News: Billy Gillespie

Hi folks,

I would like to draw your attention to an event taking place in the village of Kerrykeel in Co Donegal on Saturday 7th September at 4pm when the village will pay tribute to Billy Gillespie, Sheffield United and Northern Ireland legend.

William Ballintrae Gillespie was born in the Village of Kerrykeel, Co. Donegal on 6th August 1891. The son of a policeman, he became simply known as “Billy”.  Showing talent from a young age in junior football ranks Gillespie was quickly signed up by Derry Institute when he was just 17 before making the move to Yorkshire to the then called Leeds City. Sheffield United obviously liked what they saw and in December 1912 he moved to the Blades for a fee of £400. It was money well spent as Billy Gillespie became the lynchpin of the side, making nearly 500 appearances’ and scoring over 130 goals, it’s no surprise that he is still revered around the streets of Bramell Lane. His finest hour however came when he captained the Blades to the 1925 FA Cup win over Cardiff and in turn became the first Irishman to captain an FA Cup winning team. The man from Kerrykeel was outstanding on the day with his performance described as follows by the local scribes of the day; “Sheffield United played wonderfully well but special praise is due to Gillespie, the man who waves a wand and whose influence has played such a vital part in United's capture of the Cup." To date this is still Sheffield United’s last major honour.

His career in the green shirt of Ireland was equally outstanding – Gillespie made his International bow on February 15th 1913 at Windsor Park and the Sheffield United marksman scored twice as Ireland recorded an historic first victory over England. It was the start of a remarkable run of goals for Gillespie against the English side. He repeated the feat the following year as the Irish side ran riot beating England 3-0 at Ayesome Park in Middlesbrough, as Ireland won the home international championship. Gillespie would go on to score seven of his thirteen international goals against the English in an international career that would span 25 Irish caps and would be Northern Ireland’s leadings marksman for a remarkable 78 years, before his goals tally was eventually overtaken in 2004 by David Healy, himself a thorn in the English side.

When leaving Bramell Lane in 1932, Gillespie would also have an effect on the local football scene. Returning to take charge of Irish League side Derry City, he took a Sheffield United strip with him and the Derry club adopted the red and white stripes they famously wear to this day. There’s no doubt Billy Gillespie was a proud Blade. He led Derry City to two City Cup triumphs and on four successive occasions they finished runners up in the Irish League. When Gillespie left Derry City in 1941 he relocated to Bexley in Kent, where he died a month short of his ninetieth birthday in July 1981.

Sadly in the modern era of wall to wall TV coverage and million pound contracts the extraordinary achievements of Billy Gillespie were in danger of being lost in time. This hit a nerve with a number of football enthusiasts within the Kerrykeel area and thanks to the help of funding from the local authorities in Donegal, Billy Gillespie’s name and football legacy will live on to another generation of young football fans across the North of Ireland.

The events on September 7th will begin at 4pm and included in the programme will be:

• A commemorative plaque will be unveiled by Jane Bull (Billy’s Grand-daughter who is traveling from the UK) at the local football club’s clubhouse at Rab’s Park Kerrykeel.
• Distribution of a commemorative brochure for the occasion
• A Billy Gillespie wall inside the clubhouse (newspaper cuttings, pictures, information on career etc)
• Refreshments afterwards in local Bar & Restaurant

Sheffield United, The Irish FA, The Football Association of Ireland, Derry City and Institute FC are sending representatives to Kerrykeel on the day in question and it is hoped football supporters across the North West and beyond will travel to what what promises to be a special day for the area and for the Gillespie family.

Donegal Now

Kevin Ramsey

Name: Kevin Ramsey
Born: 18 September 1984, Londonderry
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight: 12.13 st
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Under-21 Cap (2006); Under-19.
Club Honours: (with Limavady) North West Cup Winner 2004/05; (with Institute) IFA Intermediate League First Division Champion 2006/07; Intermediate League Cup Winner 2006/07.

