Jimmy McAlinden
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | James McAlinden[1] | ||
Date of birth | 27 December 1917[1] | ||
Place of birth | Belfast, Ireland[1] | ||
Date of death | 25 November 1993[1] | (aged 75)||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Youth career | |||
1934 | Glentoran | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1934–1938 | Belfast Celtic | ? | (?) |
1938–1939 | Portsmouth | 20 | (4) |
1939–1945 | Belfast Celtic | ? | (?) |
1945–1946 | Shamrock Rovers | ? | (?) |
1946–1947 | Portsmouth | 33 | (5) |
1947–1948 | Stoke City | 33 | (2) |
1948–1954 | Southend United | 217 | (12) |
1954–1955 | Glenavon | ? | (?) |
Total | 303+ | (23+) | |
International career | |||
1937–1948 | Ireland (IFA) | 5 | (0) |
1946 | Ireland (FAI) | 2 | (0) |
1946 | League of Ireland XI | 1 | (0) |
Managerial career | |||
1954–1967 | Glenavon | ||
1969–1975 |
Distillery | ||
1975–1978 | Drogheda United | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
James McAlinden (27 December 1917 – 15 November 1993) was an Irish footballer who played as a forward for several clubs, most notably,
Club career
Belfast Celtic
In 1934, aged 16, McAlinden was playing for
Portsmouth
In December 1938 McAlinden signed for
Shamrock Rovers
Following the end of his second spell with Belfast Celtic and before he rejoined Portsmouth, McAlinden signed for Shamrock Rovers in September 1945. He made his debut against Shelbourne at Milltown on 16 September. While playing for Rovers his teammates included Paddy Coad, Peter Farrell and Tommy Eglington. During his one season with Rovers, McAlinden helped the club reach the 1946 FAI Cup final. However Rovers lost 3–1 to Drumcondra.
Stoke City
McAlinden joined Stoke City in September 1947 for a then club record fee of £7,000.[1] He became regular inside forward under manager Bob McGrory in 1947–48 playing in 33 matches scoring just twice against Aston Villa and Huddersfield Town.[1] His lack of goals saw him fall out of favour at the Victoria Ground and he was sold to Third Division South side Southend United in October 1948.[1]
Southend United
In 1948 Southend United signed McAlinden from Stoke City for a fee of £8,000. He continued to play for United until 1954 and during his time with the club he served as club captain. He also became something of a cult hero among the club's fans and is remembered as being possibly the best player ever to play for the club. In 1950, McAlinden was caught up in controversy after it was alleged that he received illegal payments during his second spell with Portsmouth. As a result, he was suspended for the first two months of the 1950–51 season. In April 1954 he made his last home appearance for United in a 4–1 win over Queens Park Rangers.
International career
When McAlinden began his international career in 1937 there were in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland – based IFA and the Irish Free State – 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 McAlinden played for both teams.
IFA XI
Between 1937 and 1948, McAlinden made 5 appearances for the
FAI XI
In 1946, while with Portsmouth, McAlinden also made 2 appearances for the FAI XI. He was one of several players born in Northern Ireland who benefited from the FAI's attempts to establish their all-Ireland influence. In June 1946 when the FAI organised an Iberian tour, McAlinden, together with Jackie Vernon, Billy McMillan and Paddy Sloan, was one of four Northern Irish players called up. McAlinden subsequently played in both the 3–1 defeat to Portugal on 16 June and then helped Ireland gain a surprise 1–0 victory against Spain on 23 June 1946.
Coaching career
In 1955 McAlinden became player/manager of
Career statistics
Club
- Sourced from Jimmy McAlinden at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Portsmouth | 1938–39 | First Division | 20 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 26 | 4 |
1946–47 | First Division | 32 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 5 | |
1947–48 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 53 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 59 | 9 | ||
Stoke City | 1947–48 | First Division | 31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
1948–49 | First Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 2 | ||
Southend United | 1948–49 | Third Division South | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
1949–50 | Third Division South | 38 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | |
1950–51 | Third Division South | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
1951–52 | Third Division South | 42 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 47 | 4 | |
1952–53 | Third Division South | 43 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 3 | |
1953–54 | Third Division South | 34 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 1 | |
Total | 217 | 12 | 14 | 1 | 231 | 13 | ||
Career Total | 303 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 328 | 24 |
International
Source:[3]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Ireland (IFA) | 1937 | 1 | 0 |
1938 | 1 | 0 | |
1946 | 1 | 0 | |
1948 | 1 | 0 | |
Ireland (FAI) | 1946 | 2 | 0 |
Total | 6 | 0 |
Honours
Player
Belfast Celtic
- Irish League
- Irish Cup:
- Winners 1938, 1941, 1943: 3
- Gold Cup
- Winners 1934–35, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1943–44, 1944–45: 5
- County Antrim Shield
- Winners 1935–36, 1936–37, 1942–43, 1944–45: 4
Shamrock Rovers
- Inter-City Cups: 1
- Winners 1946
Portsmouth
Manager
Glenavon
- Irish League
- Winners 1956–57, 1959–60: 2
- Irish Cup:
- Winners 1957, 1959, 1961: 3
- Gold Cup
- Winners : 1956–57 1
Distillery
- Irish Cup:
- Winners 1971: 1
- Runners Up 1969: 1
Drogheda United
- FAI Cup
- Runners Up 1976: 1
References
- Specific
- ^ ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
- Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archivedfrom the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ^ McAlinden, Jimmy at National-Football-Teams.com
- General
- Mike Neasom, Mick Cooper & Doug Robinson (1984). Pompey: The History of Portsmouth Football Club. Milestone Publications. ISBN 0-903852-50-0.
- The Boys in Green – The FAI International Story (1997): Sean Ryan
- Soccer at War – 1939 – 45 (2005): Jack Rollin