Peter Farrell (Irish footballer)
Peter Desmond Farrell was an Irish footballer who played as a right-half for, among others, Shamrock Rovers and Tranmere Rovers. As an international, Farrell played for both Ireland teams – the FAI XI and the IFA XI. In 1949 he was a member of the FAI XI that defeated England 2–0 at Goodison Park, becoming the first non-UK team to beat England at home. Farrell's playing career followed a similar path to that of Tommy Eglington; as well as teaming up at international level, they played together at three clubs. Farrell was born and raised in the Convent Road area of Dalkey and was educated at Harold Boy's National School and the Christian Brothers in Dún Laoghaire, which he won a scholarship to, he was playing football with Cabinteely Schoolboys when spotted by a Shamrock Rovers scout and subsequently joined Rovers on his 17th birthday in August 1939. Among his early team-mates was the veteran Jimmy Dunne. With a team that included Jimmy Kelly, Tommy Eglington, Jimmy McAlinden and Paddy Coad, Farrell helped Rovers reach three successive FAI Cup finals.
They won the competition in 1944 and 1945 and finished as runners up in 1946. In July 1946, together with Tommy Eglington, Farrell signed for Everton. In eleven seasons with the club he scored 14 goals, he played a further 31 games in the FA Cup and scored a further 4 goals. In 1951 he was appointed Everton captain and during the 1953–54 season he led them to the runners up place in the Second Division, thus gaining promotion to the First Division. During his time with the club his team mates, apart from Eglington included Alex Stevenson, Peter Corr, Harry Catterick, Wally Fielding, Tommy E. Jones, Brian Labone and Dave Hickson, he was never sent off during his spell at Goodison Park. Farrell left Everton in October 1957 and followed Tommy Eglington to Tranmere Rovers where he became player-manager, he played 114 league games for Tranmere, before leaving in December 1960. After a spell as manager at Sligo Rovers, Farrell became manager of Holyhead Town and, helped by a number of former Everton and Tranmere players, he guided them to the Welsh League title.
In September 1967 Farrell signed a one-year contract to manage St. Patrick's Athletic F. C.. He managed Pats in their 1967-68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup ties against FC Girondins de Bordeaux but resigned in March 1968, he managed his own insurance business. When Farrell began his international career in 1946 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland–based IFA and the Republic of Ireland–based FAI claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island; as a result, several notable Irish players from this era, including Farrell, played for both teams. Farrell made 28 appearances and scored 3 goals for the FAI XI. While still at Shamrock Rovers, he captained the FAI XI on his international debut on 16 June 1946, against Portugal. On 21 September 1949, together with Johnny Carey and Con Martin, he was a member of the FAI XI that defeated England 2–0 at Goodison Park, becoming the first non-UK team to beat England at home.
After Martin had put the FAI XI ahead with a penalty in the 33rd minute, Farrell made victory certain in the 85th minute. Tommy O'Connor slipped the ball to Farrell and as the English goalkeeper Bert Williams advanced, Farrell lofted the ball into the unguarded net, he scored his second goal for the FAI XI on 9 October 1949 a in 1–1 draw with Finland, a qualifier for the 1950 FIFA World Cup. His third goal came on 30 May 1951 as Farrell scored the opening goal in a 3–2 win against Norway. Farrell made 7 appearances for the IFA XI between 1946 and 1949. On 27 November 1946 he made his debut for the IFA XI in a 0–0 draw with Scotland. Together with Johnny Carey, Con Martin, Bill Gorman, Tommy Eglington, Alex Stevenson and Davy Walsh, he was one of seven players born in the Irish Free State to play for the IFA XI that day; the draw helped the team finish as runners-up in the 1947 British Home Championship. Farrell helped the IFA XI gain some other respectable results, including a 2–0 win against Scotland on 4 October 1947 and a 2–2 draw with England at Goodison Park on 5 November 1947.
