Sid Ireland
Encyclopedia
Sidney "Sid" Ireland was an English professional footballer who played as a left-back, spending most of his career with Southampton
.
, Staffordshire
and, after leaving school, worked as a coal-miner at nearby Kingsbury Colliery
where he was spotted by scouts from Southampton
, joining the Southern League
club in the summer of 1911.
He made his "Saints" debut on 30 September 1911, taking the place of John Robertson
in a 2–1 victory over Northampton Town
. Although he also played in the following match, a 5–0 defeat by Brighton
, Ireland spent the rest of the season in the reserves until returning to the first-team on 23 March 1912 in place of Robertson (who had been sold to Rangers
), with manager George Swift attempting to improve the performances of a side which had won only once in the previous ten games. Southampton defeated Luton Town
and followed this with a victory over Plymouth Argyle
and Ireland retained his place for the rest of the season which ended with the Saints three points above the relegation zone.
Ireland now made the left-back position his own and was ever-present in the 1912–13 season under new coach Jimmy McIntyre
. Although Saints continued to struggle on the pitch, again finishing the season just above the relegation places, Ireland began to establish a reputation as "the best left-back in the Southern League". Missing only two matches in the following season, Ireland was rewarded by representing the Southern League against the Scottish and Irish Leagues.
In the 1914–15 season, when Ireland missed only three matches, Southampton began to show signs of improvement, finishing sixth in the table, before the First World War caused the suspension of normal football for four years.
During the war, Ireland guested for Manchester United
as well as turning out occasionally for Southampton. He also played several representative matches for the Midlands against the Rest of England in 1916 and for an England XI later that same year. His military duties took him to the Western Front
, where he was captured by the Germans in 1918, spending the remainder of the war in a prisoner-of-war camp
.
Although he played for Southampton in a Victory Cup match against Boscombe in February 1919, Ireland moved on to join Merthyr Town
in the summer of 1919 for their final season in the Southern League, in what the "Athletics News" described as "an outstanding capture".
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
.
Football career
Ireland was born in TamworthTamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and, after leaving school, worked as a coal-miner at nearby Kingsbury Colliery
Kingsbury Colliery
Kingsbury Colliery was a coal mine in Kingsbury, Warwickshire which operated between 1897 and 1968.It was opened in 1897 and changed the nature of the village almost overnight from a predominantly agriculturally based community to a mining village, and helped Kingsbury's expansion...
where he was spotted by scouts from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, joining the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
club in the summer of 1911.
He made his "Saints" debut on 30 September 1911, taking the place of John Robertson
John Nicol Robertson
John Nicol Robertson was a Scottish professional footballer who played at half-back for various clubs in the early 20th century, spending most of his career with Southampton.-Football career:...
in a 2–1 victory over Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
. Although he also played in the following match, a 5–0 defeat by Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, Ireland spent the rest of the season in the reserves until returning to the first-team on 23 March 1912 in place of Robertson (who had been sold to Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
), with manager George Swift attempting to improve the performances of a side which had won only once in the previous ten games. Southampton defeated Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
and followed this with a victory over Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and Ireland retained his place for the rest of the season which ended with the Saints three points above the relegation zone.
Ireland now made the left-back position his own and was ever-present in the 1912–13 season under new coach Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
. Although Saints continued to struggle on the pitch, again finishing the season just above the relegation places, Ireland began to establish a reputation as "the best left-back in the Southern League". Missing only two matches in the following season, Ireland was rewarded by representing the Southern League against the Scottish and Irish Leagues.
In the 1914–15 season, when Ireland missed only three matches, Southampton began to show signs of improvement, finishing sixth in the table, before the First World War caused the suspension of normal football for four years.
During the war, Ireland guested for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
as well as turning out occasionally for Southampton. He also played several representative matches for the Midlands against the Rest of England in 1916 and for an England XI later that same year. His military duties took him to the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, where he was captured by the Germans in 1918, spending the remainder of the war in a prisoner-of-war camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
.
Although he played for Southampton in a Victory Cup match against Boscombe in February 1919, Ireland moved on to join Merthyr Town
Merthyr Town F.C.
Merthyr Town Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club based in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. For the 2011–2012 season the club will be playing in the Western Football League Premier Division at Penydarren Park in Merthyr....
in the summer of 1919 for their final season in the Southern League, in what the "Athletics News" described as "an outstanding capture".