Billy McWha

"Very fast forward; unselfish in passing" - Irish Football Annual 1880

Name: William B.R. McWha*
Born: c.1860
Died: 1909, India
Height:
Weight:
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Ireland: 7 Full Caps / 1 Goal (1882-1885).
Club Honours: (with Cliftonville) Irish Cup Winner 1882/83; Charity Cup Winner 1883/84, Runner-up 1884/85.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Albion Rugby FC		-	-	-	-	-
Knock	79/80-81/82	-	-	0(0)/0	-	-
Cliftonville	82/83-84/85	-1882	-	0(0)/0	-	-
TOTALS	-	£-		0(0)/0	-	-

Biography:
Billy McWha, son of James, was educated at Methodist College, Belfast, along with another future International footballer, John Sinclair. Initially a wing-forward at rugby with Albion RFC, McWha took up football with Knock FC during 1879/80 season, playing as one of two-right wingers in the original 2 backs – 2 half-backs – 2 right-wing – 2 centres and 2 left-wing forwards formation.

At Knock most of McWha’s matches were in friendlies apart from those in the Irish Cup. In 1881 he took part in an 11-0 cup win over Distillery, before losing out to Cliftonville 1-2 in a semi-final replay after an initial 2-2 draw. 1881/82 saw him score twice in the 4-0 cup win over Malone, only to lose again to Cliftonville, 2-0 in the second round. He also gained his first two caps that season, playing in the right wing position.

McWha moved to Cliftonville for the 1882/83 season. He at last tasted success n the Irish Cup, scoring twice in the 5-0 Final win over Ulster. Shortly thereafter this he moved to London to gain qualifications in medical administration**.

Back in Belfast for the end of 1883/84 season, McWha "kicked the ball between the posts" for his only goal for Ireland against Scotland – a last minute consolation in an 8-1 defeat. That was the only goal the Irish team scored in the first ever British Championship tournament. He played at centre-forward for the first time in this match. He then played at left forward as he gained a Charity Cup winner’s medal with Cliftonville in a 2-0 win over Distillery.

1884/85 saw McWha’s footballing career draw to a close with two further International caps, the last one being against Wales in April 1885, when he played at left-half in Ireland’s first use of the three half-back formation. He finished the season in a 1-0 defeat to Oldpark in the Charity Cup Final, again appearing at left-half.

McWha continued with his medical duties before moving to Scotland. On the 14th October 1908 he set sail from Liverpool to Calcutta, India on the “City of Paris” to take up duties there. A few months later it was reported that he had tragically been drowned while out duck shooting.

Ireland Cap Details:
18-02-1882 England. H L 0-13 FR
25-02-1882 Wales... A L 1- 7 FR
24-02-1883 England. A L 0- 7 FR
17-03-1883 Wales... H D 1- 1 FR
23-02-1884 England. H L 1- 8 BC 1 Goal
28-02-1885 England. A L 0- 4 BC
11-04-1885 Wales... H L 2- 8 BC

Summary: 7/1. Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 6.


* Possibly William Barrie Ritchie McWha.
** McWha was previously thought to have been a medical doctor, however British Medical Council records confirm that this was not so.

By George Glass

James Hamilton

Ireland's first goalkeeper, James Hamilton's two caps saw twenty goals scored past him, as Ireland suffered a difficult introduction to the international scene..

Name: James Henry Hamilton
Born: 1859, Belfast
Died: 19 July 1932, Sunnyside, Whitehead
Position: Goalkeeper

Representative Honours: Ireland: 2 Full Caps (1882).

Club Career:

Clubs	Seasons	Signed	Fee	FA Cup	Other
Knock	1879/80-1881/82	-	Amateur	-	-
TOTALS		£0		-	-

Biography:
James Hamilton originally played for Knock Lacrosse team and also the rugby team – a sure back, very fast, strong kick. He became the secretary of Knock Football Club in 1880 and took up the position of goalkeeper. In those early days the only competitive matches were in the Irish Cup and Knock progressed in both seasons to the second round only to succomb to Cliftonville on each occasion. Their most notable match was the 11-0 defeat of Distillery in Round 1 on the 5th February 1881.

As a result of a trial match on the 11th February 1882 the Irish Football Association selected a team to represent Ireland against England on the 18th February with the same team to play Wales the following week. Hamilton played in both these matches and although the final scores were somewhat embarassing, match report in The Times noted that "the Welsh ... were were frustrated by the excellent goalkeeping of Hamilton".

The son of a well respected business man who was the Collector of Rates it wasn’t surprising that Hamilton soon gave up football and concentrated on his business skills becoming a Justice of the Peace and a Mill Manager.

Ireland Cap Details:
18-02-1882 England. L 0-13 FR
25-02-1882 Wales... L 1- 7 FR

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

By George Glass.

Alex Dill

"Better known as a lacrosse player, is a splendid dribbler, very speedy on the ball, makes most determined rushes and is very hard to stop, makes good use of his strength and speed and never seems to weary."

..
Name: Alexander Harrison Dill
Born: 27 June 1863, Ballymoney
Died: 10 July 1933, Ballymoney
Height:
Weight:
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Ireland: 9 Full Caps/1 Goal (1882-1885); UK Lacrosse team.
Club Honours: (with Cliftonville) Irish Cup Winner 1882/83; Charity Cup Winner 1883/84, Runner-up 1884/85.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Knock	79/80-81/82	-	-	0(0)/0	-	-
Cliftonville	79/80	-	-	0(0)/0	-	-
Down Athletic	82/83	-	-	0(0)/0	-	-
Cliftonville	82/83-84/85	-	-	0(0)/0	-	-
TOTALS	-	£-		0(0)/0	-	-

Biography:
While attending the Belfast Royal Academical Institution Alex Dill developed into a "very smart" quarter-back at Rugby and played regularly for the UK Lacrosse team. In 1879 he took up Association Football with Knock and also turned out occasionally with Cliftonville. His performance for Knock against Scottish side, Albion in February 1880 was accorded "special notice" in the Northern Whig.

He was unable to play in the trial match on the 11th February 1882 from which the Irish Football Association selected a team to represent Ireland against England and Wales. However, his prowess was well-known and he was still selected and played in both matches.

Through the 1882/83 season Dill played a few matches with Down Athletic before moving to Cliftonville in March 1883 in time to gain an Irish Cup winner's medal as Ulster were defeated 5-0 at Bloomfield, Belfast.

Alex Dill's appearance in nine of Ireland's first ten international outings briefly left him with the honour of most capped player. He remained with the Irish FA in an administrative capacity and became Chairman in December 1888.

Ireland Cap Details:
18-02-1882 England. H L 0-13 FR
25-02-1882 Wales... A L 1- 7 FR
17-03-1883 Wales... H D 1- 1 FR
26-01-1884 Scotland H L 0- 5 BC
09-02-1884 Wales... A L 0- 6 BC
23-02-1884 England. H L 1- 8 BC
28-02-1885 England. A L 0- 4 BC
14-03-1885 Scotland A L 2- 8 BC
11-04-1885 Wales... H L 2- 8 BC 1 Goal

Summary: 9/1. Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 8.

By George Glass.