Turnstile Blues
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CURRENT ISSUE
  • BACK ISSUES
  • GALLERIES
  • LETTERS


Tweets by @Turnstile_Blue

Want more? Subscribe to Turnstile Blues for £6 for three issues, including postage.


Select starting issue:


Oh you've got green eyes, oh you've got blue eyes

Alasdair Ross, Sunday 7 January 2018


A book about Irish football came out just before Christmas and after a few hints, it arrived in my hands on Christmas Day. I had spent some time in the 90s working in Belfast, and during that time followed Glentoran both home and away, so the book - Green Shoots: Irish Football Histories by Michael Walker - interested me straight away.

The book is full of stories from Irish football both North and South of the border, and from the 1930s to the current day, so I hoped Ipswich would get a mention. A number of Irishmen also pulled on the blue shirt such as Bryan Hamilton and Allan Hunter, as well as the English/Irish of Matt Holland, Kevin Wilson and more recently David McGoldrick, plus our flow of young Irish talent from the Republic. Throw into the pot the names of Keane and McCarthy and you would think we would get a mention.

First of all it would not matter if Ipswich were not mentioned; it’s just a great book about football and the important part it plays in any society.

But the good news is that there are ex-Ipswich players featured, Hunter and Hamilton get brief mentions, including the time they played for an ‘all’ Ireland XI v Brazil – not that they were allowed to call themselves Ireland, and had to play as a Shamrock Rovers XI.

There is also a longer piece about former Town player, Gareth McAuley, from his time at school in County Antrim all the way to being the oldest outfield player in the Premiership.

But it was a story about long forgotten Town player Jackie Brown that was of the main interest for me. Jackie was a Protestant from East Belfast playing for the famous Irish Catholic club, Belfast Celtic who then made a big money transfer across the Irish Sea to Wolves. (The picture on the book’s cover is of Jackie in his Irish Schoolboy international shirt).

Jackie (or John as he was known in Belfast) did not seem to spend long at any club with short spells at Birmingham and Coventry. The war took away some of his career and he ended up playing non-league in Wales. He then was signed for Ipswich: Scott Duncan, our then manger, had attempted to sign him for Manchester United before the war, and Scott had been a long-time admirer of the wing wizardry of Jackie.

By the time Jackie arrived in Suffolk he had played internationally for both Irish teams, something that seemed common place at first after partition, there were even players who played in the same World Cup qualification tournament for both sides!

Jackie arrived for the start of the 1948/49 season and though he did not spend long at Ipswich he certainly made his mark, 27 goals in just over 100 appearances which included a hat trick v Norwich City.

As mentioned earlier, Jackie did not seem to stay long at any club and his fondness for drink may have contributed to this. Jackie used to frequent the ‘Zulu’ pub in Wolsey Street (now demolished, near the back of Cardinal Park) with fellow Ipswich player and Belfast man, Harry Baird.

According to club records, Jackie left Ipswich in the Summer of 51 but it seems there was hope he would keep playing as he had undergone an operation – no one knows what for. While convalescing in Felixstowe he was even named in the local paper as a possible player for the ‘A’ team (coached by Baird) but that seems to have come to nothing and as far as the club thought he had died a few years ago.

It seems Jackie’s family were worried about him and came to find him in England, they found him in the East End of London. He gained a job at the ship builders in Belfast but it seemed he had a number of debts from both drinking and the horses. In 1963 it seems the debts got too much and Jackie took his own life after gassing himself in the family kitchen.

It does show that depression and addictions are not just issues that modern players have to deal with, but something that has always been around professional sport.  But just to think, only 12 years after being a star at Portman Road, no one at our club was aware of what had happened to Jackie. Not sure that would happen now, I am sure because of social media we will be aware of what Daryl Murphy  or David McGoldrick are doing long after they have left Portman Road.

I can thoroughly recommend Green Shoots as a fascinating account of an often-neglected aspect of football and social history.