Player Shamrock Rovers FAI Cup Winners 1944, 1945: 2Ireland British Home Championship Runners Up 1946–47 1Everton Second Division Runners Up 1953–54Manager Holyhead Town Welsh League Winners 1962: 1 Who's Who of Everton: Tony Matthews The Boys in Green – The FAI International Story: Sean Ryan Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats Farrell scoring for Ireland v England, 1949 on YouTube Ireland Stats Everton Legends Profile at Everton fansite Obituary at Everton fansite Obituary in Dalkey Community Council Newsletter
Alan Ball Jr.
Alan James Ball was a professional English footballer and football club manager. He was the youngest member of England's 1966 World Cup winning team and played as a midfielder for various clubs, scoring more than 180 league goals in a career spanning 22 years, his playing career included a national record £220,000 transfer from Everton to Arsenal at the end of 1971. After retiring as a player, he had a 15-year career as a manager which included spells in the top flight of English football with Portsmouth and Manchester City, he was born at 2 Brookhouse Avenue, Lancashire, the son of Alan Ball, builder's joiner publican, his wife, Violet, née Duckworth. Ball started his footballing career whilst still a schoolboy, playing for Ashton United, the team his father managed, amongst the hurly burly of the Lancashire Combination, he fell out with his headmaster over missing games for his Farnworth Grammar School team due to him signing and playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He left Farnworth Grammar with no qualifications.
After he left school, Wolves decided not to take Ball on. The midfielder started training with Bolton Wanderers but they too decided not to give him a professional deal, as manager Bill Ridding said he was too small. Blackpool signed him after Ball's father called in a favour with the coach, an old friend with whom he used to play. Ball was given a trial in September 1961 and was signed up as an apprentice, he turned professional in May 1962, making his Football League debut on 18 August 1962 against Liverpool at Anfield in a 2–1 victory. At age 17 years and 98 days, he became Blackpool's youngest League debutant. On 21 November 1964, Ball scored his first hat-trick as a professional, in a 3–3 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Ball's performances in the 1966 World Cup winning England team attracted the attention of a number of clubs bigger than Blackpool, he was sold to Everton for a fee of £112,000 in August 1966, at the time a record transfer fee paid to an English club. At Everton, Ball settled into what became regarded as his generation's best Everton midfield trio, alongside Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall.
Everton reached the 1968 FA Cup Final, but lost to West Bromwich Albion and were knocked out by Manchester City in the semi-finals the following year. Ball was as instrumental a player in the team as as Everton took the 1970 Football League Championship title, seeing off a late challenge from Leeds United. Back at club level, Everton again capitulated in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1971, with Ball's opening goal overhauled by two strikes from Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who went on to lose the final to "double"-chasing Arsenal. Ball played 259 times in all scoring 79 goals. On 22 December 1971, Arsenal paid a record fee of £220,000 to take Ball to Highbury, he was 26 years at his peak for both form and fitness when he joined Arsenal. However, Arsenal could not defend their League title in 1971–72 and lost their grasp on the FA Cup when Leeds United beat them 1–0 in the centenary final at Wembley. Ball had continued to play for Arsenal through all this time, as a near-constant member of the first team at first, including 50 appearances in 1972–73.
However, Arsenal's Double-winning side was soon dismantled and their replacements proved inadequate. In April 1974 Ball broke his leg, resulting in his missing the start of the 1974–75 season, in which Arsenal finished 16th. Ball missed the start of the 1975–76 season after an injury in the pre-season friendly at Crewe Alexandra, Arsenal subsequently finished in 17th place that season. Bertie Mee resigned as Arsenal manager in the summer of 1976 and it was clear new manager Terry Neill wanted to take the club in a new direction. Now aged 31, Ball continued to play for Arsenal until December 1976, when he was sold to Southampton for a fee of £60,000. In total he made 217 appearances for the Gunners. Ball's move to Southampton was a bit symmetrical in that he had arrived at clubs, namely Everton and Southampton in 1966, 1971 and 1976, when each were holders of the FA Cup, he helped Southampton earn promotion back to the First Division in 1978 and picked up a League Cup runners-up medal in 1979 after they were beaten 3–2 by Nottingham Forest.
