Showing posts with label Rangers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rangers. Show all posts

3 September 2016

Jordan Thompson

Name: Jordan Thompson
Born: 3 January 1997, Antrim
Height: 5.09 ft / 1.75 m
Weight:
Position: Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Full, Under-21, Under-19, Under-17.
Club Honours: (with Livingston) SPFL Premiership Play-Off Winner 2017/18.
Awards: Super Cup NI Senior Player of the Tournament 2014.

Club Career:
Teams ...... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Manchester United ............. Youth .0(0)/ 0
Rangers .... 15/16-17/18 Jul-15 .Free .0(2)/ 0 ...... 0(1)/0 2(0)/0
Airdrie .... 15/16 ..... Feb-16 .Loan .7(0)/ 1
Raith Rovers 16/17 ..... Aug-16 .Loan 23(3)/ 1 2(0)/0 ------ 0(1)/0
Livingston . 17/18 ..... Jan-18 .Loan .7(4)/ 0 ............. 2(2)/0 
Blackpool .. 18/19- date Jun-18 .Free

Biography:
Talented midfielder promoted to the senior squad for the first time for the 2018 Central American Tour.

More to follow.

Wikipedia
Soccerbase

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

30 June 2012

Chris Hegarty

Name: Christopher Hegarty
Born: 13 August 1992, Dungannon
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight:
Position: Defender

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 7 Under-21 Caps (2011-2012), 17 Under-19 Caps, 3 Under-17 Caps, 8 Under-16 Caps.
Club Honours: (with Rangers) Scottish Third Division Champion 2012/13.

Club Career:
Teams.... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Dungannon Swifts....... 2006 Youth .0(0)/ 0
Millwall............. Jun-08 Youth .0(0)/ 0
Rangers...11/12-13/14 Jun-10 Youth 25(0)/ 1 1(1)/0 2(0)/0 1(0)/0 
Linfield. 14/15-15/16 May-14 .Free 17(-)/ 3
Dungannon 15/16 ..... Jan-16 .Loan 13(0)/ 0
Dungannon 16/17- date May-16 .Free

Biography:
To follow.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
09-02-2011 Wales... A L 0-2 FR
31-05-2011 Faroe Is A D 0-0 ECQ
10-08-2011 Faroe Is H W 4-0 ECQ
06-09-2011 Denmark. H L 0-3 ECQ
15-08-2012 Hungary. A L 2-3 FR
10-09-2012 Denmark. A L 0-3 ECQ
13-11-2012 England. A L 0-2 FR sub

Summary: 6(1)/0. Won 1, Drew 1, Lost 5.

Picture courtesy of Roy Cathcart.

4 September 2010

Lee Hodson

Name: Lee James Stephen Hodson
Born: 2 October 1991, Borehamwood (England)
Height: 5.08 ft
Weight: 11.02 st
Position: Right-Back

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Full, 10 Under-21 Caps, Youth.

Club Career:
Teams..... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Watford... 08/09-12/13 Nov-08 Youth 76 (7)/1 3(0)/0 4(1)/0
Brentford. 12/13 ..... Nov-12 .Loan .7 (6)/0 3(0)/0 ...... 2(0)/0
MK Dons... 13/14-15/16 Jul-13 .Free 35 (5)/2 6(0)/0 5(0)/0
Kilmarnock 15/16 ..... Jan-16 .Loan 14 (0)/0 2(0)/0 ...... 1(0)/0
Rangers .. 16/17- date Jun-16 

Biography:
Lee Hodson came through the ranks with his local club, Watford and made his debut as a substitute against Derby County on the final day of the 2008/09 season aged just 17. He established himself in the firstteam in the following campaign, earning praise for his consistency and making use of his strength, speed and reading of the game which allowed him to become an effective attacking force. Two-footed, he has played both in his favoured right-back role and at left-back for the Hornets.

Already a Youth international, Hodson was elevated to the Under-21 team while still just 17 years-old to make his debut in a Euro qualifier in the Czech Republic in September 2009. He is joined at Watford by fellow Northern Ireland Under-21s, Michael Bryan and Adam Thompson.

Hodson received his first senior call-up in November 2010 as a late replacement in the Northern Ireland squad to face Morocco. He played the full ninety minutes and acquitted himself well in a low-key 1-1 draw.

