Frank Loughran
Encyclopedia
Frank Loughran was a Belfast-born footballer who was considered to be one of the pioneers of the sport in Australia. Loughran moved to Australia
at the age of 23 with his wife Lily and two small sons.
area of north Belfast and spent his early football career at amateur club Brantwood
.
After settling in Melbourne
, he joined his brother-in-law Andy at Moreland Soccer Club.
He showed such skill and potential for the Victorian Division 1 team that he soon caught the eye of both Victoria and Australian selectors. He made his debut for Moreland on 3 April 1954 at Fawkner Park in South Yarra. He scored once in a 7-1 victory.
Loughran scored for Moreland in their 2-1 victory over Juventus
in the 1957 final of the Dockerty Cup
, played at Olympic Park
in Melbourne. Also in 1957 he helped Moreland finish second in Victorian Division 1, which saw the club promoted to the Victorian State League.
In total, would enjoy eight years at Moreland before retiring at the end of the 1961 season.
at various levels between 1955 and 1960. A midfielder, Loughran played a total of eight full international matches for Australia scoring two goals, one each against Japan and New Zealand.
In total he represented Australia 38 times, mostly in B internationals, scoring 22 goals. He added another 20 in 25 matches for Victoria.
Loughran first represented his adopted country in July 1955 when he turned out for an Australian XI in a B international against South China. He scored twice. His first senior cap came on 3 September 1955 at Brisbane Cricket Ground in a 0-3 defeat to South Africa.
Also in 1955, he would play his part in a further two matches with South Africa, which both ended in defeat, as well as appearing in two more B internationals.
Loughran represented Australia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics
, the first time Australia took part in the Olympic soccer tournament. He scored in the opening match at Olympic Park, a 2-0 win against Japan. They lost their second match to India 4-2.
In 1957, Australia only played B games hosting FK Austria, Ferencvaros
and Eastern Athletic from Hong Kong
. The following year, the international B team played a series of matches against Blackpool
, who featured Stanley Matthews
.
Loughran scored in the first of these games. Later in 1958, Loughran was part of the Australia squad that embarked on a ten match tour of New Zealand
. The Australians played two tests against New Zealand and the remainder of games against local representative and club sides. Loughran scored in the first senior game.
His final game in an Australia shirt came on 16 May 1959 in a 1-7 defeat in Brisbane
to the touring Hearts
side.
His success helped him become an inaugural inductee to the Australian Football (Soccer) Hall of Fame in February 1999.
He was invested with the Medal of Excellence at the ceremony. This is awarded for distinguished service or contributions to football in Australia, whether at state/territory level, nationally or internationally.
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at the age of 23 with his wife Lily and two small sons.
Club career
Loughran grew up in the ArdoyneArdoyne
Ardoyne is an Irish nationalist, working class and mainly Catholic district in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. It gained notoriety due to the large number of incidents during "The Troubles". It is home to approximately 20,000 inhabitants...
area of north Belfast and spent his early football career at amateur club Brantwood
Brantwood F.C.
Brantwood is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League. The club, founded in 1901, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Skegoneill Avenue. Club colours are royal blue...
.
After settling in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, he joined his brother-in-law Andy at Moreland Soccer Club.
Moreland F.C.
Moreland is a now-defunct association football team that competed in various leagues in Victoria, Australia between 1934 and 1985. The team was also known as Moreland Victoria and as Moreland Thistle between 1965 and 1970....
He showed such skill and potential for the Victorian Division 1 team that he soon caught the eye of both Victoria and Australian selectors. He made his debut for Moreland on 3 April 1954 at Fawkner Park in South Yarra. He scored once in a 7-1 victory.
Loughran scored for Moreland in their 2-1 victory over Juventus
Brunswick Juventus
Brunswick Juventus is an Australian association football club from Brunswick, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club was a participant in the National Soccer League, where they were champions in 1985, and Victorian Premier League, in which they won eight titles...
in the 1957 final of the Dockerty Cup
Dockerty Cup
The Dockerty Cup is a football competition held between clubs in Victoria, Australia. It is named after Harry Dockerty, a former president of the Victorian Soccer Federation. It has been in recess since 1996, except for the year 2004...
, played at Olympic Park
Olympic Park, Melbourne
The Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct is a series of sports venues and stadia, located in Melbourne, Victoria, in Australia. The precinct is situated around 3 km east of the Melbourne city centre, between the suburbs of East Melbourne and Richmond, and close to the north-eastern bank of...
in Melbourne. Also in 1957 he helped Moreland finish second in Victorian Division 1, which saw the club promoted to the Victorian State League.
In total, would enjoy eight years at Moreland before retiring at the end of the 1961 season.
International career
Loughran represented the SocceroosAustralia national football (soccer) team
The Australia national association football team represents Australia in international association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos"...
at various levels between 1955 and 1960. A midfielder, Loughran played a total of eight full international matches for Australia scoring two goals, one each against Japan and New Zealand.
In total he represented Australia 38 times, mostly in B internationals, scoring 22 goals. He added another 20 in 25 matches for Victoria.
Loughran first represented his adopted country in July 1955 when he turned out for an Australian XI in a B international against South China. He scored twice. His first senior cap came on 3 September 1955 at Brisbane Cricket Ground in a 0-3 defeat to South Africa.
Also in 1955, he would play his part in a further two matches with South Africa, which both ended in defeat, as well as appearing in two more B internationals.
Loughran represented Australia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
, the first time Australia took part in the Olympic soccer tournament. He scored in the opening match at Olympic Park, a 2-0 win against Japan. They lost their second match to India 4-2.
In 1957, Australia only played B games hosting FK Austria, Ferencvaros
Ferencváros
Ferencváros is the 9th district of Budapest , Hungary.- Name :The southern suburb of Pest was named after King Francis I on 4 December 1792 when he was crowned king of Hungary.- History :The development of Ferencváros began in the late 18th century....
and Eastern Athletic from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. The following year, the international B team played a series of matches against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, who featured Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
.
Loughran scored in the first of these games. Later in 1958, Loughran was part of the Australia squad that embarked on a ten match tour of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The Australians played two tests against New Zealand and the remainder of games against local representative and club sides. Loughran scored in the first senior game.
His final game in an Australia shirt came on 16 May 1959 in a 1-7 defeat in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
to the touring Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
side.
His success helped him become an inaugural inductee to the Australian Football (Soccer) Hall of Fame in February 1999.
He was invested with the Medal of Excellence at the ceremony. This is awarded for distinguished service or contributions to football in Australia, whether at state/territory level, nationally or internationally.
Full international caps and goals
- Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Result Goals Competition 1 1955-09-03 Brisbane BrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
0–3 0 Friendly match 2 1955-09-10 Melbourne MelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
0–2 0 Friendly match 3 1955-09-17 Adelaide AdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
0–8 0 Friendly match 4 1956-11-27 Melbourne MelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
2–0 1 Olympic Games 1956 Summer OlympicsThe 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...5 1956-12-01 Melbourne MelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
2–4 0 Olympic Games 1956 Summer OlympicsThe 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...6 1956-12-12 Sydney SydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
1–7 0 Friendly match 7 1958-08-16 Wellington WellingtonWellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
3–2 1 Friendly match 8 1958-08-23 Auckland AucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
2–2 0 Friendly match
Miscellaneous
Loughran was invited to take part in the Torch Relay for the 2000 Sydney Olympics2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.