NIFG

The release of the FIFA World Rankings today illustrates further what the Northern Ireland team has achieved under Lawrie Sanchez's management - From an all-time low of 124th when Lawrie took over in January 2004, we now sit proudly in 33rd - equalling our highest ever placing (way back in May 1994). Who knows what more we can achieve with Lawrie at the helm? Update 11 May 2007. Unfortunately Lawrie didn't listen to my plea and has taken the Fulham job permanently. With mixed emotions I must express my disappointment, but also wish a man who brought an unexpected level of success well for the future.

Steely half-back Arthur Stewart had a near two-decade career in the Irish and Football Leagues, punctuated with some fantastic successes… Name: Arthur Stewart Born: 13 January 1942, Ballymena Died: 3 March 2018 (age 76) Height: 5.08 ft Weight: 11.00 st Position: Full-Back/Half-Back/Midfielder Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 7 Full Caps (1967-1968) , 5 Amateur Caps (1959-1961) , Youth, 1 Schoolboy Cap (1957) ; Irish League: 5 Caps (1961-1974) . Club Honours: (with Ballymena) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1973/74 ; Gold Cup Winner 1974/75 ; Ulster Cup Winner 1960/61 ; (with Glentoran) Irish League Champion 1963/64, 1966/67, 1967/68 ; Irish Cup Winner 1965/66 , Runner-Up 1966/67 ; Gold Cup Winner 1962/63, 1966/67, 1977/78 ; City Cup Winner 1964/65, 1966/67 ; Ulster Cup Winner 1966/67 . Awards: Ulster Footballer of the Year 1974 . Club Career: Teams Seasons Signed Fee League FA Cup FL Cup Europe Other Ballymena Utd ...

Name: Joseph J. Ledwidge Born: 8 June 1877, Dublin Died: 19 January 1953, Dublin Height: Weight: Position: Left-Half Representative Honours: Ireland: 2 Full Caps (1906) ; Irish League: 1 Cap (1905) . Club Honours: (with Shelbourne) Irish Cup Winner 1905/06 , Runner-Up 1906/07, 1907/08 . Club Career: Teams Seasons Signed Fee League FA Cup Other Shelbourne 01/02-08/09 - - *51/? 23/1 - TOTALS - £- - - - * Irish League appearances only (excluding Leinster Senior League) Biography: Joe Ledwidge joined Shelbourne in 1901 while they were playing in the Leinster Senior League. After they joined the Irish League for the 1904/05 season he made a total of 51 League appearances until he left the club in 1909. Shelbourne's best season in Ledwidge's time was 1906/07 when the finished as Irish League runners-...

Name: John Hunter Lyttle (sometimes spelt Lytle) Position: Half-Back Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1898) . Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Irish League Champion 1896/ 97; Irish Cup Runner-Up 1898/99 ; City Cup Winner 1896/ 97; 1898 /99 ; Belfast Charity Cup Runner-Up 1897/98 . Club Career: Clubs Seasons Signed Fee League FA Cup Other Glentoran 1894/95 - 1898/99 - - *71/1 - - TOTALS £- 71/1 - - * all games Biography : After a slow start to his Glentoran career, he made a single appearance in each of his first two seasons, Jack Lyttle established himself for some of the club's earliest successes. He was a regular in the 1896/97 season as the Glens claimed their first City Cup and their second League title. Capped once by Ireland, in a 1-0 win over Wales at Wrexham (Ireland's f...

Name: Joseph Henry Loyal Born: Died: Height: Position: Goalkeeper Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1891). Club Career: Teams Seasons Signed Fee League FA Cup Other Clarence 90/91 - - - - - Glentoran 91/92-93/94 c/s-1891 - *5/0 - - TOTALS - £- - - - * all games Biography: Joe Loyal was a member of the Clarence side that finished second bottom in the first ever season of the Irish League in 1890/91, and reached the Irish Cup semi-final that same season. When the club was unable to fulfill their opening fixtures the following season they were replaced and the club later disbanded. Loyal joined Glentoran for whom he played a handful of games over the next few seasons, including the 1894 Charity Cup Final defeat by Linfield. Ireland Ca...

Name: Henry Lockhart  Born: 16 February 1865  Position: Back  Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1884) .  Club Career: Rossall School Biography:   Capped just once, as an eighteen year-old, while attending Rossall School in Fleetwood (near Blackpool, Lancashire). He was captain of the school team and also enjoyed various other athletic pursuits. The match ended in a 6-0 defeat by Wales at the Racecourse, Wrexham.  If you have any further information on this player, please contact us.   Ireland Cap Details:   09-02-1884 Wales... A L 0-6 BC   Summary: 1/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.

Name: James Lewis Born: 1874 Died: April 1957, Belfast Position: Goalkeeper Representative Honours: Ireland: 4 Full Caps (1899-1900) ; Irish League: 3 Caps (1897-1902) . Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Irish League Champion 1896/97 ; Irish Cup Runner-Up 1898/99 ; City Cup Winner 1896/97, 1898/99 ; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1900/01, 1901/02 ; Charity Cup Winner 1901/02 , Runner-Up 1897/98, 1902/03, 1903/04 . Club Career: Teams Seasons Signed Fee League FA Cup Other Glentoran 95/96-98/99 - - *75/0 - - Distillery 99/00 c/s-1899 - - - - Glentoran 00/01-04/05 c/s-1900 - *124/0 - - TOTALS - £- 199/0 - - * all games Biography: Jim Lewis made a single appearance for Glentoran during the 1895/96 season, establishing himself as the team’s regular ‘keeper the following season. It proved a very su...

Name: John Lemon Born: 19 May 1864, Greyabbey Died: 3 December 1913, Preston (England) Height: Weight: Position: Forward Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Full Caps / 2 Goals (1886-1889) ; Ulster Representative. Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Belfast Charities Cup Runner-Up 1885/86 ; (with YMCA) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1888/89 ; Belfast Charities Cup Runner-Up 1886/87 ; Co. Antrim Shield Runner-Up 1888/89 ; (with Cliftonville) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1888/89 . Club Career: Teams Seasons Signed Fee League Irish Cup Other Glentoran 82/83-85/86 - Amateur - /5 - Y.M.C.A. 86/87-88/89 c/s-1886 Amateur - - *1/0 Cliftonville - - Amateur - - *1/0 TOTALS - - - - - * English FA Cup Biography: A member of Glentoran in their first ever season, John Lemon was a player of “firsts”. He featured in the club’s first ever Irish Cup game, a 9-0 defeat by Ulster on 27 January 1883 – even then the match was abandoned after...