Eddie Flynn
Encyclopedia
Eddie Flynn was an Irish
professional soccer player who was an outstanding goalie in the League of Ireland
during the 1930's and 1940s. Flynn played for St. James’ Gate, the Bohemians, Cliftonville and Drumcondra, among others, during his career in the League of Ireland
and the Irish League.
Flynn emigrated to Canada in the late 1940s, where he continued to play soccer for the East End Canadians and Ulster United. He was also selected for the Ontario All Stars.
In 1950, Flynn emigrated from Canada to the United States. In New York, he continued his soccer career, playing for the New York Americans, the Brooklyn Hispanos and the New York Hakoah.
In 1938, Flynn played Goalie for the St. James’ Gate Football Club
(sponsored by Guinness
Brewers, where Flynn was also employed at the time) in Dublin, Ireland
. That same year, St. James’ Gate won the FAI Cup
, defeating Dundalk
2-1.
In 1939 Flynn joined the Bohemians Football Club, Dublin, Ireland, where he was a stand-out Goalie. With Flynn in goal, the Bohemians stopped Limerick’s run for the FAI Cup.
From 1941 to 1942, Flynn played Goalie for the Irish League’s Cliftonville Football Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Known as “The Reds,” Cliftonville is the oldest football team in Ireland, founded in 1879.
From 1942 - 1944, Flynn was Goalie for the Drumcondra Football Club in Dublin, Ireland. With Flynn in goal, Drumcondra won both the FAI Cup and the LFA Senior Challenge Cup in the 1942-43 season. Before they could reach the Cup final, however, the Drums had to defeat Limerick in the semi-finals. Flynn played for Drumcondra until at least 1944. In that year, Flynn was chosen as Goalie of the Ireland team for a match against Army.
, Toronto, Canada, in about 1949. Here, he shared goaltending duties with Norm Briley.
In 1950, Flynn was Goalie for Ulster United (also known as the “Redhanders”), also of the National Soccer League
Toronto Canada. In 1950, Flynn was selected as spare goalie for the Ontario All-Stars match against the English Internationals.
In September, 1950, Flynn emigrated from Canada to the United States, where he continued to shine as a goalie. In 1951, Flynn played Goalie for the New York Americans
. In the spring of 1951, the Americans became the first United States soccer club to travel to Bermuda, where they played a series of exhibition games against Bermudan teams. The Americans returned from this five-game tour undefeated.
While a member of the New York Americans, Flynn was selected in May 1952 to play against Manchester United as Goalie for the New York Select/All Stars team.
In June 1952, Flynn was in goal as the New York Americans played in the finals of the Lewis Cup against the Philadelphia Nationals at Yankee Stadium. The Americans lost 2-1.
In the fall of 1952, Flynn played in goal for the Brooklyn Hispano
, New York, and in the spring of 1953, he was Goalie for Hakoah, New York, where he finished out his career on a high note. Hakoah upset the Newark Portuguese
in Duffy Cup play 2-0 with Flynn’s help in the net.
Flynn retired from professional soccer at the end of the 1953 season.
, County Dublin, Ireland, was the youngest of 13 children (4 girls and 9 boys). His parents were Thomas Flynn and Catherine Coote. On 28 December 1948, he married Violet Pollock (1918 - ) in West Paterson, New Jersey, USA. They have one daughter, Tara. Flynn died at the age of 82 on March 6, 2002 in Collegeville, PA.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
professional soccer player who was an outstanding goalie in 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...
during the 1930's and 1940s. Flynn played for St. James’ Gate, the Bohemians, Cliftonville and Drumcondra, among others, during his career in 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...
and the Irish League.
Flynn emigrated to Canada in the late 1940s, where he continued to play soccer for the East End Canadians and Ulster United. He was also selected for the Ontario All Stars.
In 1950, Flynn emigrated from Canada to the United States. In New York, he continued his soccer career, playing for the New York Americans, the Brooklyn Hispanos and the New York Hakoah.
