Jack Kirwan

Football player infobox
playername= Jack Kirwan


fullname = John Henry Kirwan
dateofbirth = February 9 1878
cityofbirth = County Wicklow
countryofbirth = Ireland
position= Outside-Left
dateofdeath = January 9 1959
cityofdeath = London
countryofdeath = England
years = 1894
18xx-18xx
189x-1898
1898-1899
1899-1905
1905-08
1908-1909
1909-1910
clubs= Dublin GAA (Gaelic football)
St. James Gate
Southport Central
Everton
Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea
Clyde
Leyton Orient
caps(goals) =
0240 (5)
347 (97)
073 (17)
nationalyears = 1900-1909
nationalteam = Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 17 (2)
manageryears = 1910-1915
1923-24
managerclubs = Ajax Amsterdam
A.S.Livorno

John Henry Kirwan (born February 9 1878, County Wicklow, Ireland; died January 9 1959, London, England), commonly referred to as John Kirwan or Jack Kirwan, is a former Irish footballer and coach. Described as an out and out winger with good pace and skills, he played as an outside-left for, among others, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Ireland. As a coach he became the first professional manager of Ajax Amsterdam. He was the last survivor of the Tottenham team that won the F A cup in 1901.

Playing career

Early years

Kirwan initially played Gaelic football for Dublin and soccer with St. James Gate in Ireland. Kirwan won an All-Ireland medal with Dublin in 1894 when they defeated Cork by 1-2 to 0-5 after a replay. Although both the final and the replay finished level, Dublin were awarded the cup. He then joined Southport Central of the Lancashire League where he attracted the attentions of both Everton and Blackburn Rovers. He opted to sign for Everton in July 1898 and was subsequently used to replace John Cameron who had been sold to Tottenham Hotspur. He made his league debut for Everton against Preston N.E. in September 1898. During his one season at the club he made 24 league appearances and scored 5 goals. He also played a further 2 games in the FA Cup. While at Everton his team-mates included among others Samuel Wolstenholme.

Tottenham Hotspur

After just one season at Everton, Kirwan followed John Cameron to Tottenham Hotspur where the latter was now manager. During his six seasons at Tottenham, his played alongside John Brearley and Vivian Woodward. Kirwan scored 97 goals in 347 games for the club. This included 23 in games in FA Cup. He also helped the club win the Southern League in 1900 and the FA Cup in 1901. This saw Tottenham become the only club outside the English League to win the competition. Kirwan kept the ball used in the final until he died in 1959. In 1900 Kirwan also became became the first Spurs player capped by Ireland.

Later years

In May 1905 Kirwan left Tottenham Hotspur and joined Chelsea. He made 73 league appearances for Chelsea and scored 17 league goals. In 1907 he helped Chelsea finish runners up in the Second Division and thus gain promotion. Kirwan also played 3 games for Chelsea in the FA Cup, scoring 1 goal. After leaving Chelsea he played for Clyde and Leyton Orient before retiring as a player.

Irish international

Between 1900 and 1909 Kirwan played 17 times for Ireland. He made his international debut on February 24 1900 in a 2-0 away defeat to Wales. Kirwan, together with Archie Goodall, Billy Scott, Billy McCracken and Robert Milne, was a member of the Ireland team that clinched a share in the 1903 British Home Championship. Until then the competition had been monopolised by England and Scotland. However in 1903, before goal difference was applied, Ireland forced a three way share. Despite losing their opening game 4-0 to England, the Irish then beat Scotland for the first time on March 21 1903. Kirwan scored his first goal for Ireland in the 2-0 win at Celtic Park. He then helped Ireland beat Wales 2-0 in the final game of the tournament. He scored his second goal for Ireland in a 3-1 defeat to England on March 12 1904. His final game for Ireland was a 5-0 defeat to Scotland on March 15 1909.

Coaching career

In September 1910 Kirwan moved to the Netherlands where he became the first professional manager at Ajax Amsterdam. In 1911 he led Ajax to the Dutch Second Class title and victory in a promotion play-off, thus guiding the club into the Dutch top flight for the first time. Kirwan returned to London after the outbreak of the First World War and was succeeded as Ajax coach by Jack Reynolds. Kirwan later coached A.S. Livorno in Italy for one season before settling in the London area.

Honours

"Gaelic footballer"

Dublin
*All- Ireland
**"Champions" : 1894 1

"Soccer player"

Tottenham Hotspur

*FA Cup: 1
**1900-01
*Southern League
**"Winners" 1899-1900: 1
**"Runners Up" 1901-02, 1903-04: 2
*Western League
**"Winners" 1903-04: 1
*Sheriff of London Charity Shield: 1
**1902

Chelsea
*Second Division
**"Runners Up"
**1906-07

Ireland
*British Home Championship
**"Shared title"
**1903

"Manager"

Ajax
*Dutch Second Class
**"Winners" 1910-11: 1

ources

*"Who’s Who Of Everton" (2004): Tony Matthews [http://www.shop-com.co.uk/op/~Who's_Who_of_Everton_(Hardback)_Tony_Matthews-prod-25696581?sourceid=363]

External links

* [http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2007/01/jack-kirwan.html Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats]
* [http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s150/st82250.htm Tottenham stats]
* [http://www.ajax-usa.com/history/ajax/the_ancient_ajax.html Cited as early Ajax manager]