Al Finucane
Encyclopedia
Al Finucane was an Irish
football
player. During his 28 year career he played for League of Ireland
sides Limerick, Waterford United
and Newcastlewest F.C.. Finucane was also a member of several Republic of Ireland national football team
squads.
Finucane played his first game for Limerick as a 17 year old in 1961. Finucane played in Europe for Limerick against CSKA Sofia in 1965 and 21 years later for Waterford against Bordeaux
. He is the oldest player who ever played in any European club competition beating Dino Zoff
's previous record. In September 1986, when he appeared against Girondins de Bordeaux in the European Cup-Winners' Cup, he was 43 years and 261 days old. Also, despite playing in so many games, Finucane was never sent off and only received 3 yellow cards. He won 3 FAI Cup
winners medals; in 1971 and 1982 with Limerick and 1980 with Waterford. He also hold the record for the most League of Ireland appearances.
By the mid-1960s offers from cross-Channel clubs were pouring in. Everton
came over to see the Limerick half-back in action in Milltown
, Jock Stein
arrived from Glasgow Celtic and there were scouting missions from Swindon Town and Millwall. Serious offers followed but after talks between the player and his Limerick manager, the decision was made to remain in Limerick.
He has the distinction of scoring the first ever goal in a competitive game at Flower Lodge.
Finucane won 11 caps for Ireland and captained the team away to Austria
in 1971 http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=133. He also won an under 23 cap against France
and played in un-capped internationals against West Germany's Olympic team and Australia.
In January 1985 Finucane won his first Player of the Month award: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1985/0226/Pg003.html#Ar00310:4C70A35480CF4A90ED4FF1024951CE4D11E34980A34B30CF4870ED49F102
He retired in April 1988 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1988/0412/Pg002.html#Ar00207:4D71A15801DC5351945691A655423858624B5502525832654E52D65192E952019452E1A653823854624B.
His nephew, Paul Finucane, was recently the Limerick FC captain and his younger brother Tony played as a goalkeeper for Waterford United
in the 1970s.
His youngest son, Alan, plays with Regional Utd in the Limerick Junior Premier League, and is currently a member of the Limerick Oscar Traynor squad.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. During his 28 year career he played for League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
sides Limerick, Waterford United
Waterford United
Waterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
and Newcastlewest F.C.. Finucane was also a member of several Republic of Ireland national football team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
squads.
Finucane played his first game for Limerick as a 17 year old in 1961. Finucane played in Europe for Limerick against CSKA Sofia in 1965 and 21 years later for Waterford against Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
. He is the oldest player who ever played in any European club competition beating Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff is an Italian former football goalkeeper and is the oldest winner ever of the World Cup, which he earned as captain of the Italian team in the 1982 tournament in Spain, at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days.Zoff was a goalkeeper of outstanding ability and has a place in the...
's previous record. In September 1986, when he appeared against Girondins de Bordeaux in the European Cup-Winners' Cup, he was 43 years and 261 days old. Also, despite playing in so many games, Finucane was never sent off and only received 3 yellow cards. He won 3 FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
winners medals; in 1971 and 1982 with Limerick and 1980 with Waterford. He also hold the record for the most League of Ireland appearances.
By the mid-1960s offers from cross-Channel clubs were pouring in. Everton
Everton
Everton is a district of Liverpool, in Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council ward. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 7,398.-Toponymy:...
came over to see the Limerick half-back in action in Milltown
Milltown
-Ireland:*Milltown, County Cavan*Milltown, County Kerry*Milltown, Dublin, a suburb of Dublin*Milltown, County Galway*Milltown, County Kildare*Milltown, County Westmeath*Miltown Malbay, County Clare...
, Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
arrived from Glasgow Celtic and there were scouting missions from Swindon Town and Millwall. Serious offers followed but after talks between the player and his Limerick manager, the decision was made to remain in Limerick.
He has the distinction of scoring the first ever goal in a competitive game at Flower Lodge.
Finucane won 11 caps for Ireland and captained the team away to Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
in 1971 http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=133. He also won an under 23 cap against France
and played in un-capped internationals against West Germany's Olympic team and Australia.
In January 1985 Finucane won his first Player of the Month award: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1985/0226/Pg003.html#Ar00310:4C70A35480CF4A90ED4FF1024951CE4D11E34980A34B30CF4870ED49F102
He retired in April 1988 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1988/0412/Pg002.html#Ar00207:4D71A15801DC5351945691A655423858624B5502525832654E52D65192E952019452E1A653823854624B.
His nephew, Paul Finucane, was recently the Limerick FC captain and his younger brother Tony played as a goalkeeper for Waterford United
Waterford United
Waterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
in the 1970s.
His youngest son, Alan, plays with Regional Utd in the Limerick Junior Premier League, and is currently a member of the Limerick Oscar Traynor squad.
Honours
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
: 3- Limerick F.C.Limerick F.C.Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
1971, 1982 - Waterford UnitedWaterford UnitedWaterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
1980
- Limerick F.C.
- FAI League Cup
- Waterford UnitedWaterford UnitedWaterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
1973/74
- Waterford United
- Dublin City CupDublin City CupThe Dublin City Cup is a defunct Irish football tournament which was played for by all League of Ireland sides . It ran from 1933 and ran uninterrupted until 1973. In season 1975/76 it was revived and played for by sides who did not reach the League of Ireland Cup quarter finals...
- Limerick F.C.Limerick F.C.Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
1969/70
- Limerick F.C.
- SWAI Personality of the Year
- Limerick F.C.Limerick F.C.Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
- 1966/67
- Limerick F.C.
- FAI Football Legend
- 2007