Eddie Flynn

Eddie Flynn (5 November 1919 – 6 March 2002) was an Irish professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper in the League of Ireland during the 1930s and 1940s. Flynn played for St James's Gate F.C., Bohemian F.C., Cliftonville F.C. and Drumcondra F.C., among others, during his career in the League of Ireland and the Irish League.

Eddie Flynn
Personal information
Full name Edward Gerald Flynn
Date of birth (1919-11-05)5 November 1919
Place of birth Corduff, Ireland
Date of death 6 March 2002(2002-03-06) (aged 82)
Place of death Collegeville, PA, USA
Height 5 ft 11+3⁄4 in (1.82 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1936–1937 Grangegorman F.C.
1937–1938 St James's Gate
1939–1941 Bohemians
1941–1942 Cliftonville
1942–1944 Drumcondra
1949 East End Canadians (Toronto)
1950 Ulster United (Toronto)
selected for Ontario All-Stars
1951–1952 New York Americans (NY);
chosen for New York Select/
All-stars
1952 Brooklyn Hispano (NY)
1953 Hakoah (NY)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Flynn emigrated to Canada in the late 1940s, where he continued to play soccer for the East End Canadians and Ulster United. He was also selected for the Ontario All Stars.

In 1950, Flynn emigrated from Canada to the United States. In New York, he continued his soccer career, playing for the New York Americans, the Brooklyn Hispanos and the New York Hakoah.

Career

Ireland

Flynn began his soccer career in about 1937 for Grangegorman Football Club.[1]

In 1938, Flynn played for St. James' Gate (sponsored by Guinness Brewers, where Flynn was also employed at the time) in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. That same year, St. James' Gate won the FAI Cup, defeating Dundalk 2–1.[2]

In 1939, Flynn joined Bohemians, Dublin, Ireland, where he was a stand-out goalie.[3][4][5][6][7][8] With Flynn in goal, Bohemians stopped Limerick's run for the FAI Cup.[9][10]

From 1941 to 1942, Flynn played for the Irish League's Cliftonville, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Known as "The Reds," Cliftonville is the oldest football team in Ireland, founded in 1879.

From 1942 to 1944, Flynn played for Drumcondra in Dublin, Ireland. With Flynn in goal, Drumcondra won both the FAI Cup and the Leinster Senior Cup in the 1942–43 season.[11][12][13] Before they could reach the Cup final, however, the Drums had to defeat Limerick in the semi-finals.[14][15] Flynn played for Drumcondra until at least 1944. In that year, Flynn was chosen for the Ireland team for a match against Army.

North America

After emigrating to Canada, Flynn continued his outstanding soccer career. He joined the East End Canadians, of the National Soccer League, Toronto, Canada, in about 1949. Here, he shared goaltending duties with Norm Briley.[16][17]

In 1950, Flynn was Goalie for Ulster United (also known as the "Redhanders"), also of the National Soccer League Toronto Canada.[18][19][20] In 1950, Flynn was selected as spare goalie for the Ontario All-Stars match against the English Internationals.[21]

In September 1950, Flynn emigrated from Canada to the United States, where he continued to shine as a goalie. In 1951, Flynn played Goalie for the New York Americans. In the spring of 1951, the Americans became the first United States soccer club to travel to Bermuda, where they played a series of exhibition games against Bermudan teams. The Americans returned from this five-game tour undefeated.[22][23][24]

While a member of the New York Americans, Flynn was selected in May 1952 to play against Manchester United as Goalie for the New York Select/All Stars team.[25]

In June 1952, Flynn was in goal as the New York Americans played in the finals of the Lewis Cup against the Philadelphia Nationals at Yankee Stadium.[26] The Americans lost 2–1.

In the fall of 1952, Flynn played in goal for the Brooklyn Hispano, New York,[27][28] and in the spring of 1953, he was Goalie for Hakoah, New York, where he finished out his career on a high note. Hakoah upset the Newark Portuguese in Duffy Cup play 2–0 with Flynn's help in the net.[29]

Flynn retired from professional soccer at the end of the 1953 season.

Personal life

Flynn, born and raised in Corduff, County Dublin, Ireland, was the youngest of 13 children (4 girls and 9 boys). His parents were Thomas Flynn and Catherine Coote. On 28 December 1948, he married Violet Pollock (1918–2016) in West Paterson, New Jersey, USA. They have one daughter, Tara. Flynn died at the age of 82 on 6 March 2002 in Collegeville, PA.

