Bobby Burns

Name: Robert Burns
Born: 7 October 1999, Belfast
Height: 5.09 ft / 1.73 m
Weight: 11.04 st / 72kg
Position: Forward / Midfielder / Left-Back

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21, Under-19, Under-18, Under-17, Under-15.

Club Career:
Team ..... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- 
Lisburn Youth ............... Youth
Cliftonville ................ Youth
Glenavon .................... Youth
Knockbreda 16/17 ............. Loan
Hearts ... 18/19- date May-18 Undis

Biography:
Bobby Burns came through the Northern Ireland schools and youth set-ups playing largely as a holding midfielder and occasionally as a winger. He captained the Under-18 side to the Centenary Shield in 2017. At the same time he was enjoying a successful spell at Knockbreda where he played regularly as a forward for the first time in his career. The following season he established himself the Glenavon forward line, despite having the squad number three. He was still just 18 when awarded his first Under-21 cap. In May 2018 he agreed to join Hearts on a three year contract for an undisclosed free.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
26-03-2018 Iceland H D 0-0 ECQ
still active

Paul Straney

Name: Paul Straney
Born: 7 October 1975, Downpatrick
Died: December 2017 (age 42)
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight: 12.00 st
Position: Goalkeeper

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-18, Under-16, 6 Under-15 Caps (1991).
Club Honours: (with Cliftonville) Irish League Cup Winner 2003/04 ...

Club Career:
Clubs ...... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- League
Glentoran.................. -89 ...... 0(0)/0
Glenavon................... -91 ...... 1(0)/0
Stoke City.............. Jun-93 ...... 0(0)/0
Glenavon................ Oct-94 ..... 15(0)/0
Telford Utd. 95/96 ..... Aug-95 Loan .10(0)/0
Newry Town.. 97/98 ..... Jul-97 Loan . 5(0)/0
Newry Town.. 98/99-00/01 c/s-98 ..... 20(1)/0
Cliftonville 01/02-05/06 Jun-01

Biography:
Paul Straney was a regular member of Northern Ireland's schools and youth squads prior to moving to Stoke City prior to his eighteenth birthday. Although he never made the first team while in hthe Potteries he remained in the thoughts of the Irish FA staff and was an unused substitute for the B international side as the faced England in May 1994. The following season he returned to the Irish League with Glenavon, but it was with Cliftonville, where he spent five seasons and played 179 matches that he is best known, with a League Cup win in 2003 the highlight.

Straney later acted as Cliftonville's goalkeeping coach during their successes under Tommy Breslin and at the time of his premature death was assistant manager at Kilmore Rec.

BBC

Mark Sykes

Name: Mark Sykes
Born: 4 August 1997
Height: 
Weight: 
Position: Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21, Under-19, Under-18.
Awards: Ulster Young Footballer of the Year 2017/18.

Club Career:
Glenavon

Biography:
A product of the Glenavon youth set-up, Mark Sykes came to the fore in the club's 2015 Harry Cavan Youth Cup win and he signed a professional deal ahead of the following season. A member of the Northern Ireland Under-18 schools squad, he earned rapid elevation through the Under-19 to the Under-21 set-ups.

More to follow.

UEFA

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
06-09-2016 FYR Macedonia A L 0-2 ECQ
still active

Rhys Marshall

Name: Rhys Marshall
Born: 16 January 1995
Height:
Weight:
Position: Defender

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21
Club Honours: (with Glenavon) Irish Cup Winner 2013/14, 2015/16.

Club Career:
Glenavon 13/14- date Youth

Biography:

To follow.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
02-09-2016 Iceland H L 0-1 ECQ

Shayne Lavery

Name: Shayne Lavery
Born: 8 December 1998
Height:
Weight:
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Full, Under-21, Under-19, Under-17

Club Career:
Glenavon Youth
Everton. Youth

Biography:
Lavery was elevated to the fringes of the Everton first team squad in the 2017/18 season. He played for their Under-21 side in that season's EFL Trophy side and was an unused substitute in a Europa League clash away to Apollon Limassol.

A regular through Northern Ireland's youth teams, he transferred his club form to the Under-21 team through the 2017/18 season and was elevated to the senior panel as injury cover in March 2018. He made his full debut during the 2018 Central American tour.

More to follow.

