Ed McIlvenny
Encyclopedia
Edward John "Ed" McIlvenny (21 October 1924 in Greenock
, Renfrewshire
, Scotland
– 18 May 1989 in Eastbourne
, Sussex
, England
), also known as Eddie McIlvenny, was a Scottish-American soccer player who most notably captained the United States national team
in their 1–0 upset
of England
in the 1950 FIFA World Cup
.
He learned the game as a youth and was selected to Scottish Junior League on a tour of the North of Scotland. In 1947 he signed with the Welsh
club Wrexham A.F.C.
, then in the Third Division North
of the English Football League
, but he only played seven games for them before moving to the U.S. in 1949 to stay with his sister.
McIlvenny excelled with the Philadelphia Nationals
of the American Soccer League
, where he teamed up with U.S. national team captain Walter Bahr
, and was selected to join the national team during their 1950 World Cup appearance. He was given the honor of being captain for the game against England "because he was British", and in that game, it was this throw-in
that led to the U.S. goal. Although he was not a U.S. citizen, he had declared his intention of becoming one and thus was eligible to play, according to the rules of the United States Soccer Football Association
at the time.
However, he never did gain citizenship. Earlier that same year, he had played in an All-Star game against Manchester United
and his play attracted the attention of United manager Matt Busby
, who offered him a spot on the team after the World Cup. Upon his return to England, the English press called him "The Yank from the Tail of the Bank
" (a reference to the sand bank that finishes at Greenock). He only had two appearances for them, however, and transferred to Waterford United
of the League of Ireland
instead. He played for them for four years and then returned to England to play for Headington United, after which he retired from playing and ran a football school.
In the movie The Game of Their Lives that depicted the U.S. victory over England, McIlvenny (played by U.S. soccer player John Harkes
) was given a much smaller role and the captainship was given to Walter Bahr instead. McIlvenny's widow, Sheila, was reported as saying: "It's disappointing, but what do you expect from Hollywood?... It is not the true story, not at all. I think he would have accepted it, but I don't think he would have been happy with it because it wasn't the truth."
He was enshrined in the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame
, along with the other members of the 1950 World Cup team, in 1976. He is also featured in the Scottish Football Museum
.
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, Scotland
Scotland
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...
– 18 May 1989 in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), also known as Eddie McIlvenny, was a Scottish-American soccer player who most notably captained the United States national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in their 1–0 upset
England v United States (1950)
On 29 June 1950, at the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the United States defeated England 1–0 in a group match. This unexpected result has led to the match being described as the "Miracle on Grass", in reference to the 1980 Miracle on Ice, in which the US ice hockey team beat the Soviet Union. The...
of 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...
in the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
.
He learned the game as a youth and was selected to Scottish Junior League on a tour of the North of Scotland. In 1947 he signed with the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
club Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
, then in the Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
of the English Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, but he only played seven games for them before moving to the U.S. in 1949 to stay with his sister.
McIlvenny excelled with the Philadelphia Nationals
Philadelphia Nationals
Philadelphia Passon was an American soccer club based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was a member of the professional American Soccer League.Before the 1941/42 season, the club became the Philadelphia Nationals...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
, where he teamed up with U.S. national team captain Walter Bahr
Walter Bahr
Walter Alfred Bahr is a retired American soccer player, considered one of the greatest ever in his country. He was the long-time captain of the U.S. national team and played in the 1950 FIFA World Cup when the U.S...
, and was selected to join the national team during their 1950 World Cup appearance. He was given the honor of being captain for the game against England "because he was British", and in that game, it was this throw-in
Throw-in
A throw-in is a method of restarting play in a game of Association football.-Procedure:The throw-in is taken from the point where the ball crossed the touch-line. The throw-in is taken by the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when it crossed the touch-line, either on the ground or...
that led to the U.S. goal. Although he was not a U.S. citizen, he had declared his intention of becoming one and thus was eligible to play, according to the rules of the United States Soccer Football Association
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
at the time.
However, he never did gain citizenship. Earlier that same year, he had played in an All-Star game against 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 his play attracted the attention of United manager Matt Busby
Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby, CBE, KCSG was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and again for the second half of the 1970–1971 season...
, who offered him a spot on the team after the World Cup. Upon his return to England, the English press called him "The Yank from the Tail of the Bank
Tail of the Bank
The Tail of the Bank is the name given to the anchorage in the upper Firth of Clyde immediately north of Greenock and Gourock. This area of the firth gets its name from the sandbar immediately to its east which marks the entrance to the estuary of the River Clyde.The Tail of the Bank was a...
" (a reference to the sand bank that finishes at Greenock). He only had two appearances for them, however, and transferred to Waterford United
Waterford United
Waterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
of the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
instead. He played for them for four years and then returned to England to play for Headington United, after which he retired from playing and ran a football school.
In the movie The Game of Their Lives that depicted the U.S. victory over England, McIlvenny (played by U.S. soccer player John Harkes
John Harkes
John Harkes is an American former soccer player. Harkes was the first American ever to play in the English Premier League, and the second American to score at Wembley Stadium. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He appeared in two FIFA World Cup tournaments, and won two MLS Cup...
) was given a much smaller role and the captainship was given to Walter Bahr instead. McIlvenny's widow, Sheila, was reported as saying: "It's disappointing, but what do you expect from Hollywood?... It is not the true story, not at all. I think he would have accepted it, but I don't think he would have been happy with it because it wasn't the truth."
He was enshrined in the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
, along with the other members of the 1950 World Cup team, in 1976. He is also featured in the Scottish Football Museum
Scottish Football Museum
The Scottish Football Museum is the Scottish Football Association's National Museum of football, located in Hampden Park in Glasgow.-The Museum:...
.