Ball went to play in the decade-old North American Soccer League, joining the Philadelphia Fury as a player in May 1978. He was named player-coach. One season after he was no longer coaching, he was sold to the Vancouver Whitecaps in June 1979, he made a huge impact with the Whitecaps and helped lead them to the NASL Soccer Bowl title that September. He walked away with the 1979 Playoff MVP award, scoring seven goals in nine games, he returned to Britain in February 1980, as player-manager of his first professional club, after honouring the remainder of his contract with Vancouver. Blackpool's general manager Freddie Scott substituted in the meantime. Ball's appointment was well received by the Blackpool supporters, he returned with enthusiasm, a desire to bring back the good times to the club, still had enough energy to take the field occasionally; the year that followed saw Blackpool's recent ill-fortune slump further. The club slid towards relegation, only some determined performances ensured an 18th-placed finish and survival.
During the close season, Ball brought in several new faces and wa
Edgar Chadwick
Edgar Wallace Chadwick was a left-sided footballer who had a long and distinguished career with Everton during the 1890s. He was the national coach for the Netherlands from 1908 to 1913, his cousin, Arthur Chadwick played for England and Southampton, while another cousin, Albert Chadwick, played for Everton. Born in Blackburn, he started his career at 15 with Little Dots FC, before signing as a professional with Blackburn Olympic in 1886. After one season at Olympic, he joined Blackburn Rovers where he spent the 1887–88 season before signing for Everton in July 1888. Described by one source as one of the best known players of his day, 5 ft 6 in tall, he was a master strategist and dribbler with the ball. Chadwick signed for Everton on 1 July 1888 and made his club and league debut on 8 September 1888, playing as a forward, at Anfield, the home of Everton; the home team defeated the visitors Accrington 2–1. When he played as a forward against Accrington on 8 September 1888, Chadwick was 19 years 86 days old.
Chadwick scored his debut club and league goal on 15 September 1888, playing as a forward, at Anfield. The visitors were Notts County and the home team won 2–1 with Chadwick scoring the first of Everton's two goals. Chadwick appeared in all the 22 League matches played by Everton in the 1888–89 season and was the only player to achieve 22 matches in that first season. Chadwick top scored for Everton with six League goals. Chadwick played in a forward line, he was an ever-present in Everton's first two years as a Football League team. In 1889–90 they finished runners-up, with Chadwick contributing nine goals. In the following season, 1890–91, Everton won the League Championship with Chadwick contributing ten goals and assisting fellow forwards Fred Geary and Alf Milward to score 20 and 12 as Everton were the top scorers with a total of 63 goals from 22 games. Chadwick was nicknamed "Hooky", as his frequent trick was to run with the ball parallel with the goal line, drawing the goalkeeper in the direction of the post, before hooking the ball into the opposite corner of the net.
In 1893, Everton reached the final of the FA Cup, played at Fallowfield Stadium in Manchester, where they were defeated 1–0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers. Over the next few seasons, Everton continued to be a major force in the Football League, coming runner-up in 1894–95 and reaching another Cup final in 1897 played at Crystal Palace where again they were defeated, this time by Aston Villa, 3–2. Chadwick spent two further seasons at Everton before joining Burnley in May 1899. In all, he spent eleven years with Everton, making 270 league appearances, plus a further 30 in the FA Cup, contributing 97 league and 13 cup goals, his goals tally ranks him eighth in the all-time list of Everton goal-scorers and makes him the earliest of Everton's football "legends". Chadwick's contribution to Everton's League winning team was recognised by a call up to the England team for the British Home Championship match against Wales on 7 March 1891. England were comfortable 4–1 winners with Chadwick and Milward claiming a goal each.
