Sam Irving
Encyclopedia
Samuel Johnstone Irving was an Irish
footballer
and manager.
in March 1915. After the First World War, Irving had spells back in the English North-East playing with Blyth Spartans, and one of his early clubs, Shildon Athletic, returning to Dundee in 1922.
During his time at Dens Park
, Irving won a total of ten caps, including in the famous win over England
in 1923, at right-half and left-half. A Scottish Cup
runner-up in 1925 when Celtic
defeated Dundee 2-1, in June 1926 Irving signed to Cardiff City
in an exchange deal that took Joe Cassidy the other way. He made his Bluebirds' debut in a 1-1 draw at Leeds United early in the season. He remained a regular in the side throughout the campaign, initially at right-half, but later shifting to inside-right, where he played in the 1927 FA Cup
Final victory over Arsenal
, Cardiff taking the trophy outside England
for the first time. He continued as a regular in the Irish half-back line throughout his time at Ninian Park
, filling in as inside-left for a match against Scotland
in 1927 and also captaining the side.
In March 1928 Irving joined Chelsea
, serving as "a sharp-tackling fetch-and-carry" wing-half in their 1929-30
promotion campaign. While with Chelsea, Irving toured South America
in 1929. The team were surprised by the unsporting behaviour of their opponents, and antics of the crowd who pelted them with oranges. Irving’s answer was to catch the food, peel it and eat it! It was while at Stamford Bridge
that Irving brought his international career to a close, winning his final cap at the age of 38 in a 4-2 defeat by Wales
. In May 1932 he returned to Bristol
, this time signing for Rovers, retiring from playing a year later.
With his playing days behind him, Irving settled in Dundee
where he ran a billiards hall. In 1938 he was involved in a takeover of Dundee United, taking control of the team as joint-manager/director with Jimmy Brownlie
for the 1938-39 season
. He stepped down from the manager
's role after a year, but remained with the club as a director.
:
FA Cup
:
Welsh Cup
:
Charity Shield:
Football League Division Two
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...
and manager.
Career
Irving began his footballing career in the North-East of England, playing for a number of non-League clubs, and in 1911 having an unsuccessful trial with Newcastle United. Finally given his break in the Football League by Bristol City, for whom he signed in November 1913, he made eighteen appearances, mainly at inside-forward, before signing with DundeeDundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in March 1915. After the First World War, Irving had spells back in the English North-East playing with Blyth Spartans, and one of his early clubs, Shildon Athletic, returning to Dundee in 1922.
During his time at Dens Park
Dens Park
Dens Park is a football stadium located on Dens Road in Dundee, Scotland. The stadium is the home of Dundee F.C. and has a capacity of 12,085...
, Irving won a total of ten caps, including in the famous win over England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1923, at right-half and left-half. A Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
runner-up in 1925 when Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
defeated Dundee 2-1, in June 1926 Irving signed to Cardiff City
Cardiff city
Cardiff City may refer to:* Cardiff city centre* Cardiff City Council* Cardiff City F.C.* Cardiff City L.F.C.* Cardiff City Stadium...
in an exchange deal that took Joe Cassidy the other way. He made his Bluebirds' debut in a 1-1 draw at Leeds United early in the season. He remained a regular in the side throughout the campaign, initially at right-half, but later shifting to inside-right, where he played in the 1927 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Final victory over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Cardiff taking the trophy outside England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for the first time. He continued as a regular in the Irish half-back line throughout his time at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
, filling in as inside-left for a match 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 1927 and also captaining the side.
In March 1928 Irving joined Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, serving as "a sharp-tackling fetch-and-carry" wing-half in their 1929-30
1929-30 in English football
The 1929–30 season was the 55th season of competitive football in England.-Events:The Wednesday officially changed their name to Sheffield Wednesday prior to the start of this season....
promotion campaign. While with Chelsea, Irving toured South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
in 1929. The team were surprised by the unsporting behaviour of their opponents, and antics of the crowd who pelted them with oranges. Irving’s answer was to catch the food, peel it and eat it! It was while at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
that Irving brought his international career to a close, winning his final cap at the age of 38 in a 4-2 defeat by 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...
. In May 1932 he returned to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, this time signing for Rovers, retiring from playing a year later.
With his playing days behind him, Irving settled in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
where he ran a billiards hall. In 1938 he was involved in a takeover of Dundee United, taking control of the team as joint-manager/director with Jimmy Brownlie
Jimmy Brownlie
James Brownlie was a Scottish international footballer and manager, who played as a goalkeeper.-Career:Jimmy Brownlie was born in Blantyre and was an outstanding personality in Scottish football over many years, as a goalkeeper and manager...
for the 1938-39 season
1938-39 in Scottish football
The 1938–39 season was the 49th season of competitive football in Scotland. Due to the World War II the league was not officially competed for again until the 1946–47 season.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Rangers...
. He stepped down from the manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
's role after a year, but remained with the club as a director.
Honours
Scottish CupScottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
:
-
- Runner-up (1): 1924-251924-25 in Scottish footballThe 1924–25 season was the 35th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Ayr United, Third Lanark-Scottish League Division Two:...
(DundeeDundee F.C.Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
)
- Runner-up (1): 1924-25
FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
:
-
- Winner (1): 1926-271926-27 in English footballThe 1926–27 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which George Camsell scored an astounding 59 goals in 37 league appearances for Middlesbrough-Honours:...
(Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
)
- Winner (1): 1926-27
Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
:
-
- Winner (1): 1926-271926-27 in English footballThe 1926–27 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which George Camsell scored an astounding 59 goals in 37 league appearances for Middlesbrough-Honours:...
(Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
)
- Winner (1): 1926-27
Charity Shield:
-
- Winner (1): 1927-281927-28 in English footballThe 1927–28 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which Dixie Dean scored an astounding 60 goals in 39 league appearances for Everton – 58.8% of their seasons total .-Honours:...
(Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
)
- Winner (1): 1927-28
Football League Division Two
-
- Runner-up (1): 1929-301929-30 in English footballThe 1929–30 season was the 55th season of competitive football in England.-Events:The Wednesday officially changed their name to Sheffield Wednesday prior to the start of this season....
(ChelseaChelsea F.C.Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
)
- Runner-up (1): 1929-30