Ireland
Flynn began his soccer career in about 1937 as Goalie for the Grangegorman Football Club.In 1938, Flynn played Goalie for the St. James’ Gate Football Club
St James's Gate F.C.
St James's Gate F.C. is an Irish football club that currently plays in the Leinster Senior League. St James Gate was founded as the footballing part of the Guinness Sports and Social club and was named after St. James's Gate Brewery....
(sponsored by Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
Brewers, where Flynn was also employed at the time) in Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. That same year, St. James’ Gate won the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
, defeating Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
2-1.
In 1939 Flynn joined the Bohemians Football Club, Dublin, Ireland, where he was a stand-out Goalie. With Flynn in goal, the Bohemians stopped Limerick’s run for the FAI Cup.
From 1941 to 1942, Flynn played Goalie for the Irish League’s Cliftonville Football Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Known as “The Reds,” Cliftonville is the oldest football team in Ireland, founded in 1879.
From 1942 - 1944, Flynn was Goalie for the Drumcondra Football Club in Dublin, Ireland. With Flynn in goal, Drumcondra won both the FAI Cup and the LFA Senior Challenge Cup in the 1942-43 season. Before they could reach the Cup final, however, the Drums had to defeat Limerick in the semi-finals. Flynn played for Drumcondra until at least 1944. In that year, Flynn was chosen as Goalie of the Ireland team for a match against Army.
North America
After emigrating to Canada, Flynn continued his outstanding soccer career. He joined the East End Canadians, of the National Soccer LeagueNational Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
, Toronto, Canada, in about 1949. Here, he shared goaltending duties with Norm Briley.
In 1950, Flynn was Goalie for Ulster United (also known as the “Redhanders”), also of the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
Toronto Canada. In 1950, Flynn was selected as spare goalie for the Ontario All-Stars match against the English Internationals.
In September, 1950, Flynn emigrated from Canada to the United States, where he continued to shine as a goalie. In 1951, Flynn played Goalie for the New York Americans
New York Americans
The New York Americans were a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York from 1925 to 1942. They were the third expansion team in the history of the National Hockey League and the second to play in the United States. The team never won the Stanley Cup, but reached the semifinals...
. In the spring of 1951, the Americans became the first United States soccer club to travel to Bermuda, where they played a series of exhibition games against Bermudan teams. The Americans returned from this five-game tour undefeated.
While a member of the New York Americans, Flynn was selected in May 1952 to play against Manchester United as Goalie for the New York Select/All Stars team.
In June 1952, Flynn was in goal as the New York Americans played in the finals of the Lewis Cup against the Philadelphia Nationals at Yankee Stadium. The Americans lost 2-1.
In the fall of 1952, Flynn played in goal for the Brooklyn Hispano
Brooklyn Hispano
The Brooklyn Hispano was an American soccer club based in Brooklyn, New York that was an inaugural member of the reformed American Soccer League. The club was named the Brooklyn Giants for the 1942/43 season only....
, New York, and in the spring of 1953, he was Goalie for Hakoah, New York, where he finished out his career on a high note. Hakoah upset the Newark Portuguese
Newark Portuguese
The Newark Portuguese were an American soccer club based in Newark, New Jersey that was a member of the American Soccer League. The club had been around since 1922 and bought out the Kearny Celtic franchise after the 1950/51 season....
in Duffy Cup play 2-0 with Flynn’s help in the net.
Flynn retired from professional soccer at the end of the 1953 season.
Personal life
Flynn, born and raised in CorduffCorduff
Corduff is a north western suburb of Dublin, Ireland, near Blanchardstown. The last electoral count was 4,821 of the 250,000 living in the 42 electoral divisions of Fingal...
, County Dublin, Ireland, was the youngest of 13 children (4 girls and 9 boys). His parents were Thomas Flynn and Catherine Coote. On 28 December 1948, he married Violet Pollock (1918 - ) in West Paterson, New Jersey, USA. They have one daughter, Tara. Flynn died at the age of 82 on March 6, 2002 in Collegeville, PA.