In July 2013, Hodson joined MK Dons on a free transfer. He soon fell out of the reckoning for both club and country, but a loan spell at Kilmarnock in the second half of the 2015/16 season appeared to re-invigorate him, and he was a surprise inclusion in Michael O'Neill's Euro 2016 finals squad.

Hodson joined Rangers on a three year deal ahead of the 2016/17 season.

Wikipedia

Northern Ireland Full Cap Details:
17-11-2010 Morocco........ H D 1-1 FR
09-02-2011 Scotland....... N L 0-3 CNC sub
24-05-2011 Rep. of Ireland A L 0-5 CNC
27-05-2011 Wales.......... N L 0-2 CNC
07-10-2011 Estonia........ H L 1-2 ECQ
11-10-2011 Italy.......... A L 0-3 ECQ
29-02-2012 Norway......... H L 0-3 FR
02-06-2012 Netherlands.... A L 0-6 FR
15-08-2012 Finland........ H D 3-3 FR
still active

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
04-09-2009 Czech Republic A L 0-2 ECQ
08-09-2009 Iceland....... H L 2-6 ECQ
13-11-2009 Germany....... H D 1-1 ECQ
17-11-2009 Czech Republic H L 1-2 ECQ
02-03-2009 San Marino.... A W 3-0 ECQ
03-09-2010 San Marino.... H W 4-0 ECQ
07-09-2010 Germany....... A L 0-3 ECQ
15-11-2011 Serbia........ H L 0-2 ECQ
10-05-2012 FYR Macedonia. A L 0-1 ECQ
09-11-2012 England....... A L 0-2 FR

Summary: 10/0. Won 2, Drew 1, Lost 7.

7 July 2010

Daryl Fordyce

Name: Daryl Thomas Fordyce
Born: 2 January 1987, Belfast
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight: 11.08 st
Position: Midfielder / Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 2 Under-23 Caps / 1 Goal (2009-2010); 12 Under-21 Caps / 2 Goals (2006-2008), Under-19, Under-17.
Club Honours: (Glentoran) IFA Premiership Champion 2008/09; Irish League Cup Winner 2009/10; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 2004/08; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 2010/11; (with Linfield) IFA Premiership Champion 2011/12; Irish Cup Winner 2011/12.


Club Career:
Teams ..... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League-- FA Cup FL Cup Europe Other
St Andrews BC ................ Youth
Lisburn Youth ................ Youth
Rangers ...................... Youth .0 (0)/ 0
Portsmouth  05/06-06/07 Jul-05 Youth .0 (0)/ 0
Bournemouth 05/06 ..... Feb-06 .Loan .3 (0)/ 0
Glentoran...07/08-10/11 Jul-07 .Free 
Linfield .. 11/12-12/13 May-11 ..... 22(30)/10 1(5)/1 1(4)/0 4(1)/1 4(2)/1
Edmonton .. 2013 - 2016 Feb-13 ..... 83(12)/28 (NASL)
Cincinnati. 2017 ...... Jan-17 (USL)
Edmonton .. 2017 ...... Jul-17 .Free 10 (4)/ 2 (NASL)


Biography:
Daryl Fordyce established himself as an 18 year-old in Portsmouth's reserve team, his attacking midfield play earning comparisons with Trevor Brooking. He was sent on loan to Bournemouth in February 2006 to earn some senior experience and made his debut in a home game against Oldham.

A star for Northern Ireland at underage level, an early highlight was his four goal haul in a 4-1 European Under-19 Championship qualifier against Serbia & Montenegro in May 2006. Thereafter he was a regular in the Under-21 squad, scoring on his debut to give Northern Ireland an early lead in Germany before the home side came back to win 2-1.

Unable to progress to the Portsmouth firstteam, Fordyce was released in 2007 and signed for Glentoran. He was initially used in an unfavoured right-wing role by the Glens and was then over-shadowed by the signing of Keith Gillespie. Transfer-listed in a cost-cutting move during the summer of 2010, he opened the 2010/11 season with five goals in a 6-1 win over Lisburn Distillery and earned the Carling Player of the Month award for August as he was at last deployed in a central attacking role.