Chadwick went on to make a total of seven appearances for scoring 3 goals. His season at Burnley was not a great success, although Chadwick was the team's top scorer, with ten goals, he could not prevent them being relegated to the Second Division. In a match against Glossop North End in December 1899, Chadwick scored all three goals in a 3–1 victory. In August 1900 he moved to Southern League Southampton, where he was re-united with his former Everton left-wing colleague Alf Milward. Chadwick and Milward's partnership contributed 26 goals as Southampton once again took the Southern League championship. In the following season, Southampton reached the FA Cup final, which they lost in a replay to Sheffield United. In May 1902 he sought fresh fields, but as Burnley still held his Football League registration he had to pay them £35 to release him to join Liverpool, where he stayed for two seasons before moving on to Blackpool in 1904, he was an ever-present for Blackpool in his one season with the club, was the club's top scorer with eight goals.
He played out his career with a season at Glossop North End before dropping out of the league to join Darwen where his long career ended in 1908 aged 39. After hanging up his boots in 1908, he moved to the continent where he coached in Germany before moving to the Netherlands where he coached various club sides including The Hague and Haarlem sides. In 1908, Chadwick was approached to become coach of the Dutch national team; the experts are in disagreement as to whether Chadwick, or his predecessor Cees van Hasselt, should be considered as the first manager of the Dutch national team. Chadwick was appointed manager of the Netherlands to prepare the team for the 1908 Summer Olympics held in London; as Hungary had pulled out of the tournament, the Netherlands had a bye into the semi-finals, where they met Great Britain. This match ended in a 4–0 defeat. Chadwick managed the Dutch national team for 24 games, winning 14. In 1909 they met the England amateur side and were defeated 9–1, but against Belgium and Sweden they avoided defeat.
During the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockho
Association football
Association football, more known as football or soccer, is a team sport played with a spherical ball between two teams of eleven players. It is played by 250 million players in over 200 countries and dependencies, making it the world's most popular sport; the game is played on a rectangular field called a pitch with a goal at each end. The object of the game is to score by moving the ball beyond the goal line into the opposing goal. Association football is one of a family of football codes, which emerged from various ball games played worldwide since antiquity; the modern game traces its origins to 1863 when the Laws of the Game were codified in England by The Football Association. Players are not allowed to touch the ball with hands or arms while it is in play, except for the goalkeepers within the penalty area. Other players use their feet to strike or pass the ball, but may use any other part of their body except the hands and the arms; the team that scores most goals by the end of the match wins.
If the score is level at the end of the game, either a draw is declared or the game goes into extra time or a penalty shootout depending on the format of the competition. Association football is governed internationally by the International Federation of Association Football, which organises World Cups for both men and women every four years; the rules of association football were codified in England by the Football Association in 1863 and the name association football was coined to distinguish the game from the other forms of football played at the time rugby football. The first written "reference to the inflated ball used in the game" was in the mid-14th century: "Þe heued fro þe body went, Als it were a foteballe"; the Online Etymology Dictionary states that the "rules of the game" were made in 1848, before the "split off in 1863". The term soccer comes from a slang or jocular abbreviation of the word "association", with the suffix "-er" appended to it; the word soccer was first recorded in 1889 in the earlier form of socca.
Within the English-speaking world, association football is now called "football" in the United Kingdom and "soccer" in Canada and the United States. People in countries where other codes of football are prevalent may use either term, although national associations in Australia and New Zealand now use "football" for the formal name. According to FIFA, the Chinese competitive game cuju is the earliest form of football for which there is evidence. Cuju players could use any part of the body apart from hands and the intent was kicking a ball through an opening into a net, it was remarkably similar to modern football. During the Han Dynasty, cuju games were standardised and rules were established. Phaininda and episkyros were Greek ball games. An image of an episkyros player depicted in low relief on a vase at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens appears on the UEFA European Championship Cup. Athenaeus, writing in 228 AD, referenced the Roman ball game harpastum. Phaininda and harpastum were played involving hands and violence.
They all appear to have resembled rugby football and volleyball more than what is recognizable as modern football. As with pre-codified "mob football", the antecedent of all modern football codes, these three games involved more handling the ball than kicking. Other games included kemari in chuk-guk in Korea. Association football in itself does not have a classical history. Notwithstanding any similarities to other ball games played around the world FIFA has recognised that no historical connection exists with any game played in antiquity outside Europe; the modern rules of association football are based on the mid-19th century efforts to standardise the varying forms of football played in the public schools of England. The history of football in England dates back to at least the eighth century AD; the Cambridge Rules, first drawn up at Cambridge University in 1848, were influential in the development of subsequent codes, including association football. The Cambridge Rules were written at Trinity College, Cambridge, at a meeting attended by representatives from Eton, Rugby and Shrewsbury schools.
