Tommy Eglington
Encyclopedia
Thomas Joseph Eglington was an Irish footballer
who played as an outside-left for, among others, Shamrock Rovers
, Everton
and Tranmere Rovers
. Eglington was also a dual internationalist
and played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI
.
Eglington’s playing career followed a similar path to that of Peter Farrell
. As well as teaming up at international level, they also played together at three different clubs. Eglington was best known as a creator of chances, for his acceleration down the wing and for his ability to deliver a precise pass at speed. He also possessed a powerful shot. He remains one of Everton’s
all-time top goalscorers
and has played more games in the Second Division
than any other Everton player.
and helped the latter club win the FAI Intermediate Cup
in 1942. He then joined Shamrock Rovers
where together with Peter Farrell
, Jimmy McAlinden
and Paddy Coad
, he helped Rovers reach three successive FAI Cup
finals. They won the competition in 1944 and 1945 and finished as runners up in 1946. In June 1946 Eglington also made his debut for the FAI XI while at Rovers. He won his first 2 caps while a Rovers player.
, Eglington signed for Everton
. In September 1946 he made his League debut for the club in a 3-2 home win against Arsenal
. In eleven seasons at Everton he played 394 league games and scored 76 goals. He also played a further 34 games and scored a further 12 goals in the FA Cup
. During his time with Everton his team mates, apart from Farrell, also included Alex Stevenson
, Peter Corr
, Harry Catterick
, Wally Fielding
, Tommy E. Jones
, Brian Labone
and Dave Hickson
.
Eglington’s most prolific scoring season came in 1952-53 when he scored 16 times, 14 in the Second Division
and 2 in the FA Cup
. On September 27, 1952, he scored 5 of these goals in just one game at Goodison Park
against Doncaster Rovers
, helping Everton to a 7-1 win. He also reached double figures in both 1953-54 and 1955-56. During the 1953-54 season his goals helped Everton finish as runners up in the Second Division, thus gaining promotion to the First Division
.
and three months later he was followed there by Peter Farrell
. He spent three seasons at Rovers making 172 league appearances and scoring 36 goals. He also played a further 9 games and scored a further 4 goals for Rovers in the FA Cup
. In August 1959 Eglington scored a hat-trick for Rovers in a 5-1 win over Accrington Stanley
.
. He spent two seasons at Hibs and helped them reach the 1963 FAI Cup
final where they lost 2-0 to Shelbourne
. While at Hibs he also played four times for the League of Ireland XI
at veteran age of 38. In a memorable game in Bristol
he scored in a 5-2 defeat to an English League XI team that was the nucleus of the England
team that won the 1966 World Cup
.
- based IFA
and the Republic of Ireland
- based FAI
claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland
and selected players from the whole island. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including Eglington, played for both teams.
It is notable that Eglington only won 24 caps for the Republic of Ireland but was awarded with the customary statuette normally reserved for those reaching 25 caps.
. He made his international debut on June 16, 1946 against Portugal
. Eglington scored his first goal for the FAI XI in a 4-0 win against Austria
on March 25, 1953. He captained the FAI XI during the qualifying rounds for the 1954 FIFA World Cup
and, during the same competition, he scored his second goal in a 4-0 win against Luxembourg
on October 28, 1953. Eglington played his last game for the FAI XI on November 27, 1955 in a 2-2 draw with Spain
.
between 1946 and 1948. On November 27, 1946 he made his debut for the IFA XI in a 0-0 draw with Scotland
. Together with Johnny Carey
, Con Martin
, Bill Gorman
, Peter Farrell
, Alex Stevenson
and Davy Walsh
, he was one of seven players born in the Irish Free State
to play for the IFA XI that day. The draw helped the team finish as runners-up in the 1947 British Home Championship
. Eglington also helped the IFA XI gain some other respectable results, including a 2-0 win against Scotland
on October 4, 1947 and a 2-2 draw with England
at Goodison Park
on November 5, 1947.
Distillery
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 an outside-left for, among others, Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
, 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 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
. Eglington was also 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 FAI XI and 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...
.
Eglington’s playing career followed a similar path to that of Peter Farrell
Peter Farrell
Peter Desmond Farrell was an Irish footballer who played as an a right-half for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Everton and Tranmere Rovers. As an international, Farrell also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
. As well as teaming up at international level, they also played together at three different clubs. Eglington was best known as a creator of chances, for his acceleration down the wing and for his ability to deliver a precise pass at speed. He also possessed a powerful shot. He remains one of Everton’s
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...
all-time top goalscorers
Everton F.C. records
This is a list of records for Everton F.C..-Appearances:* Youngest Ever Player: Jose Baxter, 16 yrs and 191 days old , 2–3 v Blackburn Rovers, 16 August 2008...
and has played more games in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
than any other Everton player.
