Conor Hazard

Name: Conor Hazard
Born: 5 March 1998, Downpatrick
Height: 6.06 ft / 1.98 m
Weight:
Position: Goalkeeper

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-19, Under-17, Under-16 Schools.

Club Career:
Celtic ............ Jul-14 Youth
Falkirk 17/18 ..... Jan-18 .Loan

Biography:
Teenage goalkeeper called into the senior Northern Ireland squad for the first time for a training camp in May 2017. Originally a midfielder, as often happens, he first donned the gloves when the regular keeper was injured for a Foyle Cup match and utilised the handling skills he had learned as a Gaelic footballer to save a penalty.

A former pupil of St Patrick's Grammar in Downpatrick, Hazard joined Celtic's Academy in July 2014. At a height of 6 foot 6 inches he commands his area well and has represented Northern Ireland at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 levels. Hazard was on the bench for the senior team against South Korea in March 2018 as Michael O'Neill continued his policy of including young players in the senior squad for experience.

Dermot McCaffrey

(theGAWA)

Name: Dermot McCaffrey
Born: 29 March 1986, Omagh
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight:
Position: Defender / Left Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 8 Under-21 Caps (2006-2008), Under-19.
Club Honours: (with Derry) FAI Cup Winner 2012.

Club Career:
Teams ............. --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Fivemiletown United .................. Youth
Dungannon Swifts .. 02/03-03/04 Aug-02 Youth....................... 0(1)/0
Hibernian ......... 04/05-06/07 ..2004 Youth. 1(0)/ 0
Queen of the South. 06/07 ..... Aug-06 .Loan 11(0)/ 0
Livingston ........ 07/08 ..... Aug-07 .Loan 28(0)/ 0 1(1)/0 1(0)/0 1(0)/0
Falkirk ........... 08/09-09/10 May-08 .Free .1(1)/ 0
Arbroath .......... 09/10 ..... Sep-09 .Loan .6(0)/ 0
Dundalk ....................... Jan-10 Trial
Dungannon Swifts .. 09/10-11/12 Feb-10 .Free 23(-)/ 3
Derry City ........ 2012 - 2013 Feb-12 ..... 35(-)/ 1
Dungannon Swifts .. 13/14-14/15 Aug-13 ..... 42(-)/ 1
Rochedale Rovers .............. Jan-15 .Free (Australia)
Dungannon Swifts .. 15/16- date c/s-15

Biography:
A member of Mal Donaghy's Northern Ireland Under-19 squad that played at the 2005 UEFA European Championship Finals as host, as a youngster Dermot McCaffrey played with Fivemiletown United, then of the Fermanagh & Western League before joining Dungannon Swifts. He made just one substitute appearance for the Swifts before moving to SPL side, Hibernian in 2004.

A veteran of the 2003 Milk Cup competition where he impressed for County Tyrone, for Northern Ireland Under-19, McCaffrey appeared at both left-back and as a left-sided central defender. At the 2005 European Finals he played in Northern Ireland's opening two matches, defeats by Greece and Serbia & Montenegro. He stepped up to the Under-21 squad for a two match tour of Israel in February 2006, playing in the second 1-0 win. For the next two years he was a regular in the squad, featuring most regularly at left-back.

McCaffrey made his debut in Scottish football while on loan at Queen of the South against Ross County in September 2006. He played eleven times in all during a three month spell with Queens, impressing with his pace. Through the rest of the season he featured on the bench for Hibs on several occasions, finally making his debut on 21st April 2007, starting in defence against Aberdeen as manager John Collins rested several players ahead of an impending Scottish Cup semi-final. It proved a bitter-sweet occasion as McCaffrey was sent-off for two yellow card offences in the dying minutes of a 2-2 draw. That proved to be his only firstteam appearance while at Easter Road.

A season long loan deal took McCaffrey to First Division Livingston where he played regularly at both left-back and centre-back. On his return to Hibernian he was released and almost immediately signed with another SPL club, Falkirk. He played just twice in a season-and-a-half with The Bairns and early in the 2009/10 season was sent out on loan to Second Division, Arbroath. On 20th January 2010 McCaffrey was released by Falkirk. He joined Dundalk on trial a few days later before re-joining Dungannon Swifts.