They were not universally adopted. During the 1850s, many clubs unconnected to schools or universities were formed throughout the English-speaking world, to play various forms of football; some came up with their own distinct codes of rules, most notably the Sheffield Football Club, formed by former public school pupils in 1857, which led to formation of a Sheffield FA in 1867. In 1862, John Charles Thring of Uppingham School devised an influential set of rules; these ongoing efforts contributed to the formation of The Football Association in 1863, which first met on the morning of 26 October 1863 at the Freemasons' Tavern in Great Queen Street, London. The only school to be represented on this occasion was Charterhouse; the Freemason's Tavern was the setting for five more meetings between October and December, which produced the first comprehensive set of rules. At the final meeting, the first FA treasurer, the representative from Blackheath, withdrew his club from the FA over the removal of two draft rules at the previous meeting: the first allowed for running with the ball in hand.
Other English rugby clubs followed this lead and did not join the FA and instead in 1871 formed the Rugby Football Union. The eleven remaining clubs, under
Walter Boyes
Walter Edward Boyes was an English footballer who earned three caps for the national team between 1935 and 1938. He played club football for West Bromwich Albion, Notts County and Scunthorpe United. Boyes was born in Derbyshire. After playing for Sheffield Boys and Woodhouse Mills United, he turned professional with West Bromwich Albion in February 1931, he scored in the 4–2 1935 FA Cup Final defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, the club he supported as a boy. In February 1938 Boyes joined Everton for a £6000 fee and formed a great left wing partnership with Alex Stevenson, which helped the side clinch the 1938/39 league title. During the Second World War, he appeared as a guest player for Aldershot, Clapton Orient, Leeds United, Manchester United, Millwall, Newcastle United, Preston North End and Sunderland. In June 1949, Boyes took up the role of player-coach at Notts County, he was Scunthorpe United's player-trainer between 1950 and 1953. He became player-manager at Retford Town and Hyde United. Boyes joined Swansea Town as trainer in 1959, but retired due to illness in May of the following year.
Everton career summary Player profile at EnglandStats.com Player profile at Spartacus Educational
Tommy Eglington
Thomas Joseph Eglington was an Irish footballer who played as an outside-left for, among others, Shamrock Rovers and Tranmere Rovers. Eglington was a dual internationalist and played for both Ireland teams – the FAI XI and the IFA XI. Eglington's playing career followed a similar path to that of Peter Farrell; as well as teaming up at international level, they played together at three clubs. Eglington was best known as a creator of chances, for his acceleration down the wing and for his ability to deliver a precise pass at speed, he possessed a powerful shot. He remains one of Everton's all-time top goalscorers and has played more games in the Second Division than any other Everton player. Before joining Rovers, Eglington played as a junior with both Munster Victoria and Distillery and helped the latter club win the FAI Junior Cup in 1941–42, he joined Shamrock Rovers where together with Peter Farrell, Jimmy McAlinden and Paddy Coad, he helped Rovers reach three successive FAI Cup finals. They won the competition in 1944 and 1945 and finished as runners up in 1946.
In June 1946 Eglington made his debut for the FAI XI while at Rovers. He won his first 2 caps while a Rovers player. In 1954 he played for the country of France. In July 1946, together with Peter Farrell, Eglington signed for Everton. In September 1946 he made his League debut for the club in a 3–2 home win against Arsenal. In eleven seasons at Everton he scored 76 goals, he played a further 34 games and scored a further 12 goals in the FA Cup. During his time with Everton his team mates, apart from Farrell included Alex Stevenson, Peter Corr, Harry Catterick, Wally Fielding, Tommy E. Jones, Dave Hickson. Eglington's most prolific scoring season came in 1952–53 when he scored 16 times, 14 in the Second Division and 2 in the FA Cup. On 27 September 1952, he scored 5 of these goals in just one game at Goodison Park against Doncaster Rovers, helping Everton to a 7–1 win, he reached double figures in both 1953–54 and 1955–56. During the 1953–54 season his goals helped Everton finish as runners up in the Second Division, thus gaining promotion to the First Division.