Fordyce made a shock move across Belfast in the summer of 2011 to join Linfield. In his first season with the Blues he claimed Irish League and Cup winner's medals. Mid-way through the 2012/13 season it was announced that he would be moving to Canada. He signed for FC Edmonton where he was joined by ex-Linfield teammates, Albert Watson and Robbie Garrett. Aside from a brief spell with Cincinnati, Fordyce remained with Edmonton until they folded in November 2017, at which point he was the franchise's record goalscorer.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
14-11-2006 Germany... A L 1-2 FR. 1 goal
06-02-2007 Wales..... H L 0-4 FR
24-03-2007 Romania... A L 0-2 FR
24-05-2007 Scotland.. A L 0-4 FR
01-06-2007 Moldova... A W 1-0 ECQ
21-08-2007 Finland... H W 2-1 FR
07-09-2007 Germany... H L 0-3 ECQ
12-09-2007 Luxembourg A W 2-1 ECQ 1 goal
17-10-2007 Israel.... H L 1-3 ECQ
20-11-2007 Moldova... H W 3-0 ECQ sub
06-02-2008 Israel.... A L 1-2 ECQ sub
26-03-2008 Romania... H L 1-3 FR. sub

Summary: 9(3)/2. Won 4, Drew 0, Lost 8.

23 March 2009

Andrew Little

Name: Andrew Little
Born: 12 May 1989, Enniskillen
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight: 11.09 st
Position: Forward / Midfielder / Defender

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Full (2009-date), 6 Under-21 Caps / 3 Goals (2008-2010), 11 Under-19 Caps / 4 Goals, 6 Under-17 Caps / 2 Goals.
Club Honours: (with Rangers) Scottish League One Champion 2013/14; Scottish Third Division Champion 2012/13.

Club Career:
Teams......... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- --League-- FA Cup FL Cup Others
Ballinamallard United ........... Youth
Rangers .......08/09-13/14 Jul-06 Youth .48(18)/34 4(7)/0 6(1)/2 3(0)/2
Port Vale .... 11/12 ..... Aug-11 .Loan ..2 (5)/ 0 
Preston N.E. . 14/15-15/16 Jun-14 .Free ..5 (7)/ 1 1(0)/0 1(1)/1 1(0)/0
Blackpool .... 15/16 ..... Nov-15 .Loan ..3 (2)/ 1 
Accrington St. 15/16 ..... Mar-16 .Loan ..0 (0)/ 0
Stirling Alb.. 16/17- date Feb-17 .Free 
Dumbarton


Biography:
Andrew Little is a versatile youngster called up for the first time for the World Cup Qualifiers against Poland and Slovenia in March/April 2009 as a replacement for injured Rangers teammate, Kyle Lafferty. Comfortable as a striker, attacking midfielder or anywhere in defence, Little previously played in Northern Ireland's successful Milk Cup team, scoring in the 2008 Elite Final win over Chile.

Little made his international debut as a last-minute sub for David Healy against Poland in March 2009, holding up the ball well as Northern Ireland held out for a 3-2 victory. His club debut came a month later, as a substitute forward in Rangers' 3-0 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren on 25 April. His first start was at right-back in an Old Firm derby in October but picked-up a hamstring injury after just 14 minutes. Little's first firstteam goal was a dramatic injury time equaliser against Hearts in January 2010.

Little continued to prove his versatility, starting on the right wing and at right back against Italy and Albania on the occasions of his second and third caps. He retained the number two shirt for the summer 2009 friendlies against Turkey and Chile.

In August 2011, having been ruled out for much of the 2010/11 season by a hip injury, Little joined Port Vale on loan through to the following January as he sought fitness and match experience. The loan deal was cut short in October after he suffered a knee ligament injury.

Little enjoyed an extended run in the Rangers team toward the end of the 2011/12 season, and found a rich vein of goalscoring form for a comparatively struggling side. With Rangers' parlous financial state and eventual demotion to Division Three in the summer of 2012, Little agreed to remain at Ibrox. He finished 2012/13 as the Scottish Third Division's top scorer.

A second successive promotion was claimed in 2013/14, with Little enjoying a five game goalscoring run early on in the season. His season was then interrupted by a broken cheekbone collected against Dunfermline in November and on his return he struggled for form and a starting place. With Rangers' financial status still uncertain come the summer of 2014 Little was not offered a new deal and he signed for Preston North End.

