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Jim Feeney

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Jim Feeney
Personal information
Full name James McBurney Feeney
Date of birth (1921-06-23)23 June 1921
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Date of death March 1985 (age 63)
Height 5 ft 9+12 in (1.77 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1939–1941 Crusaders
1941–1946 Linfield
1946–1950 Swansea Town 88 (0)
1950–1956 Ipswich Town 214 (0)
1957–1959 Toronto Ulster United
International career
1946–1949 Ireland 2 (0)
Managerial career
1958 Toronto Ulster United
1964 St. Andrews
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James McBurney Feeney (23 June 1921 – March 1985) was a Northern Irish professional footballer. During his career he made almost 100 appearances for Swansea City and over 200 appearances for Ipswich Town. Feeney's son and grandson, both named Warren, later represented Northern Ireland.[2]

Club career

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Born in Belfast, Feeney began his career as a junior with Crusaders. After they withdrew from football in 1941 due to the Second World War, he moved to Linfield with whom he played throughout the war as a winger before moving to full back.[3] He helped the side win three wartime league championships and Irish Cup's before moving to Swansea Town in December 1946.[2] After several years at Vetch Field, Feeney was appointed team captain and led Swansea to the Division Three South title before moving to Ipswich Town in March 1950. He made over 200 appearances at Portman Road before retiring in April 1956.[3]

In 1957, he played abroad in Canada's National Soccer League with Toronto Ulster United.[4] The following season he served as a player-coach for Ulster United.[5] He re-signed with Toronto for the 1959 NSL season.[6]

International career

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Feeney represented Ireland twice in wartime internationals, later winning his first full cap on 27 November 1946 in a 0–0 draw with Scotland. His second and final cap came three years later in a 9–2 defeat to England during the 1950 British Home Championship.[7]

Managerial career

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Feeney was the player-coach for Toronto Ulster United in 1958 and briefly served as the club's general manager.[4][8] He was also named the National Soccer League's All-Star head coach in 1958.[4] In 1964, he was named the head coach for St. Andrews of the Ontario Soccer League.[9] Following his time in Canada, Feeney returned to Northern Ireland, managing Ards' reserves.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Jim Feeney". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats (NIFG). Jonny Dewart. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Past players". Swansea City A.F.C. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Jim Feeney". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Waring, Ed (1 May 1958). "To Play Mexicans: Jimmy Feeney Coach Of NSL All-Star Team". The Globe and Mail. p. 31.
  5. ^ Waring, Ed (25 April 1958). "Ulster Gathers Power For NL Soccer Drive, Signing Star Talent". The Globe and Mail. p. 18.
  6. ^ Waring, Ed (17 August 1959). "Hamilton City, Italians In Ontario Soccer Final". The Globe and Mail. p. 22.
  7. ^ "England 9-2 Ireland". The Football Association. Retrieved 9 March 2010. [dead link]
  8. ^ Waring, Ed (12 August 1958). "Italia Needs Peak Power For Victory". The Globe and Mail. p. 14.
  9. ^ Waring, Ed (1 May 1964). "Soccer Coaching Post: Ex-Star in Erin, Feeney Is Signed By St. Andrew's". The Globe and Mail. p. 39.
  10. ^ "Warren Feeney". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
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