Con Martin

losthorizon

The great League of Ireland and Irish great Con Martin died last week.


http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2013/0224/1224330475545.html

He will be remembered for many things but for one thing in particular he was a member of the first foreign team to beat England at home. He also scored in that game.



He also broke the ban!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09jvRjdHFwE

Some sources still claim Hungary are the first team to do it which is untrue and some say that Ireland are but that we were part of the UK and that Hungary were the first foreign team. Both silly silly claims.

Anyway RIP Con a great man with a great interest in sport.

Lennonist

What ban are you referring to?

Con Martin also played a few times for Northern Ireland. That seemed to happen a lot back in those days, I often wonder why? Maybe it was simply because so few international games were actually played in those days and footballers just wanted to play games. Footballers from the Republic would have been eligible to play for the North as well at that time, would be the case now after the GFA as well I think. Although obviously now they wouldn't be able to play for both in the same senior career.

Anyway thanks for posting this, great footage and RIP Con Martin.

kksaints

Presume its the Gaa ban on playing "foreign" games that was around pre the 1970s

losthorizon

kksaints wrote: »

Presume its the Gaa ban on playing "foreign" games that was around pre the 1970s

Exactly it says on the Irish Times article his medal for winner the Leinster championship was withheld for 30 years.

At one stage you had spies going around to junior and LOI games to make sure that no GAA people were playing or even spectating.

But thats for another day. Its only a minor element in a great career.

The_Kew_Tour

Enjoyed that.

I remember his name popping up few times. Heard he was fine player.

Lennonist

kksaints wrote: »

Presume its the Gaa ban on playing "foreign" games that was around pre the 1970s

That was the ban yes. I recall Liam Brady talking about it in an interview, so it was still in operation during his time as a kid.

Con Martin won 30 caps for Ireland and 6 for Northern Ireland, it would be the equivalent of more than 100 caps today because they didn't play as many international matches back then.

Cantona's Collars

Great piece on Newstalk the other night,might be available as a podcast.He turned down Manchester United as he didn't want to play in goal.At the time,he was massive compared to the majority of players as he was 6' 4".

guinnessdrinker

Lennonist wrote: »

What ban are you referring to?

Con Martin also played a few times for Northern Ireland. That seemed to happen a lot back in those days, I often wonder why?

Both the FAI and IFA could pick players from the 32 counties at the time. I could be wrong but I believe there was no Northern Ireland or Free State team as such. There was two "Ireland" teams and the rival associations could pick any Irish players for their sides.

Cantona's Collars

guinnessdrinker wrote: »

Both the FAI and IFA could pick players from the 32 counties at the time. I could be wrong but I believe there was no Northern Ireland or Free State team as such. There was two "Ireland" teams and the rival associations could pick any Irish players for their sides.

Con was the last player from the Republic to play for the North under that ruling,seems like Irish players were warned not to play for the North by Republicans and Con along with another player were called up & no other Irish player from the Republic represented the 6 counties after that.

colly_06

Wtf, not cool man!

Me thinking Con Murphy died!

Lennonist

zerks wrote: »

Con was the last player from the Republic to play for the North under that ruling,seems like Irish players were warned not to play for the North by Republicans and Con along with another player were called up & no other Irish player from the Republic represented the 6 counties after that.

I'd imagine it was the FAI and IFA that probably wanted players to make a decision one way or the other as opposed to "Republicans" or other political movements as you put it. This is the late 40's and 50's we are talking about after all. The existence of the two organisations is probably the biggest impediment to formation a single Irish international soccer team, representing the whole island. That discussion is for a different thread I suppose.

Cantona's Collars

Lennonist wrote: »

I'd imagine it was the FAI and IFA that probably wanted players to make a decision one way or the other as opposed to "Republicans" or other political movements as you put it. This is the late 40's and 50's we are talking about after all. The existence of the two organisations is probably the biggest impediment to formation a single Irish international soccer team, representing the whole island. That discussion is for a different thread I suppose.

It was discussed the other night on Off The Ball & the threat to players who played for the North was brought up and eventually the 2 associations became separate entities.

He played in goal for Ireland vs Spain as Ireland had only one 'keeper & he got injured.His favourite position however was centre half.