scotland H L 0-1 BC
02-04-1906 Wales... A D 4-4 BC

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

Jack Lyttle

Name: John Hunter Lyttle (sometimes spelt Lytle)

Position: Half-Back

Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1898).

Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Irish League Champion 1896/97; Irish Cup Runner-Up 1898/99; City Cup Winner 1896/97; 1898/99; Belfast Charity Cup Runner-Up 1897/98.

Club Career:

Glentoran (Irish League) 1894/95-1898/99 (71/1 Total).

Biography:

After a slow start to his Glentoran career, he made a single appearance in each of his first two seasons, Jack Lyttle established himself for some of the club's earliest successes. He was a regular in the 1896/97 season as the Glens claimed their first City Cup and their second League title.

Capped once by Ireland, in a 1-0 win over Wales at Wrexham (Ireland's first victory on "foreign" soil), he was normally a left-half, but also filled in at left-back on occasion. In 71 Glentoran appearances he scored just once, in a 3-2 City Cup tie defeat at Belfast Celtic in April 1898.

Lyttle acted as a linesman in the 1899 Charity Cup Final and was also Glentoran's club secretary.

Ireland Cap Details:

19-02-1898 Wales... A W 1-0 BC

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

Joe Loyal

Name: Joseph Henry Loyal
Position: Goalkeeper

Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1891).

Club Career:
Clarence (Irish League) 1890/91; Glentoran (Irish League) 1891/92-1893/94 (5/0 Total).

Biography:
Joe Loyal was a member of the Clarence side that finished second bottom in the first ever season of the Irish League in 1890/91, and reached the Irish Cup semi-final that same season. When the club was unable to fulfill their opening fixtures the following season they were replaced and the club later disbanded. Loyal joined Glentoran for whom he played a handful of games over the next few seasons, including the 1894 Charity Cup Final defeat by Linfield.

Ireland Cap Details:
28-03-1891 Scotland A L 1-2 BC

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

Henry Lockhart

Name: Henry Lockhart
Born: 16 February 1865
Position: Back

Rpresentative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1884).

Biography:
Capped just once, as an eighteen year-old, while attending Rossall School in Fleetwood (near Blackpool, Lancashire). The match ended in a 6-0 defeat by Wales at the Racecourse, Wrexham.

If you have any further information on this player, please contact us.

Ireland Cap Details:
09-02-1884 Wales... A L 0-6 BC

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

Jim Lewis

Name: James Lewis
Born: 1874
Died: April 1957, Belfast
Position: Goalkeeper

Representative Honours: Ireland: 4 Full Caps (1899-1900); Irish League: 3 Caps (1897-1902).
Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Irish League Champion 1896/97; Irish Cup Runner-Up 1898/99; City Cup Winner 1896/97, 1898/99; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1900/01, 1901/02; Charity Cup Winner 1901/02, Runner-Up 1897/98, 1902/03, 1903/04.

Club Career:
Glentoran (Irish League) 1895/96-1898/99 (75/0 Total); Distillery (Irish League) 1899/1900; Glentoran 1900/01-1904/05 (124/0 Total).

Biography:
Jim Lewis made a single appearance for Glentoran during the 1895/96 season, establishing himself as the team’s regular ‘keeper the following season. It proved a very successful first campaign, as the Glens claimed the Irish League and City Cup in impressive fashion. The League was claimed by a six point margin, with only ten goals conceded in ten games. In the City Cup Glentoran were undefeated until the final, and by then meaningless, match. Lewis was noted as a “star” performer, and was even noted as having “played well” in the 4-0 Irish Cup exit at the hands of Distillery.

The 1897/98 season proved fruitless for Glentoran as they finished third in the League (by virtue of a 2-0 defeat by Cliftonville in the Runner-Up Test Match) and suffered a 4-0 Charity Cup Final defeat at the hands of the North Staffordshire Regiment. In November however Lewis was rewarded for his fine form the previous season with inclusion in the Irish League team to face the Football League in Manchester. That too proved an unhappy day as the English side ran out 8-1 winners.

Success returned to the Oval in the 1898/99 season, with Lewis once again playing a key role. In the Irish Cup his “many fine saves” saw off Distillery in the third round as Glentoran marched to the Final via a controversy filled semi-final marathon against Belfast Celtic. After a 2-2 draw in the first game, Glentoran won the replay 2-1 only for Celtic to lodge a protest about an ineligible player. In the second replay the scoreline was reversed, but this time the Glens protested about Celtic fielding an ineligible player. The fourth match at Grosvenor Park was an ill-tempered affair, with fighting in the stands. With Glentoran leading 2-0 late on the Celtic fans invaded the pitch forcing the referee to lead the teams off the field. When order had been restored the Celtic players refused to retake the field and the Glens were awarded the tie.

