William McConnell (footballer)

William George McConnell (3 March 1889 – 6 January 1966) was an Irish footballer in the years before World War I who was part of the first Ireland team to win the British Home Championship outright in 1913–14. During his club career McConnell played mainly for Bohemians.

For the Reading player, see Billy McConnell (footballer).

William McConnell
McConnell with Ireland in 1914
Personal information
Full name William George McConnell[1]
Date of birth 3 March 1889[2]
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Date of death 6 January 1966(1966-01-06) (aged 76)[2]
Place of death Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Position(s) Full Back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1910–1914 Bohemians
1914–1915 Bradford (Park Avenue) 4 (0)
International career
1912–1914 Ireland 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

McConnell mostly featured at full back for Bohemians. He was part of the Bohs team that lost the Irish Cup Final of 1910–11 against Dublin rivals Shelbourne after a replay. McConnell moved to Bradford (Park Avenue), who had recently been promoted to the top division of the English Football League, in the summer of 1914. McConnell spent a single season in Bradford and helped the team finish a credible ninth place in the league although his appearances for the first team were limited.[3]

International career

McConnell was Ireland's right-back for the entire British Home Championship campaign of 1914, when they won the title outright for the first time. McConnell had a remarkable record at international level. His first game, played at left-back against Wales in 1912, resulted in a 3–2 win. The following year, installed in his favoured right-back role, he played in a 2–1 victory over England at Windsor Park – Ireland’s first success against their largest neighbours. During the 1–1 draw against Scotland in the game to secure the championship, McConnell suffered an injury was forced to go into goal for Ireland after Fred McKee was also hurt and had to leave the field.[4] Wearing a sodden goalkeeper's jersey two sizes too small, McConnell was at fault for the Scottish goal which looked to have robbed Ireland of victory as he rushed off his line only to be beaten by forward Joe Donnachie;[5] however Linfield player Samuel Young managed to score the equalising goal.

In his six caps he finished on the losing side just once; 2–1 against Scotland in 1913. In a hard-fought and crowd-troubled match at Dalymount Park, his club home ground, McConnell put in an energetic performance, and only the mis-firing forward-line denied the Irish a more favourable result. He was part of an squad which contained such notable footballers as Bill Lacey, Val Harris and Billy Gillespie but the outbreak of War and the suspension of international games meant that Ireland were not able to build on the success of 1914.[6]

Honours

Bohemians

Ireland

References
  1. "Bill McConnell". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. 30 August 2007.
  2. Bill McConnell, EU-football.info
  3. "Bradford Park Avenue Squad 1914/15".
  4. "Ireland's greatest football team?". 13 February 2013.
  5. "Windsor's match of the century: With the Great War looming, an all-Ireland football team line up for a historic British title win". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  6. Moore, Cormac (2015). The Irish Soccer Split. Cork University Books. ISBN 9781782051527.
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