Jimmy McAlinden

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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(1993-11-25) (aged 75)[1]
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,

Distillery and Drogheda United.[1]

Club career

Belfast Celtic

In 1934, aged 16, McAlinden was playing for

Second World War. Among his most notable contributions was scoring in the 2–1 win against Bangor in the 1938 Irish Cup final. After a spell with Portsmouth, McAlinden returned to Celtic in 1939, helping the club to further honours before leaving for Shamrock Rovers
in 1945.

Portsmouth

In December 1938 McAlinden signed for

Second World War, he played three times for Portsmouth in wartime regional leagues, but his first spell with the club ended when he then returned to Belfast Celtic. McAlinden returned to Portsmouth for a second spell in 1946. In September 1947 he left Portsmouth once again and joined Stoke City
for a fee of £7,000.

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

Great Britain XI and featured, among others, Matt Busby, Stanley Matthews, Tommy Lawton and Stan Mortensen. He also played against England in 7–2 defeat at Windsor Park on 9 September 1946. He made his last appearance for the IFA XI on 10 October 1948 in a 6–2 defeat to England at Windsor Park. McAlinden made his first three appearances for the IFA XI while with Belfast Celtic, his fourth while at Portsmouth and his fifth while at Southend United

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

Distillery in 1969. He subsequently guided a Distillery team that included a young Martin O'Neill to a win in the 1971 Irish Cup. Later in his first season with Drogheda United he guided them to the 1976 FAI Cup final, only to lose 1–0 to Bohemians
.

Career statistics

Club

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

Shamrock Rovers

  • Inter-City Cups
    : 1
    • Winners 1946

Portsmouth

Manager

Glenavon

Distillery

  • Irish Cup:
    • Winners 1971: 1
    • Runners Up 1969: 1

Drogheda United

References

Specific
General

External links