The Final against Linfield added more controversy to that season’s Irish Cup competition. In front of 3,5000 people at Solitude the Blues took a first minute lead. The scoreline remained that way until the closing ten minutes when a Linfield player appeared to punch the ball of his own goal-line. As the Glentoran players’ appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears they walked off in protest, leaving the referee no choice but to abandon the game. The IFA subsequently awarded the Cup to Linfield.

More success was found in the City Cup, a solid Glentoran losing just once to finish two points clear of Linfield. Lewis’ fine performances earned him selection for Ireland’s opening 1899 Home Nations Championship tie, against England in Sunderland. As half-time approached the English led 5-0 and were awarded a penalty. Up stepped fames Aston Villa full-back, Jimmy Crabtree, who’s strike was saved by Lewis – that was one of just four “missed” penalties in nineteenth century international football. That the game finished 13-2 obviously did no harm to Lewis’ standing with the IFA’s selection committee, and he remained ‘keeper for the rest of that season’s championship - a 1-0 win over Wales and a 9-1 defeat by Scotland (for which he was appointed captain).

A move to Distillery in 1899 saw Lewis largely play second fiddle to Jimmy Thompson as the Whites claimed the Co. Antrim Shield and Charities Cup. Lewis however remained in the representative sides’ selectors’ plans, appearing for the Irish League in a 6-0 defeat by the Scottish League in Edinburgh, and winning his fourth and final Ireland cap in a 3-0 defeat by Scotland.

Lewis returned to Glentoran in 1900, moving to the Oval along with five other Distillery players. The Glens put in a strong challenge for the Irish League title, only to finish a point behind Distillery thanks largely to a 1-0 last-game defeat by Belfast Celtic. In the Co. Antrim Shield Final Glentoran (having crushed Cliftonville Olympic 8-2 in an earlier round) faced the Cliftonville first eleven, winning 2-1 thanks to an 88th minute “scrimmage”. The following season the Shield was retained with a 2-1 Final win over Distillery and the Charity Cup was also added following a close and exciting 2-0 win over Linfield.

Early in the 1902/03 season Lewis picked up his final representative honour, as the Irish League lost narrowly 3-2 to the Football League at Solitude. On the domestic front Glentoran finished empty-handed, finishing third in the League, losing out in the City Cup after a three-way play-off and finishing runners-up in the Charity Cup Final thanks to a 2-0 defeat by Linfield (this after a five-game semi-final marathon against Distillery). The following season also proved one of so near and yet so far, the Glens finishing joint runners-up in the League and losing the Charity Cup Final 1-0 to Belfast Celtic.

Lewis played his 199th and final match for Glentoran in the spring of 1905, losing his goalkeeping berth to Gray who had starred in the Seconds’ Steel & Sons Cup success earlier in the season.

Ireland Cap Details:
18-02-1899 England. A L 2-13 BC
04-03-1899 Wales... H W 1- 0 BC
25-03-1899 Scotland A L 1- 9 BC
03-03-1900 Scotland H L 0- 3 BC

Summary: 4/0. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 3.

John Lemon

Name: John Lemon
Born: 19 May 1964, Greyabbey
Died: 3 December 1913, Preston (England)
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Full Caps / 2 Goals (1886-1889); Ulster Representative.
Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Belfast Charities Cup Runner-Up 1885/86; (with YMCA) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1888/89; Belfast Charities Cup Runner-Up 1886/87; Co. Antrim Shield Runner-Up 1888/89; (with Cliftonville) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1888/89.

Club Career:
Glentoran 1882/83-1885/86; Belfast YMCA 1886/87-1888/89; Cliftonville.

Biography:
A member of Glentoran in their first ever season, John Lemon was a player of “firsts”. He featured in the club’s first ever Irish Cup game, a 9-0 defeat by Ulster on 27 January 1883 – even then the match was abandoned after 40 minutes. The following season Lemon became the first Glens’ player to score a hat-trick, Albert defeated 5-1 in a friendly (these were the days when the Irish Cup was the only organised competition). Lemon remained Glentoran’s most potent goalscoring threat over the next few seasons. He netted the (what is believed to be) clubs’ first competitive hattrick in a 7-1 Irish Cup second round win over Ligoneil in December 1885. In January 1886 he played in Glentoran’s first ever final, Cliftonville winning 5-1 in the Charities Cup decider at Ballynafeigh.. In April 1886 Lemon became the first Glentoran player to win international recognition, playing in the forward-line in a 5-0 defeat by Wales at Wrexham.