Little has continued to struggle with injuries after joining Preston, making just eight starts in a season-and-a-half before playing on loan with Blackpool and Accrington Stanley. At the end of the 2015/16 season he was released was without a club until signed by Stirling in February 2017. Things continued to go against him however and after just five appearances he suffered a fractured skull in a training ground accident. He was however offered a new deal for the 2017/18 season.

In parallel with his playing career, since May 2017 Little has coached part-time at Rangers' Academy.

IrishFA Bio
Soccerbase

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
28-03-2009 Poland.. H W 3-2 WCQ sub
06-06-2009 Italy... A L 0-3 FR
03-03-2010 Albania. A L 0-1 FR
26-05-2010 Turkey.. N L 0-2 FR
30-05-2010 Chile... A L 0-1 FR
Still active.

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. 1 goal
03-09-2010 San Marino H W 4-0 ECQ 2 goals
07-09-2010 Germany... A L 0-3 ECQ


Summary: 6(0)/3. Won 2, Drew 0, Lost 4.

Pictures kindly supplied by Roy Cathcart and Chopper1.

6 August 2008

Darren Fitzgerald

Name: Darren Fitzgerald
Born: 13 October 1978, Belfast
Height: 5.08 ft
Weight: 10.07 st
Position: Forward
..
Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 4 Under-21 Caps (1998), 1 Under-17 Cap, 2 Under-16 Caps, 6 Under-15 Caps / 7 Goals.
Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Irish League Champion 2002/03; Irish Cup Winner 2000/01; Irish League Cup Winner 2000/01.
..
Club Career:
Teams
Seasons
Signed
Fee
League
FA Cup
FL Cup
Europe
Other
St Andrews Boys Club
-
Youth
-
-
-
-
-
Rangers
96/97-99/00
Jul-94
Youth
0 (1)/ 0
-
-
-
-
Glentoran
00/01-02/03
May-00
Free
28(26)/11
3(3)/2
3(2)/0
4(2)/0
4(5)/0
Ards
03/04-04/05
Jul-03
-
30 (1)/12
3(0)/5
12(0)/6
-
11(0)/5
Ballymena Utd
04/05-07/08
Jan-05
Free
20(15)/ 7
3(3)/2
3(5)/1
-
1(2)/1
Bangor
07/08
Mar-08
Free
-
-
-
-
-
Ards
08/09-10/11
Jul-08
Free
-
-
-
-
-
Sirocco Works
-
Jul-11
Free
-
-
-
-
-
TOTALS
-
£-
-
-
-
4(2)/0
-
..
Biography:
Darren "Mucker" Fitzgerald...

To follow.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
21-04-1998 Switzerland H W 2-1 FR
20-05-1998 Scotland... N D 1-1 MT
04-09-1998 Turkey..... A L 0-2 ECQ sub
09-10-1998 Finland.... H D 1-1 ECQ

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

2 August 2007

Brian McLean

Name: Brian McLean
Born: 28 February 1985, Rutherglen, Scotland
Height: 6.02 ft
Weight: 12.03 st
Position: Centre-Half

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Cap (2006), 1 Under-21 Cap (2005); Scotland: Under-17, Under-16.
Club Honours: (with DPMM) S-League Champion 2015.

Club Career:
Club...... --Seasons-- Signed ..Fee -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Rangers
... 04/05...... Aug-04 Youth .0(0)/ 0
Motherwell 05/06...... Aug-05 .Loan 27(3)/ 3 1(0)/0 2(1)/0
Motherwell 06/07-08/09 Jul-06 .Free 19(6)/ 2 1(0)/0 1(0)/1 

Falkirk .. 09/10-10/11 Jul-09 .Free 67(0)/ 3 3(0)/0 4(0)/0 
Preston NE 11/12 ..... Aug-11 .Free 15(1)/ 1 ...... 1(0)/0 1(0)/1
Dundee Utd 12/13 ..... Jun-12 .Free 25(4)/ 0 2(0)/1 1(1)/0 1(0)/0

Ross Co. . 13/14 ..... Jul-13 .Free 24(1)/ 0 1(0)/0 1(0)/0
DPMM Brunei 2015- 2016 Feb-15 .Free (Singapore League)
Hibernian .16/17- date Mar-17 .Free

Biography:
Brian McLean had won youth caps for Scotland prior to deciding to play for Northern Ireland, the country of his grandparents’ birth. An accomplished defender, he had came through the ranks at Rangers and earned his first call-up to the Northern Ireland Under-21 set-up in early 2005. Injury meant that he had to wait until August for his debut, in a 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland.