Green Shoots: Irish Football Histories by Michael Walker is published by deCoubertin Books. It’s available for £20 from tax-compliant bookshops, or from Amazon here.

Want more? Subscribe to Turnstile Blues for £6 for three issues, including postage.


Select starting issue:


This was posted under the following categories:


Comments are no longer accepted on this post


The World Just Looks The Same

Gavin Barber, Wednesday 2 December 2020

Lee Way

Grant Bage, Sunday 1 March 2020

Decade Reaction

Richard Woodall, Thursday 23 January 2020

A renewal of trust?

Stephen Skeet, Wednesday 7 August 2019

Acting Up?

Grant Bage, Monday 15 April 2019

Call To Action

Emma Corlett and Gavin Barber, Monday 15 April 2019

This is a low

Gavin Barber, Friday 8 February 2019

Fear and Loathing in West London

Gavin Barber, Friday 28 December 2018

Is That A Lai?

Darren Baker, Friday 23 November 2018

How long can a club drift without sinking?

Steve Moore, Thursday 25 October 2018

Feel Every Beat

Gavin Barber, Sunday 16 September 2018

Gerry Harrison on Wembley '78

Gavin Barber, Friday 4 May 2018

M.E. TV

Gavin Barber, Thursday 26 April 2018

This is how it feels

Various, Wednesday 14 March 2018

Doubling Down

Gavin Barber, Thursday 11 January 2018

Ted Talk

Peter Barber, Wednesday 10 January 2018

Oh you've got green eyes, oh you've got blue eyes

Alasdair Ross, Sunday 7 January 2018

New Turnstile Blues out on Saturday

Gavin Barber, Thursday 30 November 2017

April Foolery

Grant Bage, Sunday 2 April 2017

IP1: FIASCO

Susan Gardiner, Thursday 23 March 2017

Generation Lost

Matt Makin, Wednesday 22 March 2017

Take a look at the law man, beating up the wrong guy

Gavin Barber, Sunday 19 March 2017

This was one day I had looked forward to all my adult life...

Stephen Skeet, Friday 17 March 2017

IPSWICH TOWN 0 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0

Gavin Barber, Wednesday 8 March 2017

IPSWICH TOWN 1 BRENTFORD 1 Saturday 4 March 2017

Grant Bage, Tuesday 7 March 2017

IPSWICH TOWN 1 LEEDS UNITED 1 Saturday 18 February 2017

Gavin Barber, Monday 20 February 2017

Strange Magic

Susan, Thursday 9 February 2017

IPSWICH TOWN 2 READING 2

Grant Bage, Wednesday 8 February 2017

Ipswich Town 3 Blackburn Rovers 2

Grant Bage, Sunday 15 January 2017

Ipswich Town 2 Lincoln City 2

Grant Bage, Tuesday 10 January 2017

Ipswich Town 2 Bristol City 1

Grant Bage, Saturday 31 December 2016

Ipswich Town 0 Fulham 2

Grant Bage, Wednesday 28 December 2016

Ipswich Town 1 Cardiff City 1

Grant Bage, Tuesday 13 December 2016

50 Questions We'd Like To Ask Marcus Evans

Turnstile Blues, Sunday 4 December 2016

Ipswich Town 3 QPR 0

Grant Bage, Monday 28 November 2016

Ipswich Town 0 Nottingham Forest 2

Grant Bage, Monday 21 November 2016

Ipswich Town 2 Rotherham 2

Grant Bage, Thursday 3 November 2016

Now we know where Richard Wright's been hiding...

Alasdair Ross, Friday 28 October 2016

Boring stories of glory days

Susan, Tuesday 13 September 2016

Dalian Atkinson, 1968 - 2016

Gavin Barber, Wednesday 17 August 2016

Changes to the structure of the Football League

Susan, Sunday 22 May 2016

You Came, And Changed The Way I Feel

Emma Corlett, Friday 29 April 2016

One of our own: John Miller, 1950-2016

Susan Gardiner, Saturday 20 February 2016

IP1: A day in the life

Susan Gardiner, Sunday 18 October 2015

Teenage Kicks

Will Moore, Thursday 8 October 2015

The Turnstile Blues Alternative End of Season Awards 2015

Turnstile Blues, Sunday 14 June 2015

Just Another Saturday?