At the end of the 1885/86 season Lemon left Glentoran for Belfast YMCA. With YMCA Lemon appeared in three major finals, without claiming a winner’s medal. In the spring of 1887 YMCA lost 3-2 in the Charities Cup to Cliftonville, and in March 1889 there was double heart-break at the hands of Distillery – The Whites narrowly defeating YMCA 5-4 in the Irish Cup Final (Lemon scoring twice) and two weeks later, in the Co. Antrim Shield Final, they claimed a much more convincing 8-4 triumph (Lemon scoring once).

Lemon claimed his second cap while with YMCA, two years and six matches after his first. The home match against Scotland, played at Oldpark Avenue, got off to a busy start, Lemon’s 18th minute goal taking the scoreline to 1-3 and by half-time the score was 7-2 in the Scots favour. They must have eased off in the second half as the final score finished 10-2. It was over a year before Lemon was awarded his third and final cap, and once again he was a goalscoring loser as Ireland were defeated 3-1 by Wales at Ballynafeigh.

Lemon left YMCA for Cliftonville in 1889. He played in the 1890 Irish Cup Final 2-2 draw with the Gordon Highlanders Regiment, but missed the 3-0 replay defeat the following Wednesday. John Lemon died aged 49, in Preston, in December 1913.

Ireland Cap Details:
27-04-1886 Wales... A L 0- 5 BC
24-03-1888 Scotland H L 2-10 BC 1 Goal
27-04-1889 Wales... H L 1- 3 BC 1 Goal

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

Johnny Leathem

Johnny “Jack the Hack” Leathem was a footballing hero on both sides of the border…

Name: John Leathem
Born: c. 1912, Dromore, Co. Down
Died: December 1999
Position: Centre-Half

Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1939); Irish League: 1 Cap (1934); League of Ireland: 2 Caps / 1 Goal (1943).
Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Irish Cup Winner 1932/33, 1934/35; (with Belfast Celtic) Irish League Champion 1936/37, 1937/38, 1938/39, 1939/40; Northern Regional “War-Time” League Champion 1940/41; Irish Cup Winner 1936/37, 1937/38, 1940/41; Gold Cup Winner; City Cup Winner; Co. Antrim Shield Winner; (with Dundalk) FAI Cup Winner 1941/42; Inter-City Cup Winner 1941/42; City Cup Winner 1942/43.

Club Career:
Gilford Crusaders; Glenavon (Irish League); Glentoran (Irish League) 1932/33-1935/36 (111/16 Total); Belfast Celtic (Irish League); Dundalk (League of Ireland) 1941/42-1944/45 (61/6 League, 18/0 FAI Cup, 67/8 Other).

Biography:
An extremely versatile player, Johnny Leathem could play anywhere across the half-back line as well as at inside-left – he even played a couple of games for Dundalk as ‘keeper.

Spotted playing with local Junior side Gilford Crusaders in the early-‘thirties, it was Glenavon who pipped Belfast Celtic to Leathem’s signature. He lasted only a short time at Mourneview before joining a Glentoran side regularly shipping goals and desperate for some defensive mettle. Within just a few months of his arrival at the Oval he claimed an Irish Cup winners medal. It took three matches to see off Distillery (1-1, 1-1, 3-1), with Leathem at left-half in the first two games and inside-left in the decider. Two years later he claimed his second winner’s medal in the Blue Riband final, another marathon of matches, all at left-half, were required to see off Larne (0-0, 0-0, 1-0).

In 1936 Leathem signed for Belfast Celtic as Elisha Scott sought to re-invigorate his side. At Paradise he slotted into the centre-half position as five consecutive League titles were claimed, together with three Irish Cups and every other trophy available. In January 1940 Celtic dished out a 13-0 hammering to Glenavon, Peter O’Connor scoring eleven and Charlie McIlroy and Leathem claiming one-a-piece. It was only the emergence of Jack Vernon that forced Leathem out of the centre-half position, and even then he simply returned to the left-half berth. Eventually Scott decided that Leathem was surplus to requirements, and in the summer of 1941 he joined Dundalk.

