Allan Mathieson
Encyclopedia
Allan Mathieson was an Irish
football
player, notable at Luton Town
and New Brighton
.
, Mathieson emerged with Glentoran
in the Irish League
in the immediate post-Great War
period. Although he would not have been considered large today, at the time he was considered a giant of a man, with a wide frame and standing at 5 ft 11 in. Despite this, he became known as a tactical player with delicate footwork and skill. He reached the Irish Cup
Final in 1919, as an inside-left for Glentoran, but after three matches Glentoran lost to rivals Linfield
.
Mathieson was transferred to English
Third Division South
side Luton Town
in September 1919, and soon set up a forward partnership with fellow Irish International Louis Bookman
and Ernie Simms
.
The highlight of his playing career was when he ran out for Ireland twice in 1921. His second game, against England
on 22 October, saw three Luton Town forwards all on the pitch at the same time – the first time one club had contributed three forwards to one International match. Louis Bookman was playing alongside Mathieson for Ireland, and Ernie Simms was up front for England.
After playing for Exeter City
and New Brighton
, Mathieson emigrated to Canada
, and played in both Canada and the United States
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, notable at 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 New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
.
Career
Born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Mathieson emerged with Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
in the Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
in the immediate post-Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
period. Although he would not have been considered large today, at the time he was considered a giant of a man, with a wide frame and standing at 5 ft 11 in. Despite this, he became known as a tactical player with delicate footwork and skill. He reached the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
Final in 1919, as an inside-left for Glentoran, but after three matches Glentoran lost to rivals Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
.
Mathieson was transferred to English
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
side 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...
in September 1919, and soon set up a forward partnership with fellow Irish International Louis Bookman
Louis Bookman
Louis Bookman , also known as Louis Buckhalter or Louis Buchalter, was a Lithuanian Jewish footballer and cricketer who represented his adopted country, Ireland, at both sports...
and Ernie Simms
Ernie Simms
Ernest "Ernie" Simms was an English footballer, who was best known as a Luton Town centre forward. He was the first forward to play for England while playing for a Third Division club.-Luton Town:...
.
The highlight of his playing career was when he ran out for Ireland twice in 1921. His second game, against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
on 22 October, saw three Luton Town forwards all on the pitch at the same time – the first time one club had contributed three forwards to one International match. Louis Bookman was playing alongside Mathieson for Ireland, and Ernie Simms was up front for England.
After playing for Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
and New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
, Mathieson emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and played in both Canada and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.