In an effort to gain firstteam experience, McLean spent the 2005/06 season on loan at Motherwell. Initially he played in midfield or at right-back, before establishing himself alongside Northern Ireland defender, Stephen Craigan in the centre of defence. His performances earned him rave reviews and comparisons to then Well manager, and ex-Rangers and England star, Terry Butcher. Lawrie Sanchez had no qualms in including McLean in the Full Northern Ireland panel to face Portugal in November 2005, though he was an unused substitute. The following March he was again included in the squad to face Estonia, and this time he came off the bench as a half-time substitute for Craigan, in a 1-0 win.

In April 2006 McLean was named SPL Young Player of the Month for March and was due to make his competitive Under-21 debut against Liechtenstein when he was suddenly withdrawn from the squad. It emerged that he wasn’t actually eligible to play for Northern Ireland having played in a UEFA competition for Scotland at Under-17 level. Further frustration was added with the knowledge that had he played a competitive game for Northern Ireland, at any level, prior to his 21st birthday he would have been allowed to switch allegiances. The Irish FA appealed to FIFA for leniency for the player due to their own “administrative error” but to no avail. Forty-five minutes was to be the sum total of McLean’s Northern Ireland career.

After much negotiation, McLean’s move to Motherwell from Rangers was made permanent in the summer of 2006, though his second season at Fir Park season was ruined by injury. In his absence Motherwell flirted with relegation, eventually finishing six points, and two places, above relegated Dunfermline.


After three seasons, two ruptured cruciate ligaments and 27 appearances for Motherwell, McLean joined Falkirk having failed to agree a new contract at Fir Park.

Well Trust Profile
Irish FA Statement
Soccerbase

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
01-03-2006 Estonia ....... H W 1-0 FR sub

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

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
16-08-2005 Rep. of Ireland H D 2-2 FR

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

22 June 2007

Dean Shiels

Name: Dean Shiels
Born: 1 February 1985, Magharafelt
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight: 10.00 st
Position: Forward/Winger

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 14 Full Caps / 1 Goal (2005-2012), 6 Under-21 Caps / 2 Goals (2004-2006), Under-19, Under-17, Under-16, Under-15.
Club Honours: (with Kilmarnock) Scottish League Cup Winner 2011/12; (with Rangers) Scottish Cup Runner-Up 2015/16; SPFL Championship Winner 2015/16; SPFL League One Champion 2013/14; Scottish Third Division Champion 2012/13; Scottish Challenge Cup Winner 2015/16.

Club Career: 
Teams.......--Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League-- FA Cup Lge Cup Europe  Other
Arsenal.....02/03-03/04 Jul-02 Youth .0 (0)/ 0
Hibernian...04/05-08/09 Jul-04 .Free 79(38)/24 9(1)/3 10(1)/4 3(5)/0
Doncaster R 08/09-11/12 Feb-09 Undis 46(37)/10 3(0)/0 .2(0)/0
Kilmarnock. 11/12...... Jul-11 .Loan 18 (2)/ 6 1(0)/0 .2(0)/0
Kilmarnock. 11/12 ..... Jan-12. Free 15 (0)/ 7 2(0)/1 .2(0)/1
Rangers ... 12/13-15/16 Jul-12  Free 47(43)/19 6(5)/4 .7(1)/4 ...... 8(6)/2
Dundalk ... 2016 ...... Aug-16 .Free .2 (5)/ 3 ....... 0(4)/0
FC Edmonton 2017 ...... Feb-17 .Free
Dunfermline 17/18 ..... Jul-17 .Free 16 (3)/ 0 2(0)/0 .1(2)/0 ...... 1(0)/0
Derry City. 2018 - date Jul-18 .Free

Biography:
Son of former Northern Ireland Under-17 coach Kenny, Dean Shiels has come through considerable adversity to make it as a professional footballer.

