Bobby Irvine (footballer born 1942)
Encyclopedia
Bobby Irvine was a former football
player for Linfield
and Stoke
.
His younger brother Willie
was a star striker for Burnley
in the sixties.
He shares the same name as Bobby Irvine
, who played for Everton
and represented Ireland.
when just 16.
In the fifties, he featured in some of the south Belfast club's earliest European Cup
games.
Irvine found disfavour with the Linfield selection committee during the 1960/61 season and at one stage it seemed he would be released.
He was a virtual ever-present, however, in the 1961-62 seven trophy winning team - captained by the late Tommy Dickson
.
That team won the Irish League, Irish Cup
, City Cup
, Gold Cup
, County Antrim Shield
, Ulster Cup and North-South Cup.
.
He lost his place after seven games, however, to Lawrie Leslie
and remained out of the side for the most of the season.
Irvine did pick up a League Cup
runners-up medal at the end of his first season.
He was largely out of favour in 1964-65, making just one league appearance but returned to the first team the following year.
Irvine was given the honour of captaining Stoke in a League Cup tie against Burnley, who were captained in that game by his brother Willie.
The idea of them both captaining their sides came from Clarets’ manager Harry Potts
.
The brothers met in the centre circle to shake hands and toss the coin and then played against each other for the first time since schooldays.
Irvine's career at the Victoria Ground
was brought to an end after an FA Cup third round game against Walsall
.
He gave away a penalty that helped the then third division side to a 2-0 win. Furious with Irvine’s antics, manager Tony Waddington
never picked him again.
That summer he was released to sign for non-League Altrincham
.
level for Northern Ireland before making his senior debut against Holland
in Rotterdam
in 1962.
He was brought in to replace Harry Gregg
and would keep his place for the next six international matches.
Irvine made his eighth and final international appearance in 1965 against Wales
.
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 for Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
and Stoke
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
.
His younger brother Willie
Willie Irvine
William John "Willie" Irvine is a former professional footballer who played as a centre forward. Born in Eden, County Antrim, into a large family, he grew up in the nearby town of Carrickfergus. He did well at school, but chose to pursue a career in professional football and initially played for...
was a star striker for Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in the sixties.
He shares the same name as Bobby Irvine
Bobby Irvine (footballer born 1900)
Robert William "Bobby" Irvine was an Irish footballer. He played as a centre or inside forward....
, who played for Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and represented Ireland.
Linfield
Irvine was signed by Linfield as a teenager in 1957 from Carrick Tech and established himself in the first team at Windsor ParkWindsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
when just 16.
In the fifties, he featured in some of the south Belfast club's earliest European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
games.
Irvine found disfavour with the Linfield selection committee during the 1960/61 season and at one stage it seemed he would be released.
He was a virtual ever-present, however, in the 1961-62 seven trophy winning team - captained by the late Tommy Dickson
Tommy Dickson
Tommy Dickson was a former Northern Irish international footballer who played with Linfield from 1948 to 1965. He was born in Belfast...
.
That team won the Irish League, Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
, City Cup
City Cup (Northern Ireland)
The City Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Northern Ireland. It was run by the Irish Football Association. It had previously been known as the Dunville Cup and ceased to exist in 1976...
, Gold Cup
Gold Cup (Northern Ireland)
The Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....
, County Antrim Shield
County Antrim Shield
The County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
, Ulster Cup and North-South Cup.
Stoke City
In June 1963 Irvine was transferred to Stoke City for £6,000 and made his debut in the opening game of the season, a 2-1 defeat of SpursTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
He lost his place after seven games, however, to Lawrie Leslie
Lawrie Leslie
Lawrence "Lawrie" Grant Leslie is a retired Scottish association football player who played as a goalkeeper.-Career:Leslie began playing football with Hawkhill Amateurs. In the early 1950s, he turned semi-pro and joined Newtongrange Star...
and remained out of the side for the most of the season.
Irvine did pick up a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
runners-up medal at the end of his first season.
He was largely out of favour in 1964-65, making just one league appearance but returned to the first team the following year.
Irvine was given the honour of captaining Stoke in a League Cup tie against Burnley, who were captained in that game by his brother Willie.
The idea of them both captaining their sides came from Clarets’ manager Harry Potts
Harry Potts
Harold "Harry" Potts was an English football player and manager.-Early life:Born in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, as was another well-known name in football, Bob Paisley. The duo spent much of their childhood playing various sports, but it was football that Potts loved most...
.
The brothers met in the centre circle to shake hands and toss the coin and then played against each other for the first time since schooldays.
Irvine's career at the Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers...
was brought to an end after an FA Cup third round game against Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
.
He gave away a penalty that helped the then third division side to a 2-0 win. Furious with Irvine’s antics, manager Tony Waddington
Tony Waddington
Anthony Waddington was an English football player and manager. He managed Stoke City F.C. from 1960 until 1977 and guided them to their only major trophy - the League Cup in 1972. He later managed his only playing club, Crewe Alexandra, from June 1979 to July 1981...
never picked him again.
That summer he was released to sign for non-League Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
.
International career
Irvine was capped at both schoolboy and Under 23Northern Ireland National Under-23 Football Team
The Northern Ireland national under-23 team is a football team representing Northern Ireland featuring footballers playing in the Irish League...
level for Northern Ireland before making his senior debut against Holland
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
in 1962.
He was brought in to replace Harry Gregg
Harry Gregg
Henry "Harry" Gregg, MBE is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and manager.He played 25 times for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper and played for Manchester United during the reign of Sir Matt Busby with a total of 210 appearances.-Playing career:Gregg started his career with...
and would keep his place for the next six international matches.
Irvine made his eighth and final international appearance in 1965 against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
.