In June 1957 Eglington signed for Tranmere Rovers and three months he was followed there by Peter Farrell. He spent three seasons at Rovers scoring 36 goals, he played a further 9 games and scored a further 4 goals for Rovers in the FA Cup. In August 1959 Eglington scored a hat-trick for Rovers in a 5–1 win over Accrington Stanley. In 1961 Eglington signed for Cork Hibernians, he spent two seasons at Hibs and helped them reach the 1963 FAI Cup final where they lost 2–0 to Shelbourne. While at Hibs he played four times for the League of Ireland XI at veteran age of 38. In a memorable game in Bristol he scored in a 5–2 defeat to an English League XI team, the nucleus of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup; when Eglington began his international career in 1946 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland – based IFA and the Republic of Ireland – based FAI claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island.
As a result, several notable Irish players from this era, including Eglington, played for both teams. It is notable that Eglington only won 24 caps for the Republic of Ireland but was awarded with the customary statuette reserved for those reaching 25 caps. Between 1946 and 1955 Eglington made 24 appearances and scored 2 goals for the FAI XI, he made his international debut on 16 June 1946 against Portugal. Eglington scored his first goal for the FAI XI in a 4–0 win against Austria on 25 March 1953, he captained the FAI XI during the qualifying rounds for the 1954 FIFA World Cup and, during the same competition, he scored his second goal in a 4–0 win against Luxembourg on 28 October 1953. Eglington played his last game for the FAI XI on 27 November 1955, in a 2–2 draw with Spain. Eglington made 6 appearances for the IFA XI between 1946 and 1948. On 27 November 1946, he made his debut for the IFA XI in a 0–0 draw with Scotland. Together with Johnny Carey, Con Martin, Bill Gorman, Peter Farrell, Alex Stevenson and Davy Walsh, he was one of seven players born in the Irish Free State to play for the IFA XI that day.
The draw helped the team finish as runners-up in the 1947 British Home Championship. Eglington helped the IFA XI gain some other respectable results, including a 2–0 win against Scotland on 4 October 1947, a 2–2 draw with England at Goodison Park on 5 November 1947. Eglington ran a butcher's shop outside St. Gabriel's Church in Clontarf, Dublin for many years after his retirement. Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats Obituary at Irish Fan Site Obituary at www.evertonfc.com Everton Fan Site Eglington at www.clontarfonline.com Football Poets UEFA Obituary
Val Harris
Valentine Harris referred to as Val Harris, was an Irish footballer who played Gaelic football for Dublin and soccer for, among others Shelbourne and Ireland. Harris was regarded as one of the finest soccer players of his generation and in 1906 became the first Shelbourne player capped by Ireland, he still remains the club's most capped player. In 1913 he captained the first Ireland team to beat England and in 1914 he was a member of the Ireland team that won the British Home Championship. Harris has been described as an hard player in the mode of Kevin Moran or Paul McGrath and like his Shelbourne and Ireland team mate, Bill Lacey, he was very versatile, covering just about every outfield position during his career. Harris played soccer with junior clubs Pembroke and Emeralds and in 1898 helped Pembroke reach the final of the Leinster Junior Cup, he was an accomplished Gaelic footballer during his teens and won honours at club level with Ringsend GAA team Isles of the Sea. In 1901 he won an All- Ireland medal with Dublin.
