NIFG

The legend goes that when John McAlery couldn't find anyone for his new football club, Cliftonville, to play he turned to Knock Lacrosse Club and suggested they form a football wing. Knock also seem to have fielded a rugby team around this time. Thence, Knock FC reportedly became Ireland's second football club and a match-up between Cliftonville and Knock was the first match on Irish soil between Irish teams. Founder members of the Irish Football Association in 1880, Knock moved into their new Bloomfield Ground in 1881. The following year were given the honour of hosting Ireland's first international, no doubt aided by the IFA's chairman, Jack Sinclair, also a player for Knock. Indeed, knock supplied five players for each of Ireland's first two internationals, more than any other club. Knock quickly began to fade from prominence. They enjoyed their last Irish Cup win in 1881/82, 4-0 over Malone. The following season they changed their name to Down Athletics and they

ENGLAND Conor Bradley enjoyed an excellent breakthrough season with Liverpool. Although their title challenge faltered in the closing months he did claim a Carabao Cup win in February. Premier League Third Place [Champions League qualification]: Liverpool ( Conor Bradley ) Relegated: Sheffield United ( Oliver Norwood ) Championship Runners-Up : Ipswich Town ( Kieran McKenna , manager) Play-Offs: Southampton ( Shea Charles ), West Bromwich Albion ( Callum Marshall [loan]) Relegated: Rotherham United ( Shane Ferguson, Ciaran McGuckin ); Huddersfield Town ( Brodie Spencer ) League One Champions: Portsmouth ( Gavin Whyte, Terry Devlin, Paddy Lane ) League One champions Portsmouth featured Paddy Lane (pictured), Gavin Whyte and Terry Devlin among their squad Runners-Up: Derby County ( Conor Washington, Darren Robinson ) Play-Offs: Bolton Wanderers ( Dion Charles, Eoin Toal ); Oxford United ( Ciaron Brown ) Relegated: Carlisle United ( Alfie McCalmont ); Fleetwood Town ( Carl Johnston, Steph

  Transfers Luke Conlan will play for Cliftonville next season Transfers Seanan Clucas (Glentoran to Carrick Rangers)  BBC Jordan Stewart (Linfield to Crusaders) BBC Rhys Marshall (Glentoran to Glenavon) BBC Luke Conlan (AFC Flyde to Cliftonville) Daniel Finlayson  (Linfield to Livingston) BBC Free Agents: Adam Thompson (Leyton Orient) BBC Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough) BBC Shayne Lavery (Blackpool) BBC Sean Ward (Glenavon) retired Bobby Burns (Glentoran)  BBC Rory Donnelly  (Glentoran)  BBC Shay McCartan  (Glentoran)  BBC Luke McCullough (Glentoran) Ollie Webber (Glentoran)  BBC Shane Ferguson (Rotherham United) BBC Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic) Robbie Garrett (Glenavon)

Orbis were a publisher of "partworks" from the 1970s-1990s. Their two main football issues were for the 1990 World Cup and the one featured here, UK Football 1990-1991. Ring binders could be completed with pages on a feature of the game or players as well as with Panini-style stickers... Goalkeepers - Full-Backs Defenders - Midfielders Wingers Strikers Managers - Record Breakers Martin O'Neill Norwich City