Grant Bage, Sunday 26 April 2015

Hillsborough Memorial Day 2015

Emma Corlett, Wednesday 15 April 2015

IP1: It’s not easy being green

Susan Gardiner, Sunday 15 March 2015

Transmission

Emma Corlett, Sunday 21 December 2014

Supporters Direct speaker in Ipswich

Turnstile Blues, Thursday 6 November 2014

The Turnstile Blues Guide to Avoiding Food Safety Issues at Portman Road

Turnstile Blues, Tuesday 28 October 2014

Turnstile Blues 6 now available online

Turnstile Blues, Sunday 19 October 2014

Who sent out an ITFC steward to try and move us on when selling Turnstile Blues today?

Turnstile Blues, Saturday 18 October 2014

Roy Keane: the only interview you need to read

Peregrine Cuttlefish, Sunday 12 October 2014

Walk a mile in my shoes

Stuart Hellingsworth, Friday 10 October 2014

Ched Evans: some thoughts on his possible return to professional football

Rob Freeman, Thursday 9 October 2014

Roy Keane Ha Ha Ha (or The Snapper)

Susan Gardiner, Tuesday 7 October 2014

Book review: The A-Z of Football Hates

Susan Gardiner, Monday 6 October 2014

Wrong place, right time: Blofield United Reserves vs Freethorpe, Non-league Day 2014

Emma Corlett, Monday 8 September 2014

Non-league Day on 6th September 2014

Gavin Barber, Wednesday 3 September 2014

Family entertainment

Susan Gardiner, Thursday 21 August 2014

Postscript on Category 1

Gavin Barber, Sunday 27 July 2014

I can’t believe it’s not a Big Buttery Audit Vat

Gavin Barber, Friday 25 July 2014

Portman Road, July 2014

Susan Gardiner, Sunday 6 July 2014

Sir Alf Ramsey’s last resting place

Susan Gardiner, Wednesday 2 July 2014

There are more questions than answers

Turnstile Blues, Tuesday 1 July 2014

Watching football is not a crime

Susan Gardiner, Friday 27 June 2014

Masculine Pursuits in Ipswich: Our Victorian Correspondent Writes

Peregrine Cuttlefish, Sunday 1 June 2014

Let’s call the whole thing off

Turnstile Blues, Sunday 11 May 2014

Fans United Day

Gavin Barber, Saturday 10 May 2014

The Turnstile Blues Alternative End of Season Awards

Turnstile Blues, Monday 5 May 2014

Issue 5 on sale this Saturday, 3rd May

Turnstile Blues, Friday 2 May 2014

With A Little Help From My Friends

Susan Gardiner, Thursday 1 May 2014

A light that never goes out

Gavin Barber, Tuesday 29 April 2014

Feta accompli

Stephen Skeet, Tuesday 29 April 2014

Warren United

Gavin Barber, Tuesday 22 April 2014

IP1: A Matter of Crust

Susan Gardiner, Thursday 3 April 2014

IP1

Susan Gardiner, Friday 21 March 2014

Welcome to Rainbow Tractors

Turnstile Blues, Sunday 16 February 2014

Turnstile Blues 4 for sale

Susan Gardiner, Wednesday 29 January 2014

Adam Tanner: the one who got away

Emma Corlett, Friday 24 January 2014

Way Out West

Nick Ames, Friday 24 January 2014

Everything you always wanted to know about… ITFC Italian Branch

Susan Gardiner, Wednesday 4 December 2013

Michael Kemp RIP

Alasdair Ross, Sunday 10 November 2013

Celebrate good times, come on…

Susan Gardiner, Thursday 7 November 2013

Turnstile Blues on sale before Brighton match – and online now

Turnstile Blues, Sunday 15 September 2013

Turnstile Blues 3: Children of the Revolution

Gavin Barber, Thursday 12 September 2013

Turnstile Blues 3 is coming out on Saturday

Turnstile Blues, Monday 9 September 2013

Portman Road recognised as an Asset of Community Value

Susan Gardiner, Monday 2 September 2013

Pride and Prejudice: How Ipswich fans fought fascism, and how new prejudices arise