Shamrock Rovers
Before joining Rovers, Eglington played as a junior with both Munster Victoria and Distillery of DrumcondraDrumcondra, Dublin
Drumcondra is a residential area and inner suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is administered by Dublin City Council.The River Tolka and the Royal Canal flow through the area.-History:...
and helped the latter club win the FAI Intermediate Cup
FAI Intermediate Cup
The FAI Intermediate Cup is an annual knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland outside of the League of Ireland and also not open to clubs who play in leagues permitting the use of public pitches...
in 1942. He then joined Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
where together with Peter Farrell
Peter Farrell
Peter Desmond Farrell was an Irish footballer who played as an a right-half for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Everton and Tranmere Rovers. As an international, Farrell also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
, Jimmy McAlinden
Jimmy McAlinden
Jimmy McAlinden was an Irish footballer who played as a forward for several clubs, most notably, Belfast Celtic, Portsmouth, Shamrock Rovers and Southend United. As an international, McAlinden also played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI and the FAI XI...
and Paddy Coad
Paddy Coad
Paddy Coad is a former Irish football player and manager. He played as a forward for Waterford United, Glenavon, Shamrock Rovers and Ireland. Although known, primarily, as a maker of goals, Coad scored 126 goals in the League of Ireland and a further 41 in the FAI Cup. In 1946-47 he was top...
, he helped Rovers reach three successive 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...
finals. They won the competition in 1944 and 1945 and finished as runners up in 1946. In June 1946 Eglington also made his debut for the FAI XI while at Rovers. He won his first 2 caps while a Rovers player.
Everton
In July 1946, together with Peter FarrellPeter Farrell
Peter Desmond Farrell was an Irish footballer who played as an a right-half for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Everton and Tranmere Rovers. As an international, Farrell also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
, Eglington signed 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...
. In September 1946 he made his League debut for the club in a 3-2 home win against 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...
. In eleven seasons at Everton he played 394 league games and scored 76 goals. He also played a further 34 games and scored a further 12 goals in the 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...
. During his time with Everton his team mates, apart from Farrell, also included Alex Stevenson
Alex Stevenson
Alexander Ernest Stevenson was an Irish footballer who played for Rangers and Everton, amongst other teams. As an international, Stevenson also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
, Peter Corr
Peter Corr
Peter Joseph Corr was an Irish footballer. Corr played as an outside-right for, among others, Everton and Ireland. In 1949 he was a member of the Ireland team that defeated England 2–0 at Goodison Park, becoming the first non-UK team to beat England at home...
, Harry Catterick
Harry Catterick
Harry Catterick was an English football player and manager. As a player Catterick played for Everton and Crewe Alexandra, in a career that was interrupted by World War II, but he is most notable as a manager...
, Wally Fielding
Wally Fielding
Wally Fielding was a professional footballer from 1945 until 1960.In 1945, after leaving the Army, Fielding was signed by Everton manager Theo Kelly having been a youth amateur player for Charlton Athletic F.C....
, Tommy E. Jones
Tommy E. Jones
Thomas Edwin Jones , known as Tommy E Jones or T. E. Jones to distinguish him from T. G. Jones, was an English former footballer who played for Everton from 1950 until 1961....
, Brian Labone
Brian Labone
Brian Leslie Labone was an English footballer who played for and captained Everton. A one-club man, Labone's professional career lasted from 1958 to 1971, during which he won the Football League championship twice and the FA Cup once...
and Dave Hickson
Dave Hickson
David "Dave" Hickson is an ex-football player, who played for Everton, Aston Villa, Huddersfield Town, Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers.-Club career:...
.
Eglington’s most prolific scoring season came in 1952-53 when he scored 16 times, 14 in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
and 2 in the 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...
. On September 27, 1952, he scored 5 of these goals in just one game at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
against Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, helping Everton to a 7-1 win. He also reached double figures in both 1953-54 and 1955-56. During the 1953-54 season his goals helped Everton finish as runners up in the Second Division, thus gaining promotion to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
.
Tranmere Rovers
In June 1957 Eglington signed for Tranmere RoversTranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
and three months later he was followed there by Peter Farrell
Peter Farrell
Peter Desmond Farrell was an Irish footballer who played as an a right-half for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Everton and Tranmere Rovers. As an international, Farrell also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
. He spent three seasons at Rovers making 172 league appearances and scoring 36 goals. He also played a further 9 games and scored a further 4 goals for Rovers in the 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...
. In August 1959 Eglington scored a hat-trick for Rovers in a 5-1 win over Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
.