Immediately popular with all at Dundalk, Leathem proved a very consistent and reliable player, seldom missing a game. In his first season with the Railwaymen he played at centre-half in a 3-1 FAI Cup Final win over Cork United (Dundalk’s first success in that competition) and in the 1-0 Inter-City Cup Final win over Shamrock Rovers. Both Glentoran and Belfast Celtic were dispatched on the way to the Final of the first ever North-South competition.

The 1942/43 season brought another early success, Leathem scoring in an early round hammering of Bray Unknowns as the City Cup was claimed thanks to a 4-2 Final win over Drumcondra. Dundalk also ran close to a League success, finishing runners-up, just a point behind champions, Cork United. Leathem was rewarded with selection for the Inter-League matches against the Northern Regional League for his efforts. In the first match the North won 1-0 at Dalymount Park and in the return fixture at Windsor Park Leathem scored in a 2-2 draw.

Success eluded Dundalk for the remainder of Leathem’s time at Oriel Park, with his appearances as stand-in ‘keeper for the injured Gerry Matier an interesting footnote. Also a useful cricketer, Leathem regularly knocked up centuries for Lurgan CC.

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
15-03-1939 Wales... A L 1-3 BC

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

Ralph Lawther

Name: Ralph Lawther
Position: Goalkeeper

Representative Honours: Ireland: 2 Full Caps (1888).
Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Belfast Charities Cup Runner-Up 1885/86.

Club Career:
Glentoran (Irish League) 1885/86-1894/95; Distillery.

Biography:
Twice capped goalkeeper Ralph Lawther made his international debut in a 10-2 defeat by Scotland in March 1888 at Solitude. Two weeks later, against England at the Ulster Ground (Ballynafeigh), he had twice as good a game, Ireland losing only 5-1.

Lawther is claimed as an internationalist by both Distillery and Glentoran. Most record books list his club as Distillery for both caps, but other sources list him as having won two caps while with Glentoran. He is known to have been vice-captain of Glentoran for the 1886/87 season, and captain of the same club for the 1888/89 season.

In a Glentoran career spanning ten seasons Lawther played in around forty competitive matches. He played in the club’s first final, a 5-1 Charity Cup defeat by Cliftonville, in 1886 and was their regular ‘keeper for the first Irish League season in 1890/91. Subsequent to that he made just a handful of appearances up to the 1894/95 campaign.

Ireland Cap Details:
24-03-1888 Scotland H L 2-10 BC
07-04-1888 England. H L 1- 5 BC

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

Bertie Lutton

Name: Bertie John Lutton
Born: 13 July 1950, Banbridge
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight: 10.09 st
Position: Forward/Winger

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 6 Full Caps (1970-1973).

Club Career:
Clubs.................. --Seasons-- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Banbridge Town......... (Irish League ‘B’ Division)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 67/68-71/72 16 (5)/1 ...... 2(0)/0 1(0)/0
Brighton & Hove Albion. 71/72-72/73 18(11)/4 ...... 1(0)/0
West Ham United........ 72/73-73/74 .8 (4)/1 1(0)/0
Horsham................ (Isthmian League)
Sydney City............ (Australia)
South Melbourne........ (Australia)
Totals............................. 42(20)/6 1(0)/0 3(0)/0 1(0)/0

Biography:

To follow.

WestHamStats

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
18-04-1970 Scotland H L 0-1 BC
21-04-1970 England. A L 1-3 BC
08-05-1973 Cyprus.. H W 3-0 WCQ sub
16-05-1973 Scotland A W 2-1 BC sub
19-05-1973 Wales... H W 1-0 BC sub
14-11-1973 Portugal A D 1-1 WCQ

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

Paul McVeigh

Name: Paul McVeigh
Born: 6 December 1977, Belfast
Height: 5.06 ft
Weight: 10.05 st
Position: Forward/Winger

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 20 Full Caps (1999-2004); 11 Under-21 Caps (1998-1999).
Club Honours: (with Norwich) Football League Division One Champion 2003/04.

Club Career:
Clubs............ --Seasons-- Signed --League-- FA Cup LgeCup Other
Tottenham Hotspur 96/97-99/00 Jul-96 ..2 (1)/ 1
Cambridge United. 99/00 Trial ...... ..0 (0)/ 0
Norwich City..... 99/00-06/07 Mar-00 148(68)/36 7(1)/2 3(5)/0 3(0)/1
Burnley.......... 06/07..Loan Mar-07. .6 (2)/ 3
Pisa ...................Trial Jul-07 ..0 (0)/ 0
Plymouth Argyle ........Trial Jul-07 ..0 (0)/ 0
Luton Town....... 07/08 ..... Aug-07. 15(10)/ 0 0(2)/0 1(3)/0 1(1)/0
Totals........... .................. 171(81)/40 7(3)/2 4(8)/0 4(1)/1

Biography:
Paul McVeigh is currently on a "break" from Northern Ireland duty so that he can concentrate on his club career.

