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The "Little World Cup" 1963


Youth
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In April 1963 Northern Ireland's Youth team reached the final of the UEFA European Youth Tournament (or the "Little World Cup" as it was dubbed by some), perhaps the single greatest achievement by an Irish football team. Although they lost out to England in the final at Wembley many of the players went on to enjoy long and successful playing careers in the local, English, Scottish and international games.

Of the sixteen player squad listed in the tournament programme, six went on to win senior international caps (most notably Pat Jennings and Dave Clements), another was capped as high as Under-23 level and a further four played as Amateur internationals.

The squad: (as listed in programme)
1
Newry Town
2
McCURLEY, H.N.
Linfield
3
McCLELLAND,.M.
Coleraine
4
Coleraine
5
CORBETT, T.
Ballyclare Comrades
6
Burnley
7
Glentoran
8
Glentoran
9
Linfield
10
Wolverhampton W.
11
Glenavon
12
Post Office Sports Club
14
Distillery
15
Bolton Wanderers
16
McKEOWN, T.
Burnley
17
Coleraine
Coach: N. Kernaghan
Trainer: F. Jardine
* Players did not travel to finals. Replaced by Wallace Reid (Linfield) and Derek Watson (Glentoran). J. Anderson (Distillery) also played in the preliminary round but did not make the squad for the finals.

Preliminary Round
1 March 1963
Eire (1) 1 Keogh 70 (pen)
N. Ireland (1)Warburton 59
Dalymount Park, Dublin
NIR: Jennings; Corbett, McClelland, Nicholl, Napier, Clements, Warburton, Reid, Guy, J. Anderson, McKinney

6 March 1963
N. Ireland (1) 3 Guy 23, 74, McKinney 25
Eire (1) 2 Downey 18, Connolly 65
Windsor Park, Belfast
NIR: Jennings; McCurley, McClelland, Nicholl, Corbett, Todd, J. Anderson, Ross, Guy, Clements, McKinney

FINALS (England)
Group Stages
13 April 1963
N. Ireland 2 Ross, McKinney
Belguim 1
Eastbourne
NIR: Jennings; Corbett, McClelland, Nicholl, Napier, Todd, Dunlop, Guy, Ross, Clements, McKinney

15 April 1963
N. Ireland 1 Ross
Czechoslovakia 0
Woking
NIR: Jennings; Corbett, McCurley, Nicholl, Napier, Todd, Dunlop, Guy, Ross, Clements, McKinney

17 April 1963
N. Ireland 3 Guy (2), Clements
Sweden 3
Bromley
NIR: Jennings; Corbett, McCurley, Nicholl, Napier, Todd, McKeown, Dunlop, Guy, Clements, McKinney

Semi-Final
19 April 1963
N. Ireland 3 McKinney (2), Ross

Bulgaria 3
Southampton
NIR: Jennings; Corbett, McCurley, Nicholl, Napier, Todd, Dunlop, Guy, Ross, Clements, McKinney
* Northern Ireland progressed to final after drawing of lots.

Final 
23 April 1963
England 4 (1) Napier (og) 5, Sammels 48, Whittaker 67, Sissons 59
N. Ireland 0 (0)
Wembley (att: 34,582)
Referee: Kreitlein (West Germany)
ENG: Cowen; Badger, Shaw; T. Smith, Chatterly, R. Harris; French, Sammels, G. Jones, Sissons, Whittaker
NIR: Jennings; Corbett*, McCurley; Nicholl, Napier, Todd; Dunlop, Guy, Clements, Ross, McKinney
* Corbett broke his leg on 30 minutes and Clements moved to right-back. There were no substitutions permitted.

More details to follow.

Sources/Links:
RSSSF
Irish Association Football Guide 1963/64 (ed. Bill Irwin)
The History of Irish Soccer (Malcolm Brodie, 1963)
Can You Believe It and Tubby Morton from the OWC forum
Steve Bell

Comments

Ken Garrett said…
Fair to say that any player, facing an England defence that had Tommy Smith and Chopper Harris, needed his shin guards big time!