Theo English
Encyclopedia
Theo English is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Marlfield GAA
and was a member of the Tipperary
senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s. He is widely regarded as one of Tipperary’s greatest-ever hurlers.
with his local club Marlfield
GAA. He enjoyed some success by never won a senior county title
.
junior hurling team in the early 1950s. In 1953 he won a Munster
title at this grade before later winning an All-Ireland
title following a victory over Warwickshire
.
English’s performances at this level brought him to the attention of the senior team. He made his senior debut for Tipp in the 1953-54 National Hurling League
and ended that campaign with a winners’ medal following the county’s victory over Kilkenny
in the league final. English won a second National League medal in 1955, however, success in the championship was slow in coming. He captured a third league title in 1957. In 1958 Tipperary had bounced back in the championship and English collected his first Munster
medal. His team later played Galway
in the championship decider. A score line of 4-9 to 2-5 gave Tipp the victory and gave English a first senior All-Ireland
title. Tipperary lost their provincial crown the following year, however, English did win a fourth National League medal that year. In 1960 English captured his fifth league medal and his second Munster title following a victory over Cork in one of the toughest games of hurling ever played. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Tipp faced Wexford, thus beginning a great rivalry between the two counties that would last for the entire 1960s. In spite of being the emphatic favourites English ended up on the losing side on that occasion. In 1961 it was National League medal number six and Munster medal number three for English. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Tipp faced Dublin
, however, in spite of being red-hot favourites, English’s side were lucky to clinch victory by a single point, thus capturing his second All-Ireland medal.
In 1962 Tipp were still the kingpins of Munster hurling with English capturing a fourth provincial medal. In the subsequent All-Ireland final the second instalment of the Tipperary-Wexford rivalry resulted in a win for Tipp and a third All-Ireland medal for English. Two years later in 1964 Tipperary were once again invincible to all attack. In the National League English claimed his seventh title and in Munster he captured his fifth winners’ medal. In the All-Ireland final Kilkenny
were the favourites to retain the title, however, Tipperary completely swept them off the field and won by 14-points. It was English’s fourth All-Ireland medal. 1965 Tipp continued their dominance of the hurling world with English capturing an eighth National League medal. He later added a sixth Munster medal to his collection following an absolute trouncing of Cork in the provincial decider. In the All-Ireland final Wexford were once again waiting for Tipp, however, victory went to English’s side and he captured a fifth All-Ireland winners’ medal. Two years later in 1967 Tipp breezed through the Munster championship with English winning his seventh and final provincial medal. In the All-Ireland final Tipp’s opponents were Kilkenny. The omens were good for Tipp as Kilkenny hadn’t beaten Tipperary in the championship since 1922. On the day, however, Kilkenny were the stronger side and English was denied a sixth All-Ireland title. He retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He won Railway Cup medals in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1963.
they guided Tipp to three successive Munster titles and an All-Ireland title in 1989.
In 2000 English was chosen, by popular opinion, to partner Mick Roche
at midfield on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Century.
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,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Marlfield GAA
Marlfield GAA
Marlfield GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association Hurling club located in Marlfield, South Tipperary in Ireland. The club is part of the South division of Tipperary GAA...
and was a member of the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s. He is widely regarded as one of Tipperary’s greatest-ever hurlers.
Club
English played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Marlfield
Marlfield, Clonmel
Marlfield is a village three kilometres west of Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland. It is within the townlands of Marlfield and Inishlounaght. It replaced an older settlement named Abbey, which had developed near the 12th century Cistercian community of Inislounaght Abbey.- Local industry...
GAA. He enjoyed some success by never won a senior county title
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
.
Inter-county
English first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
junior hurling team in the early 1950s. In 1953 he won a Munster
Munster Junior Hurling Championship
The Munster Junior Hurling Championship is a junior "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council....
title at this grade before later winning an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
title following a victory over Warwickshire
Warwickshire GAA
The Warwickshire County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in Warwickshire. The county board is also responsible for the Warwickshire inter-county teams-Hurling:In 2005 Warwickshire fielded a hurling team in...
.
English’s performances at this level brought him to the attention of the senior team. He made his senior debut for Tipp in the 1953-54 National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
and ended that campaign with a winners’ medal following the county’s victory over Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
in the league final. English won a second National League medal in 1955, however, success in the championship was slow in coming. He captured a third league title in 1957. In 1958 Tipperary had bounced back in the championship and English collected his first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
medal. His team later played Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in the championship decider. A score line of 4-9 to 2-5 gave Tipp the victory and gave English a first senior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
title. Tipperary lost their provincial crown the following year, however, English did win a fourth National League medal that year. In 1960 English captured his fifth league medal and his second Munster title following a victory over Cork in one of the toughest games of hurling ever played. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Tipp faced Wexford, thus beginning a great rivalry between the two counties that would last for the entire 1960s. In spite of being the emphatic favourites English ended up on the losing side on that occasion. In 1961 it was National League medal number six and Munster medal number three for English. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Tipp faced Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
, however, in spite of being red-hot favourites, English’s side were lucky to clinch victory by a single point, thus capturing his second All-Ireland medal.
In 1962 Tipp were still the kingpins of Munster hurling with English capturing a fourth provincial medal. In the subsequent All-Ireland final the second instalment of the Tipperary-Wexford rivalry resulted in a win for Tipp and a third All-Ireland medal for English. Two years later in 1964 Tipperary were once again invincible to all attack. In the National League English claimed his seventh title and in Munster he captured his fifth winners’ medal. In the All-Ireland final Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
were the favourites to retain the title, however, Tipperary completely swept them off the field and won by 14-points. It was English’s fourth All-Ireland medal. 1965 Tipp continued their dominance of the hurling world with English capturing an eighth National League medal. He later added a sixth Munster medal to his collection following an absolute trouncing of Cork in the provincial decider. In the All-Ireland final Wexford were once again waiting for Tipp, however, victory went to English’s side and he captured a fifth All-Ireland winners’ medal. Two years later in 1967 Tipp breezed through the Munster championship with English winning his seventh and final provincial medal. In the All-Ireland final Tipp’s opponents were Kilkenny. The omens were good for Tipp as Kilkenny hadn’t beaten Tipperary in the championship since 1922. On the day, however, Kilkenny were the stronger side and English was denied a sixth All-Ireland title. He retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.
Provincial
English also lined out for MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He won Railway Cup medals in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1963.
Post-playing career
In retirement from playing English continued his involvement on the inter-county scene as a selector. He was a key member of the backroom team when Tipperary won both Munster and All-Ireland titles in 1971. In the 1980s English served as a selector under Babs Keating. Together with former player Donie NealonDonie Nealon
Donie Nealon is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Burgess in Tipperary and UCD in Dublin and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1958 until 1969.-Club:Nealon played his club hurling with his local Burgess-Youghlarra club,...
they guided Tipp to three successive Munster titles and an All-Ireland title in 1989.
In 2000 English was chosen, by popular opinion, to partner Mick Roche
Mick Roche
Mick Roche is a former Irish sportsperson. He played senior hurling with the Tipperary inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s.-Club:...
at midfield on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Century.