After scoring 7 goals in over 60 appearances for the Swifts McCaffrey joined Derry City for the 2012 season. He re-joined Dungannon after 18-months having struggled to establish himself in the starting eleven at the Brandywell.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
08-02-2006 Israel.. A W 1-0 FR
16-05-2006 Scotland H W 1-0 FR. sub
14-11-2006 Germany. A L 1-2 FR
06-02-2007 Wales... H L 0-4 FR
24-05-2007 Scotland A L 0-4 FR. sub
01-06-2007 Moldova. A W 1-0 ECQ sub
07-09-2007 Germany. H L 0-3 ECQ sub
26-03-2008 Romania. H L 1-3 FR

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

Johnny Flynn

Name: Jonathan Joseph Flynn
Born: 18 November 1989, Belfast
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight: 11.01 st
Position: Defender

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 11 Under-21 Caps (2008-2010), 3 Under-20 Caps, 10 Under-19 Caps.

Club Honours: (with Ross Co.) Scottish League Challenge Cup Winner 2010/11; (with Cliftonville) Co. Antrim Shield Winner 2014/15; NIFL Cup Winner 2015/16; NIFL Charity Shield Winner 2014.

Club Career:
Teams........... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Ballymena United 07/08 ............ Youth 12 (1)/0 1(0)/0 ...... 1(0)/1
Blackburn Rovers 07/08-10/11 Jan-08 Undis..0 (0)/0
Chester City ... 09/10 ..... Oct-09 .Loan .3 (0)/0 (Conference)
Accrington St'y. 09/10 ..... Nov-09 .Loan .6 (2)/0
Ross County .... 10/11-11/12 Aug-10 .Free 25 (5)/3 3(0)/0 1(0)/1 1(0)/0
Falkirk ........ 12/13-13/14 Jun-12 Nom'l 48 (8)/0 4(1)/0 3(1)/0 6(0)/0
Cliftonville ... 14/15-15/16 Jul-14 .Free 54 (1)/2
Ballymena United 16/17-17/18 May-16 .Free 
Portadown ...... 18/19- date May-18

Biography:
Johnny Flynn captained Northern Ireland's Under-21 side. Transferred from Ballymena to Blackburn in January 2008 after a successful trial, he was involved in Rovers' 2008/09 pre-season programme.

On 16th October 2009 he joined Jim Harvey's Chester City on a months loan, during which time he "impressed as an all round central defender". He made his debut in a 1-0 Conference win over Gateshead and scored his first goal the following week in a 1-1 FA Cup draw with Barrow.

On 27th November Flynn joined Accrington Stanley on another month-long loan deal. He made his debut in a 4-2 win at against Torquay on 5th December. The deal was then extended to the end of the season but disappointingly he made just eight appearances all season.

Also capable as a full-back, despite Blackburn indicating that they had "high hopes" for Flynn's future, he was allowed to leave Ewood Park for Ross County on a free transfer in the early weeks of the 2010/11 season. Although he had never played in the Rovers first team, observers feel that he is "better" than the Scottish First Division.

Flynn never really established himself at Ross County, and he played just seven times as the First Division title was claimed in 2012. He then remained in the Scottish second tier, signing for Falkirk for a nominal fee. Flynn spent the 2012/13 season as a regular in the centre of Falkirk's defence, but was relegated to a back-up role the following campaign. His final appearances for the club where in the Premiership Play-Offs.

In March 2014 it was announced that he had signed a pre-contract agreement with Cliftonville.

BRFC Site
Irish FA Site
Soccerbase

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
19-08-2008 Poland........ N L 0-1 MT
20-08-2008 Ukraine....... A L 1-4 MT
05-09-2008 Germany....... A L 0-3 ECQ
18-11-2008 Scotland...... A W 3-1 FR sub
31-03-2009 Ukraine....... H D 1-1 FR
11-08-2009 Portugal...... A L 1-2 FR sent-off 
13-10-2009 Iceland....... A L 1-2 ECQ
13-11-2009 Germany....... H D 1-1 ECQ
17-11-2009 Czech Republic H L 1-2 ECQ
02-03-2010 San Marino.... A W 3-0 ECQ
07-09-2010 Germany....... A L 0-3 ECQ

Summary: 10(1)/0. Won 2, Drew 2, Lost 8.

