Ed Brookes
Encyclopedia
Edward A. Brooks also known as Ed Brooks or Ned Brooks, was an Irish
footballer
who played as centre-forward or inside-left for, among others, Shelbourne
, Bohemians
, Stockport County
and Athlone Town
. Brookes was a dual internationalist
and played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI
and the FAI XI.
during the 1919-20
season alongside Val Harris
and Bob Fullam
and finished as the club's top goalscorer. He also helped Shelbourne win the Irish Cup
. Shelbourne were awarded the cup after both Belfast Celtic and Glentoran
were expelled from the competition. While playing for Shelbourne, Brooks also represented the Irish League XI
against a Scottish League XI
in a 2-0 defeat at Windsor Park
in 1919.
was represented by a single team, selected by the Belfast
-based Irish Football Association
. However during the 1920s, Ireland was partitioned
into Northern Ireland
and the Irish Free State
. Amid these political upheavals, a rival association, the Football Association of Ireland
, emerged in Dublin and from 1924 organised their own national team. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including Brookes played for both teams – the IFA XI
and the FAI XI.
while playing for Shelbourne
.
On March 3, 1920, in a team that also included Elisha Scott
, Bert Manderson
, Bill Lacey and Billy Gillespie
, he played for the IFA XI against Scotland
in a 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park
.
, Brooks also played for the FAI XI, scoring a hat-trick
against the United States
in 3-1 win at Dalymount Park
. His team mates that day included, among others, Frank Collins, Paddy Duncan
, Tommy Muldoon
, Charlie Dowdall
and Johnny Murray
.
In March 1926 while playing for Athlone Town
, Brooks was also called up for the FAI XI to play in an away game against Italy
. However a personal tragedy meant he was unable to travel and win another cap. A week before the team was due to leave for Italy, his seven year old son, Harold, was knocked down by a car and died in hospital.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
footballer
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...
who played as centre-forward or inside-left for, among others, Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
, Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
, Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
and Athlone Town
Athlone Town A.F.C.
Athlone Town F.C. is an Irish football club from Athlone, playing in the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1887. First elected to the League of Ireland in 1922, they play their home matches in Lissywoollen their new stadium which opened in 2007...
. Brookes was a dual internationalist
Dual Irish international footballers
Dual Irish international footballers are a group of Irish international footballers who, between 1908 and March 1950, played for the international teams selected by both the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland...
and played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
and the FAI XI.
Shelbourne
Brooks played at ShelbourneShelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
during the 1919-20
Shelbourne F.C. Seasons
The Irish League seasons 1915/16-1918/19 were suspended due to World War I. Shelbourne competed in the Irish League and Irish Cup for the 1920/21 season, but resigned from the league and cup during the season following a dispute with the Irish Football Association....
season alongside Val Harris
Val Harris
Valentine Harris , commonly referred to as Val Harris, was an Irish footballer who played Gaelic football for Dublin and soccer for, among others Shelbourne, Everton and Ireland...
and Bob Fullam
Bob Fullam
Bob Fullam was an Irish footballer and one of the best-known players in the League of Ireland in the 1920s . A versatile attacking player, he was skilful but also had a tough-man image....
and finished as the club's top goalscorer. He also helped Shelbourne win the 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...
. Shelbourne were awarded the cup after both Belfast Celtic and Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
were expelled from the competition. While playing for Shelbourne, Brooks also represented the Irish League XI
Irish League XI
The Irish League representative team was the representative side of the Irish Football League, the national league for football in Northern Ireland and, prior to that, Ireland.-Irish League representative match results:...
against a Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
in a 2-0 defeat at Windsor Park
Windsor 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:...
in 1919.
Irish international
When Brooks began his international career in 1920, IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
was represented by a single team, selected by the Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
-based Irish Football Association
Irish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
. However during the 1920s, Ireland was partitioned
Partition of Ireland
The partition of Ireland was the division of the island of Ireland into two distinct territories, now Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Partition occurred when the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1920...
into Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
. Amid these political upheavals, a rival association, the Football Association of Ireland
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
, emerged in Dublin and from 1924 organised their own national team. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including Brookes played for both teams – the IFA XI
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
and the FAI XI.
IFA XI
Brooks made his one and only appearance for the IFA XIIreland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
while playing for Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
.
On March 3, 1920, in a team that also included Elisha Scott
Elisha Scott
Elisha Scott was an Irish football goalkeeper who most notably played for Liverpool from 1912 to 1934 .-Life and playing career:...
, Bert Manderson
Bert Manderson
Bert Manderson was an Northern Irish footballer who played for Rangers and Ireland.Manderson, a right-back, made his Rangers debut in a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen on 27 March 1915. He had joined Rangers from Glenavon for £150. He previously had spells at Cliftonville and Belfast Celtic...
, Bill Lacey and Billy Gillespie
Billy Gillespie
Billy Gillespie was a football player for Sheffield United over a twenty year period from 1913 to 1932, scoring over 137 League and Cup goals in 492 games for the South Yorkshire side....
, he played for the IFA XI against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in a 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
.
FAI XI
On June 14, 1924, while playing for BohemiansBohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
, Brooks also played for the FAI XI, scoring a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 3-1 win at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
. His team mates that day included, among others, Frank Collins, Paddy Duncan
Paddy Duncan
Paddy Duncan was an Irish footballer. At the 1924 Olympics Games he scored the Irish Free State’s first ever goal in a senior international.-Club career:During his career Duncan was known by the nickname Dirty Duncan...
, Tommy Muldoon
Tommy Muldoon
Thomas Patrick Muldoon was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Athlone Town and Aston Villa. As an international he also played for the Irish Free State and represented them at the 1924 Olympics Games....
, Charlie Dowdall
Charlie Dowdall
Charlie Dowdall was an Irish footballer. He played for several clubs in both the League of Ireland and the English League and was also capped at international level by the Irish Free State...
and Johnny Murray
Johnny Murray
For the voice actor, see Johnny Murray Johnny Murray was an Irish soccer player during the 1920s.Murray was a skilful winger who played for Ormeau, Blue Crusaders, Bohemians and Drumcondra F.C.....
.
In March 1926 while playing for Athlone Town
Athlone Town A.F.C.
Athlone Town F.C. is an Irish football club from Athlone, playing in the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1887. First elected to the League of Ireland in 1922, they play their home matches in Lissywoollen their new stadium which opened in 2007...
, Brooks was also called up for the FAI XI to play in an away game against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
. However a personal tragedy meant he was unable to travel and win another cap. A week before the team was due to leave for Italy, his seven year old son, Harold, was knocked down by a car and died in hospital.