A starlet of a the Northern Ireland Youth set-up, Shiels signed schoolboy forms with Arsenal in July 2001 and his first professional contract a year later. Unable to impress beyond the Gunners’ Under-19 side, Shiels left Highbury by mutual consent in June 2004.

Linked with a return to Northern Ireland with Linfield or Ballymena (then managed by his father), Shiels instead signed a three year deal with Scottish Premier side, Hibernian. That same summer he impressed with the Northern Ireland Under-19 side in the Milk Cup Elite competition, scoring twice in a famous win over Brazil. The goals showed the youngster as a potential ‘complete’ striker, the first a stunning strike from distance and the second a well placed low header.

After joining Hibs Shiels made good progress. On 18 August 2004 he made his Under-21 debut against Switzerland and six days later scored his first senior club goal as Hibs drew 4-4 with Dundee. A regular in his first campaign, he scored six goals in 43 appearances. In November 2005 Shiels made his senior Northern Ireland debut in a Gala Friendly against Portugal as the Irish FA continued its 125th Anniversary celebrations.

Just two months after his first senior international Sheils announced he would be under-going an operation to have his right eye removed. He had lost the sight in the eye after a childhood accident and, much to his credit, few knew of the handicap. Whilst the operation reduced his effectiveness during his second season, it only ruled him out of football for seven weeks and by the end of the season he was touring the USA with the Northern Ireland team.

Shiels was a key figure in Hibs side that reached the 2007 CIS Cup Final, including scoring a brace in a memorable 6-0 win over upstarts Gretna. Unfortunately injury forced him to miss the Final with Kilmarnock and so Shiels still awaits his first domestic honour.

With his contract due to expire at the end of the 2008/09 season, Shiels moved to Doncaster Rovers for a fee of around £50,000 on transfer deadline day, 2nd February 2009. In July 2011 he joined Kilmarnock, managed by his father, on a six month loan deal. The move was made permanent in January 2012 and yielded a surprise League Cup final success over Celtic. Shiels' contribution to Killie's successes has been recognised by his appearance on the short-list for the Scottish PFA Player of the Year.

Shiels signed for Rangers in July 2012 shortly after they were demoted to the bottom tier of the Scottish League following their financial melt-down. He has seldom been a regular starter in the four seasons it has taken Rangers to gain promotion to the Premiership and has subsequently dropped from the international reckoning despite appearing to be much-favoured during Michael O'Neill's earliest games as manager.

Shortly after Rangers' top-flight return was confirmed Shiels was released. Subsequently he signed for high-flying League of Ireland side, Dundalk. He made his Lilywhites' debut in a 1-0 win over Wexford in August 2016.

Irish FA Bio
Soccerbase

Northern Ireland Cap Details:

15-11-2005 Portugal...... H D 1-1 FR. sub
21-05-2006 Uruguay....... N L 0-1 FR
. sub
26-05-2006 Romania....... N L 0-2 FR
06-02-2007 Wales......... H D 0-0 FR
. sub
20-08-2008 Scotland...... A D 0-0 FR
. sub
06-09-2008 Slovakia...... A L 1-2 WCQ 
sub
10-09-2008 Czech Republic H D 0-0 WCQ 
sub
19-11-2008 Hungary....... H L 0-2 FR
. sub
03-03-2010 Albania....... A L 0-1 FR
. sub
29-02-2012 Norway........ H L 0-3 FR
15-08-2012 Finland....... H D 3-3 FR
07-09-2012 Russia........ A L 0-2 WCQ 
sub
11-09-2012 Luexmbourg.... H D 1-1 WCQ 1 goal
14-11-2012 Azerbaijan.... H D 1-1 WCQ


Summary: 5(9)/1. Won 0, Drew 7, Lost 7.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
18-08-2004 Switzerland... H D 0-0 FR. sub
08-02-2005 Scotland...... H W 2-1 FR
16-08-2005 Rep of Ireland H D 2-2 FR
. sub
10-05-2006 Leichtenstein. H W 4-0 ECQ 1 Goal
16-08-2006 Romania....... A L 0-3 ECQ
01-09-2006 Germany....... H L 2-3 ECQ 1 Goal


Summary: 4(2)/2. Won 2, Drew 2, Lost 2.