Honours

St James's Gate

Drumcondra

References
  1. Undated photo with caption, "Dodging was called for. Flynn, the Grangegorman goalkeeper, gathers the ball to save an attack from a Dundalk man during the Metropolitan Cup semi-final at Dublin. The match was drawn – three goals each."
  2. "The FAI Cup History and Previous Winners". 8 February 2022.
  3. Irish Independent news photo, undated, titled, "One for the Goalkeeper," with caption, "Flynn (Bohemians' goalkeeper) saves a shot from Dunne (Shamrock Rovers) at Dalymount Park on Saturday. The result of the match was a draw."
  4. Undated news clipping titled, "Flynn's Good Display" and listing score Bohemians 1, Limerick 0. "A grand exhibition of goalkeeping by Flynn for Bohemians denied Limerick even a draw, which they richly deserved, at Dalymount Park. Half-a-dozen of the saves he made, particularly three from Cronin, brought the crowd to their feet…."
  5. Undated news photo titled, "Sports Parade" with caption, "Limerick at the Bohemians' goal after forcing a corner. Flynn has just fisted the ball away. The match, at Dalymount, was won by Bohemians, 1–0."
  6. Undated news photo titled, "Well Saved!" with caption, "The Bohemian goalkeeper averts a score in the League of Ireland match versus Cork United at Dalymount Park, Dublin on Saturday…."
  7. Undated Herald Photos news photo with caption, "Flynn saving for Bohemians at the expense of a corner in the match with Shamrock Rovers."
  8. Undated news photo with caption, "Goalkeeping Agility – Flynn (Bohemian's Goalkeeper) foils attackers at Tolka Park. Bohemians 4, Drumcondra 2."
  9. Undated news clipping titled, "Limerick's Cup Hopes Dashed….Amateurs' Good Win" and listing score Limerick 1, Bohemians 2. The article reads in part, "The greatest Cup game ever played in Limerick resulted in a surprise 2–1 win for the Amateurs, whose magnificent defence was the chief factor in placing them in the second round. Flynn in the Bohemian goal was the hero of the game, making some wonderful saves….Limerick made tremendous efforts to snatch the match out of the fire, but Flynn was equal to all attempts and brought off brilliant saves…."
  10. Undated news clipping titled, "Bohemians Provide Soccer Cup Surprise," and reading, in part, "….They [the fans] became jubilant, however, when the final whistle announced that the day was won, and swarmed on to the pitch to chair the hero, Flynn, whose brilliant goalkeeping was a very big factor in the victory."
  11. "The FAI Cup History and Previous Winners". 8 February 2022.
  12. Program of The Football Association of Ireland, Cup Final, 18 April 1943, Cork United v. Drumcondra at Dalymount Park, Dublin, lists "E. Flynn (Goalkeeper)….Played with Bohemians and then Cliftonville before coming to Drumcondra this season. A very fine and promising player."
  13. Undated news clipping titled, "Drums' Flying Start and Grim Defence Takes Cup to Tolka", notes score of Drumcondra 2, Cork United 1, and states that "Drumcondra have won the F.A. of Ireland Cup for the second time in their history….O'Rourke, Clarke and McGlynn gave displays almost free from blemish and, considering the amount of Cork attacking in the second half, left comparatively little work for Flynn, who, however, brought off some brilliant saves."
  14. Bohemian AFC Official Programme, FAI Cup semi-final – second replay, Drumcondra v. Limerick, 10 April 1943, Flynn listed as goalkeeper for Drumcondra.
  15. Undated news clipping titled, "Drumcondra-Limerick Soccer Cup Replay" reads, in part, "Two Quick Goals. The pace was terrific and both the goalies were in action, Flynn snatching a ball almost off Walsh's head as the centre rushed in….The Limerick played up to this lead by the skipper, and Cronin forced Flynn to make a brilliant save to keep his charge intact." Drumcondra won this third play-off game to go to the final Cup match.
  16. Undated news clipping, reading, in part, "East End Canadians advanced into the third round of the British Consols soccer series with a 5–2 victory over Toronto Oakwoods at Broadview Field last night. Norm Briley was missing from the Canadian nets, his place being taken by Flynn."
  17. Undated news clipping reading, in part, "East End Canadians defeated St. Andrews 3 to 1 in a National Soccer League game at Oakwood Stadium last night before a good crowd. It took St. Andrews half the game to get going and they were two down at the half….The best players were the two goalkeepers, George Foxcroft for Saints and 'Red' Flynn for Canadians. 'Red' was doing duty because Norm Briley, the newest soccer father, had to work….Last night's victory keeps Canadians right at the top with five victories, no defeats and no ties."