McVeigh was left Norwich in the summer of 2007 having spent the end of the season on loan at Burnley. He had trials with Serie B side Pisa and Plymouth Argyle before joining League One Luton Town. He left Luton after their relegation to League Two at the end of 2007/08.

Flown From The Nest

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
27-04-1999 Canada............. H D 1-1 FR. sub
05-09-2001 Iceland............ H W 3-0 WCQ sub
13-02-2002 Poland............. N L 1-4 FR. sub
12-10-2002 Spain.............. A L 0-3 ECQ
16-10-2002 Ukraine............ H D 0-0 ECQ
12-02-2003 Finland............ H L 0-1 FR
29-03-2003 Armenia............ A L 0-1 ECQ
02-04-2003 Greece............. H L 0-2 ECQ sub
03-06-2003 Italy.............. A L 0-2 FR
11-06-2003 Spain.............. H D 0-0 ECQ sub
10-09-2003 Armenia............ H L 0-1 ECQ sub
18-02-2004 Norway............. H L 1-4 FR. sub
28-04-2004 Serbia & Montenegro H D 1-1 FR. sub
30-05-2004 Barbados........... A D 1-1 FR. sub
02-06-2004 St Kitts & Nevis... A W 2-0 FR
06-06-2004 Trinidad & Tobago.. A W 3-0 FR. sub
18-08-2004 Switzerland........ A D 0-0 FR. sub
04-09-2004 Poland............. H L 0-3 WCQ sub
08-09-2004 Wales.............. A D 2-2 WCQ sub
13-10-2004 Austria............ H D 3-3 WCQ sub

Summary: 6(14)/0. Won 3, Drew 8, Lost 9.

John Peden

Manchester United’s (well Newton Heath’s actually) first Irishman? John Peden’s career was long and distinguished on both sides of the Irish Sea…

Name: John Peden
Born: 12 July 1863, the Maze, near Lisburn
Died: 15 September 1944, Belfast
Position: Outside/Inside-Left

Representative Honours: Ireland: 24 Full Caps / 7 Goals (1887-1899); Irish League: 4 Caps / 1 Goal (1893-1899).
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Irish League Champion 1890/91, 1891/92, 1892/93, 1901/02; Irish Cup Winner 1890/91, 1892/93, 1901/02; Co. Antrim Shield 1889/90 (withheld); City Cup Winner 1900/01; Belfast Charities Cup Winner 1890/91, 1981/92, 1892/93, 1900/01; (with Distillery) Irish League Champion 1895/96, 1898/99; Irish Cup Winner 1895/96; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1895/96, 1896/97.

Club Career:
Linfield (Irish League) 1886/87-1893/94 (130/108 Total); Newton Heath (Football League) 1893/94 (28/7 League, 3/1 FA Cup); Sheffield United (Football League) 1894/95 (8/0 League, 2/0 FA Cup); Distillery (Irish League) 1895/96-1898/99 (87/44 Total); Linfield 1899/00-1905/06 (74/32 Total).

Biography:
To follow.

Ireland Cap Details:
18-02-1887 Scotland A L 1- 4 BC
12-03-1887 Wales... H W 4- 1 BC 1 Goal
03-03-1888 Wales... A L 0-11 BC
07-04-1888 England. H L 1- 5 BC
02-03-1889 England. A L 1- 6 BC
09-03-1889 Scotland A L 0- 7 BC
08-02-1890 Wales... A L 2- 5 BC
29-03-1890 Scotland H L 1- 4 BC 1 Goal
07-02-1891 Wales... H W 7- 2 BC
07-03-1891 England. A L 1- 6 BC
27-02-1892 Wales... A D 1- 1 BC
05-03-1892 England. H L 0- 2 BC
25-02-1893 England. A L 1- 6 BC
25-03-1893 Scotland A L 1- 6 BC
05-04-1893 Wales... H W 4- 3 BC 3 Goals
29-02-1896 Wales... A L 1- 6 BC
07-03-1896 England. H L 0- 2 BC
28-03-1896 Scotland H D 3- 3 BC
06-03-1897 Wales... H W 4- 3 BC 1 Goal
27-03-1897 Scotland A L 1- 5 BC
18-02-1898 Wales... A W 1- 0 BC 1 Goal
05-03-1898 England. H L 2- 3 BC
26-03-1898 Scotland H L 0- 3 BC
04-03-1899 Wales... H W 1- 0 BC

Summary: 24/7. Won 6, Drew 2, Lost 16.