Harris is one of several prominent Dublin Gaelic footballers who switched codes to soccer. Others have included Con Martin, Joseph Ledwidge and Kevin Moran. In 1903 Harris made his debut for Shelbourne in the Leinster Senior League. In May 1904 he had a trial with West Bromwich Albion but returned to Shelbourne and made his Irish League debut in a 3–1 defeat to Glentoran on 17 September 1904 at Serpentine Avenue, Dublin. Harris went on to play in four consecutive Irish Cup finals and in the 1906 final was captain when Shelbourne beat Belfast Celtic 2–0 at Dalymount Park, becoming the first Dublin side to lift the trophy, his team mates during this era included, among Joseph Ledwidge and Bill Lacey. After four years at Everton, Harris returned to Shelbourne in August 1914. In 1920 Harris won the Irish Cup for a second time after both Belfast Celtic and Glentoran were expelled. In 1921 Shelbourne became founder members of the League of Ireland and in 1926 the club won the title. Harris remained a prominent member of the Shelbourne team well passed his fortieth birthday and his second spell at the club saw him play alongside Bill Lacey, Bob Fullam, Ed Brookes and Louis Bookman.
During his two spells with Shelbourne, Harris made 71 Irish League appearances, scoring 13 goals, 89 League of Ireland appearances, scoring 6 goals, a further 36 games and 12 goals in the Irish Cup. In March 1908 Harris moved to Everton for £350, the maximum amount allowed at the time, he made his debut for Everton against Woolwich Arsenal and established himself as the team's regular right-half. During his time at Everton he was noted for his consistency and effectiveness and played in six different positions. With Harris in the team, Everton challenged for top honours, twice finishing as League runners-up as well as reaching the semi-final stage in the 1910 FA Cup, his team mates at Everton included fellow Irish internationals Billy Scott and Bill Lacey, who had followed Harris from Shelbourne in February 1909. While at Everton, Harris scored 1 goal, he played a further 14 games and scored a further goal in the FA Cup. Harris made his debut for Ireland as a centre-forward on 17 February 1906 in a 5–0 defeat to England at the Solitude Ground.
His team mates that day included Jack Kirwan. He was the first Shelbourne player to be capped by Ireland and subsequently won a further six caps while at the club. Despite suffering a number of severe injuries related to his robust style of play, Harris was remarkably consistent in his appearances for Ireland and he featured in a run of thirteen consecutive internationals between 1908 and 1912. On 15 February 1913, Harris captained the Ireland team, that included Billy Scott and two-goal hero Billy Gillespie, as they beat England for the first time with a 2–1 win at Windsor Park. In 1914 Ireland won the British Home Championship. Harris and Gillespie were joined in the squad by among others, Patrick O’Connell, Louis Bookman and Bill Lacey. After retiring as player in 1927 Harris became a coach with both the Irish Free State and Shelbourne. In 1932 Harris took charge of the Irish team. Although the team was chosen by selectors, Harris gave the team talk. Before the game Harris declared Pat O'Callaghan put the tricolour flying high here in the 1928 Olympics and it's up to you lads to see it is still flying high this evening.
The words proved inspiring as an Irish team that included Alex Stevenson, Mick O'Brien, Jimmy Kelly and Paddy Moore won 2–0. Harris would coach and managed Shelbourne as they won the 1939 FAI Cup, their first success in that competition. Gaelic footballer Isles of the Sea Dublin Champions 1900, 1901: 2Dublin All- Ireland Champions 1901: 1Soccer player Shelbourne Irish Cup Winners 1906, 1920: 2 Runners Up 1905, 1907, 1908: 3 League of Ireland Winners 1925–26: 1 Runners Up 1922–23, 1923–24: 2 League of Ireland Shield Winners 1922, 1923, 1926: 3 Hospitals Cup Winners 1906 1 Leinster Cup Winners?? Everton First Division Runners Up 1908–09, 1911–12: 2Ireland British Champions: 1 1914Soccer manager Shelbourne FAI Cup Winners 1939 1 Who's Who of Everton: Tony Matthews The Boys in Green – The FAI International Story: Sean Ryan Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats Picture of Harris Harris with the Shelbourne Team that won the 1906 Irish Cup Shelbourne official site Shelbourne fansite Irish Cup finals Date of Birth at IFFHS http://www.newsfour.ie/2014/08/valentines-days/
