- Frank Loughran
Football player infobox
playername= Frank Loughran
fullname = Francis Loughran
height =
nickname = Francie, Frank
dateofbirth =January 31 ,1931
cityofbirth =Belfast
countryofbirth =Northern Ireland
dateofdeath =January 11 ,2008
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =Australia
currentclub =
clubcrest =
clubnumber =
position =Midfielder
years = -
1954-1961
clubs = Brantwood
Moreland
caps(goals) = - (-)
- (-)
nationalyears = 1955-1958
nationalteam = Australia
nationalcaps(goals) = 8 (2)Frank Loughran (
January 31 ,1931 –January 11 ,2008 ) was a Belfast-born footballer who was considered to be one of the pioneers of the sport in Australia. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23052673-2883,00.html] Herald Sun] Loughran moved toAustralia at the age of 23 with his wife Lily and two small sons.Club career
Loughran grew up in the
Ardoyne area of north Belfast and spent his early football career at amateur club Brantwood.After settling in
Melbourne , he joined his brother-in-law Andy at Moreland Soccer Club. He showed such skill and potential for the Victorian Division 1 team that he soon caught the eye of both Victoria and Australian selectors. He made his debut for Moreland onApril 3 1954 at Fawkner Park inSouth Yarra . He scored once in a 7-1 victory. [ [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/1954D1R.html Oz Football] ]Loughran scored for Moreland in their 2-1 victory over Juventus in the 1957 final of the
Dockerty Cup , played at Olympic Park in Melbourne. [ [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/1957DockertyCup.html Dockerty Cup Results] ] Also in 1957 he helped Moreland finish second in Victorian Division 1, which saw the club promoted to the Victorian State League.In total, would enjoy eight years at Moreland before retiring at the end of the 1961 season.
International career
Loughran represented the Socceroos at various levels between 1955 and 1960. A midfielder, Loughran played a total of eight full international matches for Australia scoring two goals, one each against Japan and New Zealand.
In total he represented Australia 38 times, mostly in B internationals, scoring 22 goals. He added another 20 in 25 matches for Victoria. [ [http://au.sports.yahoo.com/football/australian-a-league/news/article/-/128162/socceroo-passes-away] AAP]
Loughran first represented his adopted country in July 1955 when he turned out for an Australian XI in a B international against South China. He scored twice. [ [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1955B.html Oz Football] ] His first senior cap came on September 3 1955 at Brisbane Cricket Ground in a 0-3 defeat to South Africa. [ [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1955A.html Ibid] ]
Also in 1955, he would play his part in a further two matches with South Africa, which both ended in defeat, as well as appearing in two more B internationals.
Loughran represented Australia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the first time Australia took part in the Olympic soccer tournament. He scored in the opening match at Olympic Park, a 2-0 win against Japan.Desira, Peter. [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23052673-2883,00.html "Belfast-born Socceroo pioneer Frank Loughran dies at 77"] , "
Herald Sun ",January 15 ,2008 . AccessedJanuary 21 ,2008 . "Loughran represented Australia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the first time Australia took part in the Olympic soccer tournament. He also scored in the opening match at Olympic Park, a 2-0 win against Japan. The Belfast-born Loughran, an inaugural inductee to the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1999, ended up with 22 goals in 38 matches for Australia."] They lost their second match to India 4-1.In 1957, Australia only played B games hosting FK Austria,
Ferencvaros and Eastern Athletic fromHong Kong . The following year, the international B team played a series of matches against Blackpool, who featuredStanley Matthews .Loughran scored in the first of these games. Later in 1958, Loughran was part of the Australia squad that embarked on a ten match tour of
New Zealand . The Australians played two tests against New Zealand and the remainder of games against local representative and club sides. Loughran scored in the first senior game. [ [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1958B.html Oz Football] ]His final game in an Australia shirt came on May 16, 1959 in a 1-7 defeat in
Brisbane to the touring Hearts side. [ [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1959B.html Ibid] ]His success helped him become an inaugural inductee to the
Australian Football (Soccer) Hall of Fame in February 1999. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23052673-2883,00.html] Herald Sun]He was invested with the Medal of Excellence at the ceremony. This is awarded for distinguished service or contributions to football in Australia, whether at state/territory level, nationally or internationally.
Full international caps and goals
:"Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first."
Miscellaneous
Loughran was invited to take part in the Torch Relay for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Death
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