Cork Hibernians
In 1961 Eglington signed for Cork HiberniansCork Hibernians F.C.
Cork Hibernians F.C. were an Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1957 and 1976 and played their home games at Flower Lodge. In 1971, they were League of Ireland champions.-History:...
. He spent two seasons at Hibs and helped them reach the 1963 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...
final where they lost 2-0 to 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....
. While at Hibs he also played four times for the League of Ireland XI
League of Ireland XI
The League of Ireland XI, known as of 2010 as the Airtricity League XI for sponsorship reasons, is the representative select team for the League of Ireland which operates in the Republic of Ireland.The select first played the Scottish League XI in 1938....
at veteran age of 38. In a memorable game in 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...
he scored in a 5-2 defeat to an English League XI team that was the nucleus of the 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...
team that won the 1966 World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
.
Irish international
When Eglington began his international career in 1946 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern IrelandNorthern 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...
- based IFA
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...
and the Republic of Ireland
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,...
- based FAI
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...
claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland
Ireland
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...
and selected players from the whole island. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including Eglington, played for both teams.
It is notable that Eglington only won 24 caps for the Republic of Ireland but was awarded with the customary statuette normally reserved for those reaching 25 caps.
FAI XI
Between 1946 and 1955 Eglington made 24 appearances and scored 2 goals for the FAI XIRepublic 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....
. He made his international debut on June 16, 1946 against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
. Eglington scored his first goal for the FAI XI in a 4-0 win against 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 ....
on March 25, 1953. He captained the FAI XI during the qualifying rounds for the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
and, during the same competition, he scored his second goal in a 4-0 win against Luxembourg
Luxembourg national football team
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team play most of their home matches at the Stade Josy Barthel, in Luxembourg.- History :...
on October 28, 1953. Eglington played his last game for the FAI XI on November 27, 1955 in a 2-2 draw with Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
.
IFA XI
Eglington also made 6 appearances 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...
between 1946 and 1948. On November 27, 1946 he made his debut for the IFA XI in a 0-0 draw with 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...
. Together with Johnny Carey
Johnny Carey
John Joseph "Johnny" Carey , also known as Jackie Carey, was an Irish footballer and manager. As a player Carey spent most of his career at Manchester United, where he was team captain from 1946 until he retired as a player in 1953...
, Con Martin
Con Martin
Cornelius Joseph Martin , commonly referred to as Con Martin, is a former Irish footballer. Martin initially played Gaelic football with Dublin before switching codes and embarking on a successful soccer career, playing for, among others, Drumcondra, Glentoran, Leeds United and Aston Villa...
, Bill Gorman
Bill Gorman
William Charles Gorman , commonly referred to as Bill Gorman, is a former Irish footballer who played for, among others, Bury and Brentford. Gorman was a dual internationalist who also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
, Peter Farrell
Peter Farrell
Peter Desmond Farrell was an Irish footballer who played as an a right-half for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Everton and Tranmere Rovers. As an international, Farrell also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
, Alex Stevenson
Alex Stevenson
Alexander Ernest Stevenson was an Irish footballer who played for Rangers and Everton, amongst other teams. As an international, Stevenson also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
and Davy Walsh
Davy Walsh
David Joseph Walsh , commonly referred to as Davy Walsh or Dave Walsh, is a former Irish footballer who played as a centre forward for, among others, Linfield, West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa. Walsh was a dual international and played for both Ireland teams – the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
, he was one of seven players born in 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...
to play for the IFA XI that day. The draw helped the team finish as runners-up in the 1947 British Home Championship
1947 British Home Championship
The 1947 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1946–47 seasons, the first professional football seasons in Britain since the end of the Second World War...
. Eglington also helped the IFA XI gain some other respectable results, including a 2-0 win 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...
on October 4, 1947 and a 2-2 draw with 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...
at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
on November 5, 1947.
After Football
Eglington also ran a butcher's shop outside St. Gabriel's Church in Clontarf, Dublin for many years after his retirement.Honours
Shamrock Rovers- 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...
: 2- 1944, 1945:
- Inter-City CupDublin and Belfast Intercity CupThe Dublin and Belfast Inter-city Cup was a soccer competition that ran for eight seasons in Ireland between and including 1941/42-1948/49. Each season's competition consisted of 6 teams from each of the 2 jurisdictions on the island of Ireland, the Irish Football Association and the Football...
: 1- 1943
- 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...
: 1- 1944/45
- Hall of Fame
- 1994
Distillery
- FAI Intermediate CupFAI Intermediate CupThe FAI Intermediate Cup is an annual knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland outside of the League of Ireland and also not open to clubs who play in leagues permitting the use of public pitches...
: 1- 1942