Bill Gorman
Encyclopedia
William Charles Gorman commonly referred to as Bill Gorman, is a former Irish footballer
who played for, among others, Bury
and Brentford
. Gorman was a dual internationalist
who also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI
. In September 1946 Gorman, along with Johnny Carey
, actually played for both teams against England
within three days of each other.
The 11 international caps Gorman won while playing for Bury
remain a club record.
and spoke with a Scottish accent. He began his footballing career with junior club Shettleston
. An engineer by trade, he went completely bald by the time he was 19 and subsequently became known as Old Naked Brains. In 1936, at the age of 25, Gorman moved south to the English League and joined Bury
. Early in the 1938-39 season, Gorman made a £7,000 move to Brentford
where he is still talked of as one of the club’s greatest ever defenders.
During the Second World War, Gorman continued to play for Brentford in regional leagues. However he also spent time in Lancashire
where he had two spells guesting regularly for Bury
. He spent the 1943-44 season guesting at Bolton Wanderers
where his team mates included a young Nat Lofthouse
. The war also gave Gorman the chance to guest with both Manchester United
and Liverpool
.
In October 1950 he was appointed player-manager of Deal Town
of the semi-professional Kent League
. He eventually retired as a player in 1952 but as a manager guided Deal to the league title in 1954.
- 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 Gorman, played for both teams.
at Dalymount Park
. Among the highlights of his international career were helping the FAI XI beat Germany
5-2 in a friendly on October 17, 1936. On November 7, 1937 he also played for the FAI XI in a World Cup qualifier
against Norway
. The game finished as a 3-3 draw. On September 30, 1946 he was a member of the first ever FAI XI to play against England
. Despite a credible performance, the FAI XI lost 1-0. Two days earlier Gorman had made his debut for the IFA XI
against the same opponents. He made his last appearance for the FAI XI on May 4, 1947 in 2-0 defeat against Portugal
.
. He made his debut for the IFA XI on September 28, 1946 in a 7-2 defeat against England
. On November 27, 1946 together with Johnny Carey
, Con Martin
, Peter Farrell
, Tommy Eglington
, Alex Stevenson
and Davy Walsh
, he was one of seven players born in the Irish Free State
to line up for the IFA XI against Scotland
at Hampden Park
.
The 0-0 draw helped the IFA XI finish as runners-up in the 1947 British Home Championship
. He also helped the IFA XI gain a 2-1 victory over Wales
on April 16, 1947. His fourth and final appearance for the IFA XI was a 2-0 defeat to Wales on March 10, 1948.
to work as an engineering inspector. He remained a regular spectator at Bury F.C.
matches, and also carried out some scouting work for Manchester City
while his friend George Poyser
was manager. He took early retirement form his job in March 1975. Sadly his wife died suddenly only a few weeks later. After a couple of heart attacks, he died in December 1978 at the age of 67. His daughter and grandson subsequently worked for Bury F.C.
.
Ireland
Manager
Deal Town
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...
who played for, among others, Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
. Gorman was a dual internationalist
Dual Irish international footballers
Dual Irish international footballers are a group of Irish international footballers who, between 1908 and March 1950, played for the international teams selected by both the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland...
who also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
. In September 1946 Gorman, along with Johnny Carey
Johnny Carey
John Joseph "Johnny" Carey , also known as Jackie Carey, was an Irish footballer and manager. As a player Carey spent most of his career at Manchester United, where he was team captain from 1946 until he retired as a player in 1953...
, actually played for both teams 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...
within three days of each other.
The 11 international caps Gorman won while playing for Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
remain a club record.
Club career
Although born in County Sligo, Gorman was raised in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and spoke with a Scottish accent. He began his footballing career with junior club Shettleston
Shettleston F.C.
Shettleston Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Shettleston, in the East End of Glasgow. Nicknamed the Town, they were formed in 1903 and are based at Greenfield Park...
. An engineer by trade, he went completely bald by the time he was 19 and subsequently became known as Old Naked Brains. In 1936, at the age of 25, Gorman moved south to the English League and joined Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
. Early in the 1938-39 season, Gorman made a £7,000 move to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
where he is still talked of as one of the club’s greatest ever defenders.
During the Second World War, Gorman continued to play for Brentford in regional leagues. However he also spent time in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
where he had two spells guesting regularly for Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
. He spent the 1943-44 season guesting at Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
where his team mates included a young Nat Lofthouse
Nat Lofthouse
Nathaniel "Nat" Lofthouse, OBE was an English professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers for his whole career...
. The war also gave Gorman the chance to guest with both Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
In October 1950 he was appointed player-manager of Deal Town
Deal Town F.C.