Billy McAdams

The first British player to score a hat-trick against West Germany, Billy McAdams didn’t need the help of a Russian linesman – he didn’t end up on the winning side either…

Name: William John McAdams
Born: 20 January 1934, Belfast
Died: October 2002, Barrow-in-Furness (England)
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight: 11.09 st
Position: Centre-Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 15 Full Caps / 7 Goals (1954-1962).
Club Honours: (with Distillery) Co. Antrim Shield Runner-Up 1952/53; (with Brentford) Football League Division Four Champions 1962/63; (with Barrow) Football League Division Four Third (promoted) 1966/67.

Club Career:
Clubs.............. --Seasons-- League FA Cup LgeCup
Distillery......... 52/53-53/54 .40/ 22 (all games)
Manchester City.... 53/54-60/61 127/ 62 .7/ 3
Bolton Wanderers... 60/61-61/62 .44/ 26 .3/ 1 .5/2
Leeds United....... 61/62...... .11/..3 .2/ 1
Brentford.......... 62/63-64/65 .75/ 36 .7/ 2 .5/1
Queens Park Rangers 64/65-65/66 .33/ 11 .3/ 1 .2/0
Barrow............. 66/67-67/68 .53/..9 .4/ 2 .5/1
Netherfield........ (Northern Premier League)
Totals............. ........... 383/169 26/10 17/3

Biography:

"Thrustful, courageous player with a fine burst of speed." (Empire News Who's Who, 1956)

More to follow.

Wikipedia
Bolton Career
Leeds Profile
Barrow Picture
British-German Football
1967 Article by McAdams



Northern Ireland Cap Details:
21-03-1954 Wales....... A W 2-1 WCQ/BC
03-11-1954 Scotland.... A D 2-2 BC 1 Goal
06-10-1956 England..... H D 1-1 BC
05-10-1957 Scotland.... H D 1-1 BC
04-12-1957 Italy....... H D 2-2 FR
08-10-1960 England..... H L 2-5 BC 2 Goals
26-10-1960 West Germany H L 3-4 WCQ 3 Goals
09-11-1960 Scotland.... A L 2-5 BC
12-04-1961 Wales....... H L 1-5 BC
25-04-1961 Italy....... A L 2-3 FR 1 Goal
03-05-1961 Greece...... A L 1-2 WCQ
10-05-1961 West Germany A L 1-2 WCQ
17-10-1961 Greece...... H W 2-0 WCQ
22-11-1961 England..... A D 1-1 BC
09-05-1962 Netherlands. A L 0-4 FR

Summary: 15/7. Won 2, Drew 5, Lost 8.

Nigel Worthington

Northern Ireland’s regular left-back for over a decade, Nigel Worthington was a consistent if unspectacular performer…

Name: Nigel Worthington
Born: 4 November 1961, Ballymena
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight: 12.08 st
Position: Left-Back/Midfield

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 66 Full Caps (1984-1997); 14 Under-18 Caps.
Club Honours: (with Ballymena) Irish Cup Winner 1980/81; Ulster Cup Winner 1980/81; (with Wednesday) Football League Division Two Champion 1990/91, Runner-Up 1983/84; FA Cup Runner-Up 1992/93; Football League Cup Winner 1990/91.
Awards: Ulster Young Footballer of the Year 1981.

Club Career:
Ballymena United (Irish League) (2/0 Europe); Notts County (Football League) 1981/82-1983/84 (67/4 League, 4/0 FA Cup, 11/0 League Cup); Sheffield Wednesday (Football League/FA Premiership) 1983/84-1993/94 (333(4)/12 League, 29/1 FA Cup, 41/1 League Cup, 3/1 Europe); Leeds United (FA Premiership) 1994/95-1995/96 (34(10)/1 League, 6(1)/0 FA Cup, 4(1)/0 League Cup); Stoke City (Football League) 1996/97 (12/0 League); Blackpool player-manager (Football League) 1997/98 (4(5)/0 League).

Coaching Career:
Blackpool player-manager Jul/97 – Dec/99
England Under-21 assistant-coach