Club Career:
Teams .......... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup -Other-
Trojans ........................... Youth
Celtic............................. Youth .0(0)/ 0
Ballymena United 03/04 ..... c/s-03 .Free .4(1)/ 0 ...... 2(1)/2 .0(1)/0
Limavady United. 03/04-04/05 Jan-04 ..... ??(?)/20 .............. ?(?)/3
Institute....... 05/06-06/07 c/s-05 ..... 27(3)/11 1(0)/0 5(1)/8 11(0)/3
Finn Harps...... 2007 - 2008 Jul-07 .Free
Institute....... 08/09- date Sep-08 .Free

Biography:
Kevin Ramsey won a single Northern Ireland Under-21 cap when he played in the first half of a 1-0 win over Scotland at his home ground, Drumahoe, in May 2006.

A former Celtic youth team player, Ramsey returned to Northern Ireland in 2003 when he joined Ballymena United. Big things were expected from the teenager but, although given an early chance, he stayed only briefly at Warden Street before moving closer to home to play with Limavady. In 2004/05, his only full season with the Roesiders, Ramsey scored twenty goals and claimed a North West Cup winner's medal following a 2-0 final win over Institute.

Ramsey moved on to Stute that summer and although he managed a respectable tally of seven goals in 21 games, the club were relegated from the Premier League. He remained at Drumahoe for the following season firing home a total of 15 goals as an immediate return to the top-flight was secured. He also claimed five goals when coming from the bench as Stute came from behind to win 7-2 in a Carnegie Intermediate League Cup match against Queen's. Dundela were defeated 2-1 in the final at Dungannon.

In July 2007 Ramsey joined Finn Harps. He suffered an early set-back as he suffered a fourth broken ankle in two years and he never really hit form during eighteen months at Finn Park. A return to Institute in January 2009 saw a return to form as he managed eleven goals in the second half of the 2009/09 season. In May 2010 Ramsey missed a penalty in the promotion/relegation play-off against Donegal Celtic as Stute lost 1-0 on aggregate to go down.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
16-05-2006 Scotland H W 1-0 FR

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

Mark McChrystal

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Name: Mark McChrystal
Born: 25 June 1984, Londonderry
Height: 6.01 ft
Weight: 13.07 st
Position: Defender


Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 9 Under-21 Caps (2004-2006), Under-19, Schoolboy (2000)
Club Honours: (with Derry) FAI Cup Runner-Up 2008; League of Ireland Cup Winner 2008; (with Bristol Rovers) Football Conference Play-Off Winner 2014/15.

Club Career:
Teams............. --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Europe Other
Tristar ............................. Youth
Wolverhampton W. .................... Youth ..0(0)/0
Bradford City .... 02/03 ..... Apr-03 .Loan ..0(0)/0
Derry City........ 2003 - 2006 Apr-03 .Free .50(-)/1* ............ 1(0)/0
Institute......... 03/04 ..... Aug-03 .Loan ..1(0)/0 ...... 4(0)/0 ...... 1(0)/0
Partick Thistle... 06/07 ..... Jan-07 .Free .13(2)/1 2(0)/0
Derry City ....... 2007 - 2009 Aug-07 .Free .34(5)/1
Huddersfield Town ............ Sep-09 Trial ..0(0)/0
Crewe Alexandra .............. Oct-09 Trial ..0(0)/0
Lisburn Distillery 09/10 ..... Nov-09 .Free ..3(0)/0
Derry City ....... 2010 ...... Jan-10 ..... .29(1)/3
Tranmere Rovers .. 10/11-12/13 Jan-11 .Free .38(3)/1 ...... 1(0)/0 ...... 2(0)/0
Scunthorpe United. 12/13 ..... Nov-12 .Loan ..3(0)/0
Bristol Rovers ... 12/13-16/17 Jan-13 .Free 107(7)/0 4(0)/0 1(0)/0 ...... ......8(0)/1
Crusaders ........ 17/18- date Jul-17 .Free
* All domestic games.

Biography:
In the early 2000s Wolves had a strong Northern Ireland contingent among their youth ranks - Sammy Clingan, Mark Clyde, Andrew Dickson and Mark McChrystal were all on the fringes of the senior team at Molineux.

