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12 September 1891

(friendly match)
IRELAND - CANADA 5:2 (4:0)

Referee: Mr. James McLean (Scottish F.A.)
Umpires: A. Thompson, Mr. Mills.
Attendance/Venue: 5,800, Ballynafeigh, Belfast.
Goals: (Ireland) Stanfield (9, 25, 43), Peden (12), Torrans (67); (Canada) A. Jeffrey (55, pen 78)

Ireland:
Thomas Gordon (Linfield) --
Robert William Willis Gordon (Linfield)
George Forbes (Distillery) --
William Cunningham (Ulster)
Samuel Spencer (Distillery)
Alexander Crawford (Cliftonville) --
William Boyd Dalton (Linfield)
George Gaffikin (Linfield)
Olphert Martin Stanfield (Distillery)
Samuel Torrans (Linfield)
John Peden (Linfield)
Captain:

Canada:
D. Shea (Fall River Rovers) --
F J Gregory (Pawtucket)
Joseph W Buckley (Fall River Rovers) --
J C Warbrick (Toronto University)
H Waring (Fall River Rovers)
F H Thibold (Berlin Rangers) --
J Whittaker (Fall River Olympic)
A. Jeffrey (Pawtucket)
Walter W Bowman* (Toronto Scots)
N Munro (Pawtucket)
E C Senkler (Osgoods Hall Toronto)
Captain:

* Walter Bowman remained in England and played for Accrington and Ardwick/Manchester City from 1891-1899.

The Ireland team was a full International Selection, while the Canadian team was a Provincial Selection which included some players affiliated to the New Jersey-based American Football Association.

The Canadians first match of this tour was against Linfield on 29th August 1891 at Ulsterville, the Linfield ground. Linfield won the match 3-2. During the match Willie Gordon the Linfield right back handled the ball in the penalty box. Dalton, the Canadian right half, took the penalty and scored. This was the first penalty kick taken on Irish soil as the penalty kick rule had been just been approved by the Football Associations at their meeting in Scotland in the summer. Remarkably in the match v Ireland. Willie Gordon, now playing for Ireland handled the ball in the penalty area, conceding a penalty which A. Jeffrey duly dispatched. The goalkeeper facing the penalty on both occasions was Willie Gordon’s brother Tom.


By George Glass

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