Photos by Roy Cathcart.

John Convery

Name: John Convery
Born: 1 April 1980, Newtownards
Height: 6.01 ft
Weight: 11.11 st
Position: Centre-Back/Right-Back

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 4 Under-21 Caps (2000), Under-18.
Club Honours: (with Portadown) Irish Cup Winner 2004/05; IFA Championship Winner 2008/09; Irish League Cup Winner 2008/09; Mid-Ulster Cup Winner 2001/02; (with Ards) NIFL Championship One Winner 2015/16.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
Glenavon	-	-	Youth	0(0)/0	-	-	-	-
Celtic	97/98-01/02	Mar-97	Youth	0(1)/0	-	-	-	-
Falkirk	01/02	Feb-02	Loan	3(0)/0	-	-	-	-
Portadown	02/03-09/10	May-02	Free	-	-	-	-	-
Newry City	10/11	Jun-10	Free	35(0)/2	-	-	-	-
Cliftonville	11/12	Jun-11	Free	-	-	-	-	-
Glenavon	11/12	Jan-12	-	-	1(0)/0	-	-	-
Portaferry	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ards	14/15-15/16	Aug-14	-	*49(3)/3	-	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£-		-	-	-	-	-

* all games.

Biography:
A product of Glenavon's youth set-up, John Convery moved to Celtic as a seventeen year-old in 1997. Capable at right-back or in the centre of defence, he also played regularly as a striker in his younger days at Celtic. Convery collected Under-18 and Under-21 international recognition while at Parkhead. He played just once in the Celtic firstteam, as a late substitute in a 2-0 win over Dundee United during the 1999/2000 seaon.

After a brief loan spell at Falkirk, Convery was released by Celtic in 2002. He returned to the Irish League to join Portadown. While at Shamrock Park he has cemented his place as a solid centre-back and occasional stand-in forward. In 2001/02 he collected a Mid-Ulster Cup medal and in 2005 added to this an Irish Cup winner's medals, scoring in the 5-1 Final win over Larne.

Portadown's captain for several seasons, Convery was released after an injury plagued 2009/10 campaign. On 11th June 2010 he agreed a two-year deal with Newry City, but following their relegation at the end of the 2010/11 season he was made available and he joined Cliftonville.

Convery retired at the end of the 2015/16 season and took a position as Ards' Under-20 team manager.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
29-05-2000 Scotland H D 1-1 TT
02-06-2000 Wales... H D 2-2 TT
06-10-2000 Denmark. H L 0-3 ECQ
10-10-2000 Iceland. A W 5-2 ECQ

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

Tommy Lowry

Name: Thomas Lowry
Born: c.1937, Ballymacarrett, Belfast

Died: September 2004, Lurgan
Height: 6.00 ft

Weight: 10.06 st
Position: Centre-Half

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 B Cap (1960), 4 Schoolboy Caps (1949).
Club Honours: (with Ballymena) Irish Cup Winner 1957/58, Runner-Up 1958/59.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Other
Doncaster Rovers	-	-53	-	-	-	-	-
Distillery	53/54	-	-	-	-	-	-
Glentoran	54/55-55/56	-	-	*32/ 1	-	-	-
Larne	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ballymena United	57/58-59/60	-	-	*100/13	-	-	-
Falkirk	59/60-63/64	£4k	-	81/ 0	2/0	13/0	10/0
Glenavon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£-		-	-	-	-

* all games.

Biography:
Tommy Lowry was the most notable member of a famous east-Belfast footballing family, his brothers Sammy (Glentoran), Hugh (Ards) and John (Ards Reserves) all playing to a high standard.