Stuart Hellingsworth, Tuesday 27 August 2013

The Clegg Letters

Gavin Barber, Friday 23 August 2013

This club is different because it’s ours

Mullet, Wednesday 21 August 2013

Disappointed (once more)…

Susan Gardiner, Thursday 15 August 2013

Hull City AFC

Susan Gardiner, Thursday 15 August 2013

Ipswich Town: A History

Susan Gardiner, Sunday 11 August 2013

Fair Play at the ITFC Academy?

Gavin Barber, Thursday 1 August 2013

Bobby Robson, 18 February 1933 – 31 July 2009

Turnstile Blues, Wednesday 31 July 2013

Kick It Out’s new app to help fans report discrimination

Turnstile Blues, Tuesday 30 July 2013

So farewell then, Rocky Michael Chopra

Susan Gardiner, Thursday 25 July 2013

“It’s Batistuta…” & other tales of hope in hopeless times

Gavin Barber, Tuesday 18 June 2013

Here comes the summer…

Gavin Barber, Friday 14 June 2013

ITFC Italia – their latest tournament

Simone Longo, Monday 3 June 2013

“Ipswich for the Cup, but first a word about the ladies…”

Susan Gardiner, Friday 10 May 2013

Sir Alf Ramsey, 22 January 1920 – 28 April 1999

Susan Gardiner, Sunday 28 April 2013

You can now buy printed copies of By Mutual Consent directly from us

Turnstile Blues, Wednesday 17 April 2013

Twenty's Plenty

Susan Gardiner, Wednesday 10 April 2013

Forza Town! The ITFC Italian Branch

Simone Longo, Monday 8 April 2013

Swiss Ramble on the latest ITFC accounts

Susan Gardiner, Friday 5 April 2013

By Mutual Consent

Turnstile Blues, Thursday 4 April 2013

My club, right or wrong?

Susan Gardiner, Sunday 31 March 2013

In which “Clem” gets very excited By Mutual Consent

Gavin Barber, Friday 29 March 2013

With Milts involved, fans might just ‘Be Part Of It’ again

Dave Gooderham, Friday 29 March 2013

Marcus, Marcus give us a wave, Marcus, give us a wave

Grant Bage, Wednesday 27 March 2013

Meet the new one-off fanzine same as the old one-off fanzine: By Mutual Consent

Turnstile Blues, Wednesday 27 March 2013

Letting daylight in upon magic

Rich Woodward, Thursday 21 March 2013

When Saturday Comes: “Michael Chopra shows how detached players can be”

Gavin Barber, Thursday 21 March 2013

Tyrone deserves his tributes but is he the exception rather than the rule?

Dave Gooderham, Monday 18 March 2013

How to win friends and influence people… or not

Susan Gardiner, Monday 4 March 2013

Not From The Owner

Gavin Barber, Friday 22 February 2013

In Name Only?

Grant Bage, Sunday 10 February 2013

Joyce Wade, 1933-2012

Grant Bage, Saturday 15 December 2012

Ipswich Town in decline: but why?

Stuart Hellingsworth, Tuesday 6 November 2012

A Family Affair?

Gavin Barber, Monday 29 October 2012

Decision Time

Gavin Barber, Sunday 28 October 2012

‘This is the face that you’ve got': my view of the Supporters’ Club AGM

Susan Gardiner, Thursday 25 October 2012

Copyright 2015 Turnstile Blues