NIFG

Venue ---- - 001 - 002 Racecourse, Wrexham (WAL) Type Home Knock Ground Upper Newtownards Road Bloomfield, BELFAST, IRELAND Record 0% points / 0% wins 1882 Pl 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 0 A 13 Home Club(s) Knock FC (later Down Athletics) Queen's Island Opened 1881-1892 Capacity 2,500+ [1882 - “destitute of stands, embankments and turnstiles. The finest ‘Grand Stand’ was the railway embankment, or the roadway separated from the playing field by a small hedge.” ] Major Events/ Matches 1882 Trial Matches 1883 Irish Cup Final Other Uses Albion Rugby Club (up to 1891-92 before being built over) ...

"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, playi...

Name: John Sinclair Born: 27 August 1955 Died: 14 May 1922, Belfast Position: Forward Representative Honours: Ireland: 2 Full Caps (1882) . Club Career: Knock 1879/80-1881/82 Biography: Jack Sinclair was the captain of Knock Lacrosse team, which took to Association Football in 1879, becoming captain and the "best player at the club". He was educated at Methodist College, Belfast along with Billy McWha. A Founder Member of the Irish FA, he served as their first Chairman and presided at their first meeting. A forward who was "very sure with his head", Sinclair featured in Ireland's first two internationals - heavy defeats by England and Wales – under the pseudonym of “Fox”. With Knock he played in the 1881 Irish Cup semi-final, losing out to Cliftonville 2-1 in a replay. In the first round they defeated Distillery 11-0, still their record defeat in the competition. In 1882 Knock defeated Malone 4-0 in the first round, with Fox accorded one of the goals, before suc...

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 Dis...

" 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 -...