Deal Town F.C. is a football club based in Deal in Kent, England. They were established in 1908 and won the FA Vase in 2000. They are currently members of the Kent League Premier Division.-History:...
of the semi-professional Kent League
Kent League
The Kent League is an English football league for teams based in Kent and south east London, which was established in 1966. It was also the name of a similar league which existed from 1894 until 1959.-History:...
. He eventually retired as a player in 1952 but as a manager guided Deal to the league title in 1954.
Irish international
When Gorman began his international career in 1936 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
- based IFA
Irish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
and the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
- based FAI
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and selected players from the whole island. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including Gorman, played for both teams.
FAI XI
Between 1936 and 1947 Gorman made 13 appearances for the FAI XI. He made his international debut on March 17, 1936 in a 1-0 win against SwitzerlandSwitzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
. Among the highlights of his international career were helping the FAI XI beat Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
5-2 in a friendly on October 17, 1936. On November 7, 1937 he also played for the FAI XI in a World Cup qualifier
1938 FIFA World Cup qualification
-Group 2:----Norway qualified.-Group 3:----Poland finished above Yugoslavia on goal average, and thus qualified.-Group 5:Switzerland qualified.-First round:----Greece qualified for the final round....
against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
. The game finished as a 3-3 draw. On September 30, 1946 he was a member of the first ever FAI XI to play 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...
. Despite a credible performance, the FAI XI lost 1-0. Two days earlier Gorman had made his debut for the IFA XI
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
against the same opponents. He made his last appearance for the FAI XI on May 4, 1947 in 2-0 defeat against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
.
IFA XI
Between 1946 and 1948 Gorman also made 4 appearances for the IFA XIIreland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
. He made his debut for the IFA XI on September 28, 1946 in a 7-2 defeat 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 November 27, 1946 together with Johnny Carey
Johnny Carey
John Joseph "Johnny" Carey , also known as Jackie Carey, was an Irish footballer and manager. As a player Carey spent most of his career at Manchester United, where he was team captain from 1946 until he retired as a player in 1953...
, Con Martin
Con Martin
Cornelius Joseph Martin , commonly referred to as Con Martin, is a former Irish footballer. Martin initially played Gaelic football with Dublin before switching codes and embarking on a successful soccer career, playing for, among others, Drumcondra, Glentoran, Leeds United and Aston Villa...
, Peter Farrell
Peter Farrell
Peter Desmond Farrell was an Irish footballer who played as an a right-half for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Everton and Tranmere Rovers. As an international, Farrell also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
, Tommy Eglington
Tommy Eglington
Thomas Joseph Eglington was an Irish footballer who played as an outside-left for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Everton and Tranmere Rovers. Eglington was also a dual internationalist and played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI.Eglington’s playing career followed a similar...
, Alex Stevenson
Alex Stevenson
Alexander Ernest Stevenson was an Irish footballer who played for Rangers and Everton, amongst other teams. As an international, Stevenson also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
and Davy Walsh
Davy Walsh
David Joseph Walsh , commonly referred to as Davy Walsh or Dave Walsh, is a former Irish footballer who played as a centre forward for, among others, Linfield, West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa. Walsh was a dual international and played for both Ireland teams – the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
, he was one of seven players born in the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
to line up for the IFA XI against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
.
The 0-0 draw helped the IFA XI finish as runners-up in the 1947 British Home Championship
1947 British Home Championship
The 1947 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1946–47 seasons, the first professional football seasons in Britain since the end of the Second World War...
. He also helped the IFA XI gain a 2-1 victory over Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on April 16, 1947. His fourth and final appearance for the IFA XI was a 2-0 defeat to Wales on March 10, 1948.
Later years
In February 1955 Gorman returned to BuryBury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
to work as an engineering inspector. He remained a regular spectator at Bury F.C.
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
matches, and also carried out some scouting work for Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
while his friend George Poyser
George Poyser
George Henry Poyser was an English football player and manager. He enjoyed a lengthy playing career, most notably with Brentford, the tail end of which was interrupted by World War II. He was also a manager, taking charge of both Notts County and Manchester City.-Playing career:Poyser played as a...
was manager. He took early retirement form his job in March 1975. Sadly his wife died suddenly only a few weeks later. After a couple of heart attacks, he died in December 1978 at the age of 67. His daughter and grandson subsequently worked for Bury F.C.
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
.
Honours
PlayerIreland
- British Home ChampionshipBritish Home ChampionshipThe British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
- Runners Up 1946-471947 British Home ChampionshipThe 1947 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1946–47 seasons, the first professional football seasons in Britain since the end of the Second World War...
1
- Runners Up 1946-47
Manager
Deal Town
- Kent LeagueKent LeagueThe Kent League is an English football league for teams based in Kent and south east London, which was established in 1966. It was also the name of a similar league which existed from 1894 until 1959.-History:...
- Winners 1953-54: 1