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
29-05-2018 Panama A D 0-0 FR sub
still active

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
02-09-2016 Iceland H L 0-1 ECQ

Jackie McManus

Name:
Born: 6 April 1947, Belfast
Height:
Weight:
Position: Centre-Half

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Amateur (1971), Junior (1966); Irish League (1978); League of Ireland (1977).
Club Honours: (with Dundalk) League of Ireland Champion 1975/76; FAI Cup Winner 1976/77; Leinster Cup Winner 1973/74, 1976/77; (with Coleraine) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1981/82.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
Star of the Sea	-	-	Youth	-	(Northern Amateur League)
Glenavon	-	-65	Amateur	-	-	-	-	-
Distillery	-	-	Amateur	-	-	-	-	-
Queen's University	-	-	Amateur	-	-	-	-	-
Bangor	-	-69	Amateur	-	-	-	-	-
Dundalk	73/74-77/78	-	-	98(1)/14	10(0)/1	10(1)/2	4(0)/0	8(0)/0
Drogheda United	77/78	-77	-	*21(-)/ 2	-	-	-	-
Larne	-	-78	-	/ 0	-	-	-	/3
Coleraine	81/82-84/85	-81	-	/ 0	-	-	4(0)/0	/1
TOTALS	-	£-		-	-	-	8(0)/0	-

Biography:
To follow.

Dundalk Who's Who

Northern Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
17-04-1971 Wales A L 0-1

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

Con Davey

Name: Conleth Davey
Born: 1 January 1950 (tbc), Newry
Height: 5.10 ft
Weight: 11.07 st
Position: Centre-Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Amateur Cap / 1 Goal (1973).
Club Honours: (with Dundalk) Leinster Cup Winner 1973/74

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
Glenavon	-	-	Amateur	-	-	-	-	-
Dundalk	73/74-75/76	Aug-73	-	51(3)/5	4/0	14(1)/1	-	7(0)/1
Toronto Metros	1974	-74	Guest	11(-)/0	(NASL)	-	-	-
Glenavon	-	-76	-	/8	-	-	2(0)/0	/4
TOTALS	-	£-		-	-	-	-	-

Biography:
Son of Hugh, a senior international in the 1920s, and father of Hugh, an Under-21 international in the 2000s, Con Davey won a single amateur cap as a striker while with Glenavon. After spells with Dundalk (where he played alongside his brother Terry) and in the NASL he returned to the Lurgan Blues where he captained them as a commanding centre-half. Also capable at full-back or in midfield, he was Glenavon's Player of the Year for the 1977/78 season.

More to follow.

NASL Jerseys

Northern Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
07-04-1973 Wales L 1-2 1 goal

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

Joel Cooper

Name: Joel Cooper
Born: 29 February 1996
Height:
Weight:
Position: Winger/Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21; Northern Ireland Eastern Region (2015).
Club Honours: (with Glenavon) Irish Cup Winner 2015/16; NIFL Charity Shield Winner 2016.
Awards: NIFWA Young Player of the Year 2015/16.

Club Career:
Teams... --Seasons-- Signed
Ballyclare Comrades
Glenavon 15/16-17/18 Jul-15
University of New Hampshire
Linfield 18/19- .... Jun-18


Biography:
An exciting winger, Joel Cooper was invited to train with the senior Northern Ireland squad in the build-up to Euro 2016, and traveled to France to help out with training sessions.

Cooper had come to the attentions of senior clubs while playing for Ballyclare Comrades, representing the Northern Ireland Eastern Region at the 2015 UEFA Regions Cup. Glenavon won the race for Cooper's signature in June 2015. He earned rapid elevation to the Northern Ireland Under-21 squad while still just 19 and by the end of his first season at Mourneview he had won an Irish Cup medal following a 2-0 final win over Linfield.

In August 2017 Cooper left Glenavon to take up a two-and-a-half year scholarship in the USA at the University of New Hampshire. However, he returned to Glenavon in December and, despite being offered a longer-term deal, signed a pre-contract to join Linfield for the 2018/19 season.

More to follow.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
17-11-2015 Ukraine H L 1-2 ECQ sub
still active

Darren McKnight

Name: Darren McKnight
Born: 27 August 1995
Height:
Weight:
Position: Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21, Under-19, Under-17.

