Matt Reilly (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Michael "Matt" Reilly (22 March 1874 – 9 December 1954) was an Irish international goalkeeper who played most of his career with Portsmouth
in the Southern League
. He also had spells with Southampton
and Tottenham Hotspur
in the Southern League, with Notts County
in the Football League
, with Dundee
in the Scottish Football League
and with Shelbourne
in the Irish League
. Throughout his career he was known as either "Gunner Reilly" or "Ginger
".
and played Gaelic football
in his youth. He joined the Royal Artillery
and while serving in Glasgow
took up association football as a goalkeeper with Junior
side, Benburb
.
in 1896 as well as two Army Cup finals. In the 1896 Amateur Cup final, played against Bishop Auckland
, Reilly was voted "Man of the Match" when he kept the score down to a 1–0 defeat.
In December 1895, he played two matches on loan to Southampton
who were playing their second season in the Southern League
. He replaced Tom Cain and both matches (against Reading
and Royal Ordnance) ended in 5–0 victories. He was described in the local press as a "brilliant" player, who was both quick and sure in his handling and kicking. He also spent a period on loan to another Southampton
side, Freemantle
.
He became a key member of the Royal Artillery side and helped them rise to join the Second Division of the Southern League in 1897 and win the Division title at the end of the 1897–98 season. The R.A. were less successful in their first season in the top division, finishing at the foot of the table, and subsequently the club folded.
and joined Portsmouth
who had been founded a year earlier and were elected as members of an expanded Southern League
for the 1899–00 season. During Reilly's five seasons at Fratton Park
, Portsmouth were one of the dominant teams in the Southern League, winning the championship in 1901–02, and never finishing outside the top four.
Reilly was recognised for his form with selection for Ireland on two occasions, both narrow defeats by England
in 1900 and 1902. For the first match, played at Lansdowne Road
, Dublin on 17 March 1900, the England team were confidently expecting an easy match after five successive victories, including winning 13–2 the previous year. The England selectors chose five debutantes, including Reilly's Portsmouth colleague, Dan Cunliffe
, who made his solitary England appearance at inside right. In the event, the game was far more difficult than expected, with England only managing a 2–0 victory, with goals from Charlie Sagar and Harry Johnson
, who were also both making their international debut.
Reilly was not selected for the 1901 match against England, played at The Dell (Southampton), but was called up again for the 1902 match, played at the Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast
on 22 March 1902. This time, England's margin of victory was even narrower, with the only goal coming from Jimmy Settle
with less than five minutes remaining, after England's goalkeeper, Billy George
, had saved a penalty from Robert Milne
.
, managing only three appearances.
Reilly spent the 1905–06 season in the Football League
with Notts County
. He made an inauspicious start in a 3-0 defeat at Stoke and lost his place mid-season to Albert Iremonger
(who was the tallest player in the league at the time, measuring 6 ft 6 in).
In October 1906, he returned to the Southern League, after a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur
for a fee of £100. After a season in London, Reilly returned to Dublin to play for Shelbourne
, helping them reach the 1908 Irish Cup
Final, where he finished on the losing side to Dublin rivals, Bohemians, going down 3–1 in a replay.
On his retirement, he returned to Hampshire
, becoming a publican in Southsea
. He remained fondly remembered at Fratton Park and was amongst the guests who celebrated Portsmouth’s fiftieth anniversary in 1948.
He died in his native Dublin in December 1954, aged 80.
Portsmouth
Shelbourne
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. He also had spells with Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in the Southern League, with Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in the 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...
, with Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
and with Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
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...
. Throughout his career he was known as either "Gunner Reilly" or "Ginger
Red hair
Red hair occurs on approximately 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations...
".
Playing career
Reilly was born in Donnybrook, DublinDonnybrook, Dublin
Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township...
and played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
in his youth. He joined the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
and while serving in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
took up association football as a goalkeeper with Junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
side, Benburb
Benburb F.C.
Benburb Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in Govan, Glasgow. Formed in 1900 they are members of the Scottish Junior Football Association and currently compete in the SJFA Central Division One....
.
Royal Artillery (Portsmouth)
By 1893, he was a member of the Royal Artillery side which reached the final of the FA Amateur CupFA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
in 1896 as well as two Army Cup finals. In the 1896 Amateur Cup final, played against Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland F.C.
Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
, Reilly was voted "Man of the Match" when he kept the score down to a 1–0 defeat.
In December 1895, he played two matches on loan to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
who were playing their second season in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. He replaced Tom Cain and both matches (against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and Royal Ordnance) ended in 5–0 victories. He was described in the local press as a "brilliant" player, who was both quick and sure in his handling and kicking. He also spent a period on loan to another Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
side, Freemantle
Freemantle F.C.
Freemantle Football Club were a football club based in the Freemantle area of Southampton who were active at the end of the nineteenth century. During their brief heyday, they were rivals to Southampton Football Club...
