Ned Weir

Ned Weir (born 1910, date of death unknown) was an Irish footballer who played for several clubs in the Scottish Football League. Weir was also a dual Irish international and played for both Ireland teams – the IFA XI and the FAI XI.[2] After retiring as a player he managed Dundalk.

Ned Weir
Personal information
Full name Edward Weir
Date of birth 1910
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Bonnybridge St. Josephs
Camelon Juniors F.C.
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1929–1930 Falkirk 7 (0)
1930–1938 St Bernard's
1938–1939 Clyde 44 (0)
1946–1947 Raith Rovers 20 (1)
1947–1948 Dunfermline Athletic 3 (0)
1948 Dundalk 0 (0)
National team‡
1939 Ireland (IFA) 1 (0)
1939 Ireland (FAI) 3 (0)
1940[1] Scotland (wartime) 1 (0)
Teams managed
1948–1950 Dundalk
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 December 2007
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 December 2007

Club career

Weir was raised in Scotland and began playing football with his local church side, St Joseph's in Bonnybridge, before joining Camelon Juniors F.C. where he developed his skills as a left-half. He spent three seasons with Falkirk but was largely a bit-part player. He then joined St Bernard's of the Scottish Second Division, initially on loan. During the 1937–38 season, he was spotted by a Dublin football fan, Matt Murtagh. Murtagh subsequently recommended him to both the IFA and the FAI. Before the following season he was transferred to Clyde and in 1939 he helped them win the Scottish Cup. Weir put in a man of the match performance as Clyde beat Rangers 4–1 in the third round.[3] Clyde then went on to win the cup, beating Motherwell 4–0 in the final.[4] While at Clyde, Weir also played for a Scotland XI in a 3–2 win against an Eire XI at Dalymount Park in an unofficial international match in April 1940.[5][1]

Irish international

When Weir played international football during 1939 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland – based IFA and the Irish Free State – 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 Weir, played for both teams.

IFA XI

Weir made his international debut with the IFA XI on 15 March 1939 in a 3–1 away defeat against Wales. This was his one and only appearance for the IFA XI. [6]

FAI XI

Weir also made 3 appearances for the FAI XI, all in 1939. Four days after playing for the IFA XI, he made his debut for the FAI XI on 19 March in a 2–2 draw with Hungary at the Mardyke. He then went on a European tour with the FAI XI and played in the team's last two internationals before the Second World War. The first of these was a return game against Hungary on 18 May which again finished as a 2–2 draw. He made his last appearance for the FAI XI on 23 May in a 1–1 draw with Germany. [7]

Coaching career

In 1948 Weir joined Dundalk as a player-coach but only played a few pre-season friendlies. However, he went on to manage Dundalk for two seasons, guiding them victory in both the FAI Cup and the Dublin City Cup in 1949. [8] He is largely credited with bringing a new level of professionalism to Dundalk, employing Scottish backroom staff and recruiting four Scottish players.

Honours

Player

Clyde

Manager

Dundalk

References
  1. Irish XI v Scottish XI, 28 April 1940, 11v11.com
  2. "Players Appearing for Two or More Countries". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  3. The Boys In Green – The FAI International Story (1997): Sean Ryan
  4. Scottish Cup final: 80th anniversary for Clyde side that held the trophy longest, BBC Sport, 27 May 2019
  5. Scotland matches in 1940 ScottishLeague.Net. Retrieved 18-03-2014.
  6. "Northern Ireland fansite". Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2007.
  7. Ireland (FAI) stats
  8. Dundalk F.C. 1940s
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