A strapping left-sided centre-back, McChrystal had won Schoolboy caps while at St. Columb's College in his native Derry and added Under-18 honours while with Wolves. He was released by Wolves in 2003 and returned home to join Derry City. He initially struggled to make an impact at the Brandywell and for the start of the 2003/04 season made the short move to Institute on a three month loan. He played six times at right-back for Stute before the loan spell was cut short by injury.

Back at Derry, McChrystal slowly established himself in the firstteam squad, filling in at left- or right-back as well as in his preferred central defencive role. He established himself in the Northern Ireland Under-21 team, becoming captain, even when not assured of a starting place with his club side.

McChrystal was released by Derry in December 2006 having been identified as surplus to requirements. Within a few weeks he was playing for Partick Thistle in the Scottish First Division. He made his Jags debut in a 2-0 defeat by Clyde on 2nd January 2007 and was a regular through to the end of the season. He scored his only goal in a 4-3 defeat by Queen of the South as Partick almost came back from 4-0 down. McChrystal was released at the end of that season by new manager, Ian McCall.

McChrystal returned to Derry City in August 2007 and the following year he collected his first major honours, a winner's medal in the League Cup as Wexford Youths were routed 6-1 and a runners-up medal following an FAI Cup Final penalty shoot-out defeat by Bohemians.

In September 2009 McChrystal, unhappy with his limited firstteam chances after returning from a broken cheekbone, negotiated an early release from his Derry contract, the Candystripes being only too happy to offload players as their financial straits became clearer. He joined Huddersfield on trial but after three weeks he was unable to secure the hoped for move. There followed another trial with Crewe which proved equally fruitless before he joined Lisburn Distillery on a short-term deal.

McChrystal returned to Derry City in January 2010 as the demoted side gained an instant return to the League of Ireland Premier Division. In January 2011 he joined Tranmere Rovers on a six-month deal.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
18-08-2004 Switzerland.... H D 0-0 FR
08-02-2005 Scotland....... H W 2-1 FR
16-08-2005 Rep. of Ireland H D 2-2 FR
06-02-2006 Israel......... A W 1-0 FR
28-02-2006 Wales.......... A W 1-0 FR
12-04-2006 Leichtenstein.. A W 4-1 ECQ
10-05-2006 Leichtenstein.. H W 4-0 ECQ
16-05-2006 Scotland....... H W 1-0 FR
16-08-2006 Romania........ A L 0-3 ECQ

Summary: 9/0. Won 6, Drew 2, Lost 1.

Philip Lowry

Name: Philip Lowry
Born: 15 July 1989, Londonderry
Height:
Weight:
Position: Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-23, Under-21, Under-19.
Club Honours: (with Institue) North West Cup Winner 2008/09; (with Linfield) IFA Premiership Champion 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, Irish Cup Winner 2009/10, 2011/12; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 2013/14.

Club Career:
Teams ...... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Europe Other
Limavady United
Institute .. 07/08-08/09 c/s-07 ..... 63(2)/ 6 9(0)/2 8(0)/0 ...... 3(0)/0
Linfield ... 09/10-13/14 Jun-09 
Derry City . 2014 - 2015 May-14 ..... 40(-)/ 3
Portadown .. 15/16 ..... Jan-16 .Free. 7(0)/1 
Crusaders .. 16/17- date May-16 

Biography:

To follow.

LinfieldFC
NIFL Premiership
Linfield Stats

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
11-08-2009 Portugal...... A L 1-2 FR
04-09-2009 Czech Republic A L 0-2 ECQ sub

Ivan Sproule

Name: Ivan Sproule

Born: 18 February 1981, Castlederg

Height: 5.08 ft

Weight: 11.09 st

Position: Winger/Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 11 Full Caps / 1 Goal (2005-2007).