13 May 2007

Billy McCandless

Name: William McCandless
Born: 1894, Belfast
Died: 18 July 1955, Swansea (Wales)
Height: 5.07 ft
Weight: 11.06 st
Position: Full-Back

Representative Honours: Ireland: 9 Full Caps (1919-1929), 1 ‘Victory’ Cap (1919); Irish League: 2 Caps (1919).
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Irish Cup Winner 1915/16, 1918/19; Co. Antrim Shield Winner; Belfast & District “War-Time” League Champion; (with Rangers) Scottish League Champion 1920/21, 1922/23, 1923/24, 1924/25, 1926/27, 1927/28, 1928/29, 1929/30.

Club Career:
Clubs
Seasons
Signed
Fee
League
FA Cup
Other
Ligoniel
-
-
-
-
-
-
Barn
-
-
-
-
-
-
Linfield
14/15-20/21
-
-
-
-
-
Rangers
20/21-29/30
Nov-20
£2,500
202/8
27/1
32/1
Ballymena
30/31-32/33
1930
-
*133/2
-
-
TOTALS
£-
-
-
-
* all games.

Manager:
Ballymena (1930-1932)
Dundee (1933-1937)
Newport County (1937-1946)
Cardiff City (1946-1947)
Swansea Town (1947-1955)

Biography:
Billy McCandless began his career as a fifteen year-old in the North Belfast Combination winning the title in his first season. The medal, the first of 42 he won in his career, was worth half-a-crown (12½p) and remained one of proudest mementos. After a few years he signed for Ligoniel, where he won the Football Alliance before joining Intermediate League side, Barn. The Intermediate League featured the big Irish League sides’ reserve teams, and he was signed by Linfield in 1914.

Through the years of the Great War McCandless claimed War-Time League titles and winner’s medals in the Irish Cup and Co. Antrim Shield. After the War ended he won his first ‘cap’ in the Victory International against Scotland in Glasgow and he won his first ‘full’ cap in Ireland’s first post-War match, a 1-1 draw with England. He also played twice for the Irish League in the immediate post-War period. Those early representative honours proved McCandless’ versatility as they were won variously at right-back, right-half as well as in the left-back role that would make him famous.

It was a performance for Ireland in a 2-0 defeat by England in Sunderland that led to a number of mainland clubs chasing McCandless. Eventually it was Rangers that claimed his signature in a £2,500 deal, a record fee for an Irish player at that time. He spent ten years at Ibrox, many with another Irishman, Bertie Manderson as his full-back partner as Rangers dominated the Scottish League.

In 1930 McCandless returned to Ireland where he was to take his first steps into management with Ballymena. In 1933 he moved back to Scotland to manage Dundee. Prior to his resignation in April 1937 he had dragged the Dees from minnows to challengers. In September 1937 he accepted the management post at Newport County, leading them to the 1938/39 Division Three (South) title. Highly regarded, it was written of him: "(his) advice is often sought abd seldom neglected. Knows football from beginning to end".

After the Second World War the Newport side was decimated, and following disagreements with the board over the team’s future he resigned. A month later, in June 1946, he took charge of Cardiff City. In the first season at Ninian Park he again claimed the Division Three (South) title, but just three months into the following campaign he moved to manage Swansea Town. In 1948 he completed a unique treble, leading a third Welsh club to the Division Three (South) title. He remained boss at the Vetch Field until his death in the summer of 1955.

A keen pigeon follower, his birds were a common sight at the grounds of every club he managed. Following his death the Western Mail printed the following obituary: “He was a man who lived for football and Welsh soccer has sustained a severe loss in the death of this Irishman who did so much for it. Billy Mac will be mourned by the soccer public everywhere”.

Ireland Cap Details:
25-10-1919 England. H D 1-1 BC
14-02-1920 Wales... H D 2-2 BC
23-10-1920 England. A L 0-2 BC
09-04-1921 Wales... A L 1-2 BC
04-03-1922 Scotland A L 1-2 BC
01-03-1924 Scotland A L 0-2 BC
15-03-1924 Wales... H L 0-1 BC
28-02-1925 Scotland H L 0-3 BC
02-02-1929 Wales... A D 2-2 BC

Summary: 9/0. Won 0, Drew 3, Lost 6.

..
Victory Cap Details:
19-04-1919 Scotland H D 0-0

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

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