.
He became a key member of the Royal Artillery side and helped them rise to join the Second Division of the Southern League in 1897 and win the Division title at the end of the 1897–98 season. The R.A. were less successful in their first season in the top division, finishing at the foot of the table, and subsequently the club folded.
Portsmouth
By now, Reilly's military career was over and in July 1899, he was snapped up by manager Frank BrettellFrank Brettell
Frank E. Brettell was an English-born Irish football player, manager and administrator.He played as a full back for Everton, a club that was originally called St. Domingo's. He combined his role as player-secretary-manager with his full time job as a reporter for the Liverpool Mercury...
and joined Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
who had been founded a year earlier and were elected as members of an expanded Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
for the 1899–00 season. During Reilly's five seasons at Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
, Portsmouth were one of the dominant teams in the Southern League, winning the championship in 1901–02, and never finishing outside the top four.
Reilly was recognised for his form with selection for Ireland on two occasions, both narrow defeats by 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 1900 and 1902. For the first match, played at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
, Dublin on 17 March 1900, the England team were confidently expecting an easy match after five successive victories, including winning 13–2 the previous year. The England selectors chose five debutantes, including Reilly's Portsmouth colleague, Dan Cunliffe
Dan Cunliffe
Daniel "Dan" Cunliffe was an English footballer who had a rather nomadic career in which he played as an inside forward for several clubs, including Liverpool as well as making one appearance for England in 1900.-Career:Cunliffe was born in Bolton and played for several Lancashire clubs, including...
, who made his solitary England appearance at inside right. In the event, the game was far more difficult than expected, with England only managing a 2–0 victory, with goals from Charlie Sagar and Harry Johnson
Harry Johnson (footballer born 1876)
William Harrison Johnson was an English professional footballer. His son, of the same name, also became a renowned footballer for the Blades.-Club career:Johnson played for Ecclesfield Church before joining Sheffield United....
, who were also both making their international debut.
Reilly was not selected for the 1901 match against England, played at The Dell (Southampton), but was called up again for the 1902 match, played at the Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast
Belfast
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...
on 22 March 1902. This time, England's margin of victory was even narrower, with the only goal coming from Jimmy Settle
Jimmy Settle
Jimmy Settle was an English professional footballer. A fast-paced inside or outside right, he could have chosen sprinting if he had not taken up football.Settle played for Bolton and Bury before joining Everton in 1899, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1906...
with less than five minutes remaining, after England's goalkeeper, Billy George
Billy George
William George was a football player who played for Aston Villa F.C. from October 1897 to July 1911. As of Oct 2008 he is eleventh on the Aston Villa all time appearances table....
, had saved a penalty from Robert Milne
Robert Milne (footballer)
Robert George Milne is a former footballer who played for the Gordon Highlanders, Linfield and Ireland during the 1890s and early 1900s. Born in Scotland, Milne was stationed in Ireland with the Gordon Highlanders and played 7 games for the regimental football team as they won the Irish Cup in 1890...
.
Later career
In 1904, after five season with Portsmouth, Reilly moved to Scotland where he spent a season with DundeeDundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, managing only three appearances.
Reilly spent the 1905–06 season in the 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...
with Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. He made an inauspicious start in a 3-0 defeat at Stoke and lost his place mid-season to Albert Iremonger
Albert Iremonger
Albert Iremonger was a county-class cricketer, goalkeeper and brother of England international cricketer James Iremonger.-Early life:Albert Iremonger was born in Wilford, Nottinghamshire on 15 June 1884...
(who was the tallest player in the league at the time, measuring 6 ft 6 in).
In October 1906, he returned to the Southern League, after a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
for a fee of £100. After a season in London, Reilly returned to Dublin to play for Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
, helping them reach the 1908 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, where he finished on the losing side to Dublin rivals, Bohemians, going down 3–1 in a replay.
On his retirement, he returned to Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, becoming a publican in Southsea
Southsea
Southsea is a seaside resort located in Portsmouth at the southern end of Portsea Island in the county of Hampshire in England. Southsea is within a mile of Portsmouth's city centre....
. He remained fondly remembered at Fratton Park and was amongst the guests who celebrated Portsmouth’s fiftieth anniversary in 1948.
He died in his native Dublin in December 1954, aged 80.
Honours
Royal Artillery- FA Amateur CupFA Amateur CupThe FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
runners-up: 1896 - Southern League Division TwoSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions: 1897–98Southern Football League 1897-98The 1897–98 season was the fourth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton won the Division One championship for the second successive season.-Division One:Division One featured one new club, Bristol City, who were newly-elected....
Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions: 1901–02Southern Football League 1901-02The 1901-02 season was the eighth in the history of the Southern League. Portsmouth were Division One champions for the first time. No clubs applied for election to the Football League.-Division One:Division One featured three new clubs:...
Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
- Irish CupIrish CupFor 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...
runners-up: 1908