Club Honours: (with Hibs) Scottish Cup Runner-Up 2011/12; Scottish League Cup Winner 2006/07; (with Linfield) Co. Antrim Shield Winner 2013/14.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
Killen Rangers	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ballinamallard U.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dergview	99/00	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Moyola Park	00/01	c/s-00	-	/14	-	-	-	/6
Omagh Town	01/02-03/04	c/s-01	-	95  (-)/19	-	-	2(0)/1	-
Institute	04/05	c/s-04	-	11  (0)/ 2	-	3(0)/0	-	2(0)/0
Hibernian	04/05-06/07	Jan-05	£5k	35 (36)/12	10(1)/4	5(1)/0	4(2)/2	-
Bristol City	07/08-10/11	Jun-07	£500k	61 (58)/ 6	4(0)/0	2(3)/1	-	0(2)/0
Yeovil Town	10/11	Nov-10	Loan	2  (0)/ 0	-	-	-	-
Notts County	10/11	Mar-11	Loan	4  (1)/ 0	-	-	-	-
Hibernian	11/12-12/13	Jul-11	Free	28 (16)/ 3	3(3)/0	3(0)/1	-	-
Ross County	12/13-13/14	Jan-13	Free	20  (3)/ 8	-	1(0)/0	-	-
Linfield	13/14-15/16	Dec-13	Free	42 (15)/ 7	1(1)/0	2(0)/2	8(0)/0	3(0)/0
Ballinamallard U.	15/16	Jan-16	Loan	13  (-)/ 1	-	-	-	-
Degview	16/17	Jul-16	Free	-	-	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£505k		311(129)/72	18(5)/4	16(4)/4	14(2)/3	5(2)/6

Biography:

In January 2005 Ivan Sproule was recognised as perhaps the fastest player in the Irish League, but many questioned his consistency and application. Hibs manager Tony Mowbray clearly saw something in the flying winger, and invited him to Easter Road for a trial. After the trial Mowbray offered Sproule a full-time professional contract, but still it was a gamble for him to take it as moving to Scotland entailed giving up his job as an engineer. That gamble paid off handsomely.

Sproule became the scourge of the Old Firm, a hattrick against boyhood idols Rangers particularly notable. Although often used as an impact substitute, Sproule was given a starting place in the 2007 CIS Cup Final against Kilmarnock, Hibs cruising to an impressive 5-1 win.

Previously a Windsor Park regular for international matches, Sproule made his Northern Ireland debut as an 88th minute substitute in the famous 1-0 win over England in September 2005. Thereafter he was a peripheral squad member. He did however mark his first start in a Northern Ireland shirt with a goal against Estonia after just two minutes.

..

On 27 June 2007 Ivan Sproule committed to a three year contract with Championship side, Bristol City. He was part of the City squad that lost out in the 2008 Championship play-off final. His Northern Ireland career stalled after an apparent falling out with Nigel Worthington following a 1-0 Euro 2008 qualifier defeat by Spain in November 2007.

After several loan spells during the 2010/11 season, Sproule signed a pre-contract agreement to return to Hibs. He was little more than a squad player during his second spell at Easter Road and left for Ross County in January 2013. He marked his County debut with two goals in a 4-1 win at St Mirren. In November 2013 his contract was cancelled for personal reasons as he sought to return to Northern Ireland; his final act in a Staggies' shirt had been a horror tackle against St Mirren that saw him sent-off.

Sought after by a number of clubs, both north and south of the border, Sproule signed for Linfield on a year-and-a-half contract in December. He had to wait for his debut until the transfer window opened in January. He spent two largely barren years with the Blues, with only a Country Antrim Shield winner's medal for his efforts. In January 2016 he moved closer to his Castlederg home to join Ballinamallard on loan. In April 2016 Sproule announced his retirement, but he performed a u-turn in July in order to return to hometown club, Dergview.

Sproule entered management in May 2017 when he took the job at Ardstraw.

More to follow.

Soccerbase
Wikipedia

Northern Ireland Cap Details:

07-09-2005 England. H W 1-0 WCQ sub

15-11-2005 Portugal H D 1-1 FR. sub

01-03-2006 Estonia. H W 1-0 FR. 1 Goal

21-05-2006 Romania. N L 0-1 FR

26-05-2006 Uruguay. N L 0-2 FR

16-08-2006 Finland. A W 2-1 FR. sub

06-02-2007 Wales... H D 0-0 FR

28-03-2007 Sweden.. H W 2-1 ECQ sub

17-10-2007 Sweden.. A D 1-1 ECQ

17-11-2007 Denmark. H W 2-1 ECQ sub

21-11-2007 Spain... A L 0-1 ECQ

..

Summary: 6(5)/1. Won 5, Drew 3, Lost 3.