28.10.15

Ireland, Ireland!


The Irish Football Association was formed in 1880 and, though focused on Belfast, was responsible for the administration of the game throughout the island. 
Although there were cultural and sectarian divisions, Ireland was a single country up until the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. The area now known as Northern ireland opted out of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic (founded in 1919). The south was known as the Irish Free State between 1922 and 1937, when it became the Republic of Ireland.

The situation regarding football now became complex. There was growing discontent in the south regarding what was percieved as northern bias on the part of the Irish Football Association. The IFA defended their position; the north, they argued, was the heartland of football in Ireland.
In September 1921 the Football Association of the Irish Free State (later known as the Football Association of Ireland) was formed by southern clubs and Leinster FA, which had seceded from The Irish Football Association.
Initially both the IFA and the FAI claimed to represent the whole of Ireland. Therefore during the period with which we are concerned, there existed a situation in which there were 2 bodies selecting 'all Ireland' sides. The Football Association of Ireland side was not not considered to represent only the Irish Free State.
In 1923 the Football Association of the Irish Free State joined FIFA and in 1924 the  Olympic Council of Ireland  selected a team to represent The Irish Free State at the Olympics.
In 1936 the  FAI adopted a policy of selecting Northern players, a practice that persisted until 1946. Therefore, between the foundation of the the Football Association of the Irish Free State and the end of the era this blog covers (summer 1937), a number of players were selected to represent both The Irish Football Association and the the Football Association of the Irish Free State (Football Association of Ireland).


For their campaign at the 1924 Olympic Games the Olympic Council of Ireland selected just 1 player who had previously been capped by the Irish Football Association :



 Irish Football Association 
Olympic Council of Ireland

Dates
Games
Dates
Games
Dinny Hannon
1908-13
6
1924
2
Inside right. Bohemians, Athlone Town.




The following players were selected by the Football Association of the Irish Free State/ Football Association of Ireland having previously represented the Irish Football Association:

 Irish Football Association 
Football Association of Ireland

Dates
Games
Dates
Games
Billy Lacey               
1909- 24
23
1927-30
3
During his career he played in all 11 positions! Shelbourne, Everton, Liverpool, New Brighton, Cork Bohemians.

Jimmy Dunne               
1928-32
7
1930-39
15
Forward.  Shamrock Rovers, New Brighton, Sheffield United, Arsenal, Southampton.

Jimmy Kelly
1931-36
11
1932-36
4
Outside right. Coleraine, Liverpool, Derry City, Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk, Ballymena United, Ballymoney United.

Tommy Breen               
1935-39
9
1937-45
5
Goalkeeper.  Newry Town, Belfast Celtic, Manchester United, Linfield, Shamrock Rovers, Glentoran.

Mick O'Brien              
1921-27
10
1927-32
4
Centre half/ forward. Blyth Spartans, Celtic,  Brentford, Norwich City,  South Shields,  Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City, Hull City, Brooklyn Wanderers,  Derby County, Walsall, Watford.

Jackie Brown              
1935-39
10
1937
2
Outside right. Belfast Celtic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City, Birmingham City, Barry Town, Ipswich Town.

Patsy Gallagher           
1919-27
11
1931
1
Inside-forward. Celtic, Falkirk.

Tom Farquharson           
1923-25
7
1929-31
4
Goalkeeper. Cardiff City.

Harry Chatton
1924-25
3
1931-34
3
Half back.  Dumbarton, Partick Thistle, Indiana Flooring, Heart of Midlothian, New York Nationals, Shelbourne, Cork.

Peter Kavanagh
1929
1
1931
1
Outside left. Bohemians, Celtic, Northampton Town, Hibernian, Stranraer, Babcock & Wilcox, Waterford United.

Frank Collins             
1922
1
1927
1
Goalkeeper. Jacobs, Celtic.

Christy Martin            
1925
1
1927
1
Outside right. Bo'ness, Falkirk, Brooklyn Wanderers.

Ed Brooks
1920
1
1924
1
Forward.  Shelbourne, Bohemians, Stockport County and Athlone Town.









Billy Lacey

Peter Kavanagh
















Alex Stevenson



These players first represented the Football Association of Ireland before being selected by the Irish Football Association: 


Football Association of Ireland
Irish Football Association 

Dates
Games
Dates
Games
Alex Stevenson            
1932-48
7
1934-48
17
Inside left. Dolphin, Glasgow Rangers, Everton

Harry Duggan              
1927-37
5
1929-35
8
Outside right. Richmond United, Leeds United, Newport County.

Patrick Moore             
1931-36
9
1932
1
Forward. Shamrock Rovers, Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Tranmere Rovers, Aberdeen, Shelbourne, Brideville.

Tom Davis                 
1936-38
4
1938
1
Centre forward. Torquay United, New Brighton, FC Metz, Oldham Athletic, Tranmere Rovers, Cork City.

Owen Madden
1936
1
1937
1
Forward. Cork, Norwich City, Birmingham, Cork United.