  18. 1950 season program for Oakwood Stadium, Ulster United v. St. Andrews, Ed Flynn listed as Goalie for Ulster United.
  19. Souvenir Programme CNE Stadium, Toronto, National Soccer League v. Manchester United, 10 May 1950, read in part, "Ed Flynn, Ulster United Goalie was last season with East End Canadians, where he shared netminding duties with Norm Briley. A tall, red-headed Irishman, Flynn distinguished himself in the trials. The Redhanders expect a lot from Ed this year."
  20. Undated news clipping titled, "Redhanders Beat Saints. Flynn and Davies Star as Ulster United Wins." and reading in part, "The spectacular netminding of Eddie Flynn, and a dazzling display at centre by Alf Davies gave Ulster United a 2–1 victory over St. Andrews at Broadview Field last night in a National Soccer League Game….To say that Flynn was spectacular doesn't properly describe his display as the youthful netminder turned in one of the best goaltending jobs seen here in a long time. A better indication of the play would have been a division of the points, but the Saints' forwards, try as they might, couldn't get the ball past the agile Mr. Flynn more than once. Why he wasn't selected on the Ontario All-Star team to meet the English Internationals here next Wednesday is a mystery to the astute soccer fans….Saints had definitely the better of the exchanges in the final half, but Flynn proved a rugged barrier against [sic] the Redhanders."
  21. Official Program, Municipal Sports Stadium, Toronto, Canada, 24 May 1950, lists Ed Flynn as "spare goalie."
  22. The Royal Gazette news article, 17 March 1951, discusses the tour, and touts Flynn as "one of the mainstays of the defence" of the Americans.
  23. Additional Royal Gazette articles of 19 March 1951, 20 March 1951 and 24 March 1951.
  24. 24 March 1951 news clipping titled, "Americans Highlight Holiday" and reading, in part, "A period of heavy pressure saw Ed Flynn effect several good saves. Once he did particularly well to clear a long pass from Willie Mowbray….Larry Swain sent a free kick from just outside the penalty area screaming goalwards, but again Flynn was in perfect position to accept the ball waist-high."
  25. Undated news clipping titled, "Manchester United 5, NY All-Stars 1" and reading, in part, "At Triboro Stadium before 7,000 fans, the English League champions, Manchester United again showed their supremacy by the same goal margin 4 goals to the good….Flynn in goal deserves a lot of credit for keeping the score down….but for that, up bangs the whole invaders and Flynn had to pick number five out of the net."
  26. Official Program, International Soccer Match Manchester United v. Tottenham Hotspur; Preliminary Game – Final for the Lewis Cup, Philadelphia Nationals v. New York Americans at Yankee Stadium, 15 June 1952.
  27. Official Program, American Professional Soccer League Double-Header, Sunday 12 October 1952. Brooklyn Hispano v. Brookhattan-Galicia. Notes Ed Flynn in goal for the Brooklyn Hispanos, and reads in part, "The Brooklyn Hispano team will be much stronger for the coming season since signing up several clever stars. Ed Flynn, outstanding goalkeeper, was born in Dundalk [sic], Ireland, where he played for top-ranking clubs in the Irish League before immigrating to Toronto, Canada, three years ago when he joined the champion Ulster United team. He guarded the goal for the selected American League team which played Manchester United, champions of England, and was greatly admired by manager Matt Busby of the English team for his fine work between the uprights."
  28. Official Program, American Professional Soccer League Double Header, New York Americans v. Brooklyn Hispano and Hakoah v. Newark Portuguese, 26 October 1952
  29. 23 March 1953 The Newark Star-Ledger news article titled, "Hakoah Upsets Portuguese, 2–0. Flynn stars on defense for victors" and reading, in part, "The Newark Portuguese dropped their first game in the Duffy Cup competition to Hakoah yesterday in a 2–0 upset at Frank E. Rodgers Stadium, Harrison, with Ed Flynn repulsing repeated Newark attacks in the last 20 minutes of play….The Portuguese and Hakoah battled through a scoreless first half at Harrison with both Flynn and Fernando Noguiera, rival goalies, making spectacular saves. Flynn turned back two hook shots by Jack Calder that had all the earmarks of goals…."
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