Club Career:
Teams ....... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- League

Glenavon ....................... Youth
Barnsley .... 14/15 ........ -12 Youth 0(0)/0
Shrewsbury T. 15/16 ..... Jun-15 .Free 0(0)/0
Morecambe ... 15/16 ..... Mar-16 .Free
Stalybridge C 16/17-17/18 Sep-16 .Free
Glossop N.E.. 18/19- date Aug-18

Biography:
A central midfielder, also capable of playing at right-back, Darren McKnight spent three seasons playing with Barnsley's youth sides, but never made it into the first team. During his time at Oakwell he was a regular for Northern Ireland at Under-17 and Under-19 level. It was shortly after transferring to Shrewsbury that he stepped-up to the Northern Ireland Under-21 side, making his debut in a 1-1 draw in Iceland.

McKnight was released by Shrewsbury in January 2016 without having made a firstteam appearance. Shortly thereafter he began training with Morecambe, and signed a short-term deal in March.

IrishFA
UEFA
Soccerbase

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
08-09-2015 Iceland ..... A D 1-1 ECQ
13-10-2015 FYR Macedonia H L 1-2 ECQ
still active

James Singleton

Name: James Singleton
Born: 22 August 1995
Height:
Weight:
Position: Defender

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21. Under-17.

Club Career:
Teams... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- 
Glenavon 12/13- date ...... Youth

Biography:

UEFA

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
08-09-2015 Iceland...... A D 1-1 ECQ
13-10-2015 FYR Macedonia H L 1-2 ECQ
still active

Robbie McDaid

Name:
Born: 23 October 1996, Omagh
Height:
Weight:
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21, Under-19, Under-17, Schools.

Club Career:
Teams.... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League-
Glenavon. 12/13-13/14....... Youth 10 (-)/2
Leeds Utd ........... Mar-14 Youth .0 (0)/0
Lincoln C 15/16 ..... Jan-16 .Loan .3(13)/4 (National League)
Maldon & Tiptree .... Aug-16 .Free (Isthmian League)
York City 16/17 ..... Nov-16 (National League)
Glentoran

Biography:
To follow.

UEFA
IrishFA

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
05-09-2015 Scotland H L 1-2 ECQ sub
still active

Derek Meldrum

Name: Derek Meldrum
Born:
Height:
Weight:
Position: Right-Half

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 2 Amateur Caps (1960).
Club Honours: ...

Club Career:
Teams..... --Seasons-- Signed --Fee-- League
Glenavon .................... Amateur
Distillery ............. 1962 ....... *316/1
* All games.


Biography:
A hard-tackling defender, capable at half-back or either full-back role, Derek Meldrum established himself in the successful Glenavon side of the early-60s while still in his teens. He earned two amateur caps before a move to Distillery where he claimed further honours during a lengthy stay.

He was brother of Joe, another amateur international.

LisburnDistillery.net

More to follow.

Northern Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
16-01-1960 Wales... H W 3-2
25-04-1960 Scotland A L 0-2

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

Paddy McNally

Name: Patrick McNally
Born: 20 August 1994
Height:
Weight:
Position: Central Defender

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Under-21 Cap, Under-19, 7 Under-17 Caps.
Club Honours: (with Ballymena) Co. Antrim Shield Winner 2015/16; (with Carrick) NIFL Cup Runner-Up 2016/17.

Club Career:
Teams........ --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Cliftonville ............ Jul-08 Youth .0 (0)/0 
Celtic .................. Jul-11 ...... 0 (0)/0 
Cliftonville. 13/14 ..... Aug-13 .Loan .7 (1)/0 
Glenavon .... 14/15 ..... Sep-14 .Free .7 (2)/0 ............. 0(1)/0
Ballymena Utd 14/15-15/16 Jan-15 .Free 18 (1)/0
Carrick R. .. 16/17- date c/s-16 .Free

Biography:
To follow.

IrishFA

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
31-05-2013 Cyprus A L 0-3 ECQ

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

Sean McCann

Name:
Born:
Height:
Weight:
Position: Goalkeeper

Representative Honours: Ireland: 4 Amateur Caps (1949-1951).
Club Honours: (with Ballymena) Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1947/48 ...

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Ballymena United	48/49	-	Amateur	*32/0	-	-
Glenavon	-	-50	Amateur	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£0		-	-	-

* all games

Biography:
To follow.

Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
05-02-1949 England. A W 1-0
16-03-1949 Scotland H D 2-2
04-02-1950 England. H L 1-3
19-05-1951 Scotland H L 0-1

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

James Gray

Name: James Phillip Gray
Born: 26 June 1992, Yarm (England)
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight: 12.03 st
Position: Midfielder / Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 11 Under-21 Caps / 2 Goals (2012-2014), Under-20, 17 Under-19 caps / 8 goals, 5 Under-17 caps / 1 goal, 5 Under-16 caps / 1 goal.

Club Career:
Teams ....... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League-- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Middlesbrough ............. 2007 Youth .0 (0)/ 0
Darlington ...11/12 ..... Aug-11 .Free .3 (8)/ 0 (Conference National)
Kettering ....11/12 ..... Mar-12 .Free .8 (1)/ 0 (Conference National)
Accrington S. 12/13-14/15 Aug-12 .Free 39(29)/13 2(2)/0 1(1)/1 2(0)/0
Vauxhall Mtrs 12/13...... Sep-12 .Loan .1 (-)/ 0 (Conference North) 
Southport ... 14/15...... Feb-15 .Loan .0 (0)/ 0 (Conference National) 
Northampton T 14/15...... Mar-15 .Loan .7 (1)/ 3 
Wrexham ..... 15/16 ..... Jul-15 .Free 15(12)/ 7 (National League) 
Southport ... 16/17 ..... May-16 .Free 16 (-)/ 2 (National League) 
Glenavon .... 16/17 ..... Dec-16 .Free .6 (7)/ 6*
Torquay Utd . 17/18 ..... Jul-17 .Free
York City ... 17/18 ..... Oct-17 .Loan
* all games

Biography:
Son of Phil.

A member of the Northern Ireland side that reached the final of the 2010 Milk Cup Elite Section.

A regular at various youth levels, he scored on his Under-21 début, in battling 3-2 defeat by Hungary.

Accompanied the senior Northern Ireland squad on their 2014 summer tour to South America.

Has since drifted away from league football. In October 2015 he was caught driving while over the legal alcohol limit and subsequently served a driving ban.

Gray joined Glenavon in mid-way through the 2016/17 season on a short term deal with a view to earning a deal back in the English Football League.

More to follow.

Soccerbase
IrishFA
Accrington Stanley

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
15-08-2012 Hungary...... A L 2-3 FR. 1 goal
07-09-2012 FYR Macedonia H L 1-3 ECQ sub
10-09-2012 Denmark...... A L 0-3 ECQ
31-05-2013 Cyprus....... A L 0-3 ECQ
14-08-2013 Denmark...... H L 1-4 FR
09-09-2013 Belgium...... A L 0-1 ECQ
11-10-2013 Belgium...... H L 0-1 ECQ
15-10-2013 Serbia....... A L 1-3 ECQ 1 goal
14-11-2013 Italy........ A L 0-3 ECQ
05-03-2014 Italy........ H L 0-2 ECQ sub
09-09-2014 Serbia....... H L 1-4 ECQ

Summary: 9(2)/2. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 11.

Des Anderson

Name: John Desmond Anderson
Born: 11 September 1940, Downpatrick
Height:
Weight:
Position: Centre-Half

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 6 Amateur Caps (1959-1962)
Club Honours: (with Exeter) Football League Division Four fourth place (promoted) 1963/64.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Europe	Other
Cliftonville	-	-	Amateur	-	-	-	-
Glenavon	-	-61	Amateur	-	-	2/0	-
Exeter City	62/63-65/66	Aug-62	-	142(2)/1	-	-	-
Johannesburg Rangers	1966	-	-	27(-)/1	(South Africa NFL)
Chesterfield	66/67-67/68	Jul-66	-	8(0)/0	-	-	-
Johannesburg Rangers	1968	-	-	16(-)/0	(South Africa NFL)
Matlock Town	-	-	-	-	(Midland League)
TOTALS	-	£-		-	-	-	-

Biography:
Twice captain of Ireland Amateurs, in 1962 he played in an Under-23 trial match.

In 1964 he was part of the Exeter side that achieved a first ever promotion as they finished in fourth place in the Fourth Division.

Grecian Archives

Northern Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
26-09-1959 England. H D 1-1
24-09-1960 England. A L 2-3
14-01-1961 Wales... A L 1-4
18-02-1961 Scotland H D 3-3
13-01-1962 Wales... H W 3-1
17-02-1962 Scotland A D 0-0

Summary: 6/0. Won 1, Drew 3, Lost 2.