As a teenager Tommy was scouted by Doncaster manager Peter Doherty, who offered Lowry a trial. During his time in England he lodged with Harry Gregg who took the youngster under his wing. It didn't work out for Lowry in England and he returned home for spells with Distillery, Glentoran, Larne and, most notably, Ballymena. He particularly enjoyed playing against Jackie Milburn, not giving the the ex-Newcastle forward an inch during his time at Linfield. It was while with the Braidmen that Lowry was first touted as a potential Ireland international, but he was never to win a cap.

Eventually Lowry was given another chance across the water when signed by Falkirk mid-way through the 1959/60 season. As his stature as one of the finest centre-backs in Scotland grew, Lowry was linked with moves to Newcastle, Sunderland and Rangers. He was the "Toast of Falkirk" until a bitter fall-out precipitated his exit from Brockville. Again he was linked with a host of clubs, Middlesbrough and Leyton Orient among them, but instead he returned "home".

Lowry settled in Lurgan and played for Glenavon. He was briefly caretaker manager at Mourneview, but refused a permanent position because he didn't want the hassle from colleagues at his job in a local creamery. He did later manage Distillery from February to September 1981.

Tommy Lowry remained outspoken in his views on local football up until his death in 2004.

More to follow.

NI Soccer Magazine (late 1980s) click to enlarge

Northern Ireland 'B' Cap Details:
16-03-1960 France A L 0-5

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

With thanks to John Meffen (Falkirk FC Historian)

Christy Martin

Name: Christopher D. Martin
Born: Athlone*
Died:
Height: 5.06 ft
Weight: 10.06 st
Position: Outside-Right

Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1925); Irish Free State: 1 Full Cap (1927).
Club Honours: (with Bo'ness) Scottish League Division Two Champion 1926/27.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Renfrew Juniors	-	-	-	-	-	-
St Anthony's	-	-22	-	-	(Glasgow Junior League)
Bo'ness	24/25-28/29	-24	-	* 37/7	-	-
Falkirk	28/29	-	-	2/0	-	-
Brooklyn Wanderers	29/30-30/31	-29	-	1/0	(American Soccer League)
Bo'ness	31/32	-	-	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£-		40/7	-	-

* Division One appearances (1927/28) only.

Biography:
A then record 41,000 turned up at Windsor Park to witness the international debut of Christy Martin - most of them were to go home disappointed. The match, played in heavy conditions, was comfortably won by a dominant Scotland, and the scoreline could have been much more convincing than the 3-0 eventual result had the Scots turned the screw in the second half.

At the time Martin was playing with Bo'ness in the Scottish Second Division, scaring the life out of defences from anywhere on the forward line. His goal tally for 1924/25 was 34 and in 1927 he finished with 29 as Bo'ness claimed the title, and with it promotion to the Scottish topflight for the only time in their history. Bo'ness had plucked Martin from the Glasgow Junior League, one of their regular hunting grounds for new talent, where he had starred with St. Anthony's.

1927 also brought Martin a second international cap, this time as centre-forward for the Irish Free State, in their first ever home match (excluding games played by their Olympic side). The "Free State" had made their international debut a month earlier against Italy's "Full" eleven, a 3-0 defeat in Turin. The Italian FA deemed that a 'B' side would be equal to the occasion, their first eleven facing France in Paris the day before - the visitors accordingly recorded a 2-1 win at Lansdowne Road. It was a shot by Martin that led to the Irish goal - their first on the international stage - with Bob Fullam slamming home a parry by the 'keeper.

Bo'ness lasted a single season in the Scottish First Division. With star-man Martin limited to just seven goals from 37 games, they finished 19th and suffered relegation back to Division Two. He briefly played with Falkirk before joining the exodus from the British game to the American Soccer league. Martin returned to Bo'ness in 1931 for what proved to be their swansong as a Scottish League club.

Martin's career was brought to a premature halt by a non-footballing injury, a fractured skull.

Ireland Cap Details:
28-02-1925 Scotland H L 0-3 BC

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

Irish Free State Cap Details:
23-04-1927 Italy 'B' H L 1-2 FR

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

A Christopher Ambrose Martin was born in Athlone in 1901 to Patrick Martin and Kate Murtagh, it is unconfirmed if this is Christy.

With thanks to John Meffen (Falkirk FC Historian)