Southport Central

Jack Kirwan

Real Name: John Henry Kirwan
Normal Position: Midfielder
Born: Wicklow
Died: 09/01/1959 (London)

Kirwan won a Gaelic Football All-Ireland medal with Dublin in 1894 while a member of the Young Irelands team, which was mainly, if not exclusively, comprised of rather large chaps who worked as coopers and other physically demanding jobs in Guinnesses.
Kirwan moved to England, converting to soccer with Southport Central. Whilst at Central he drew the attention of Everton and Blackburn Rovers before deciding to join Everton.
After just one season at Everton Kirwan joined Tottenham Hotspur and spent 6 successful years there scoring 97 goals in 347 games for the club and collecting an FA Cup Winners medal to boot. He went on to play for Chelsea, Clyde and Leyton Orient, as well as picking up 17 international caps for Ireland.

In September 1910 Kirwan moved to the Netherlands where he became the first professional manager at Ajax Amsterdam. In 1911 he led Ajax to the Dutch Second Class title and victory in a promotion play-off, thus guiding the club into the Dutch top flight for the first time. Kirwan returned to London after the outbreak of the First World War and was succeeded as Ajax coach by Jack Reynolds. Kirwan later coached Bohemians in his native country and A.S. Livorno in Italy for one season before settling in the London area.

John Kirwan was survived by his widow Edith, and daughters Eileen and Maureen. Many of his international caps and shirts are still in the family, although a lot of his more historical possessions were given to the Tottenham Hotspur museum including the 1901 FA Cup Ball.

NB: DOB Also reported elsewhere as 25/04/1872



Player Match Stats


Statistics include the following competitions
Cambrian Cup, Conference League Cup, English Jubilee Fund, FA Cup , FA Trophy , Football League Cup, Lancashire Floodlit Trophy, Lancashire Junior Cup, Lancashire League Medal Competition, Lancashire Senior Cup, League, Liverpool Senior Cup, Northern Premier League Cup, Northern Premier League Shield, PLAY OFFS , President's Cup, President's Inter League, Third Division (North) Cup, Welsh Cup,

Season Apps Subs Goals
1896/1897 33029
1897/1898 21013
1898/1899 000
Total 54 0 42

Appearances & Goals

Games where player was named on the team sheet

Date Competition Venue Opponents Score
26/02/1898 LeagueA ROCHDALE 1 - 0
19/02/1898 LeagueH HORWICH 5 - 0
05/02/1898 LeagueH MIDDLETON 1 - 2
29/01/1898 LeagueA HORWICH 2 - 1
22/01/1898 LeagueA STOCKPORT COUNTY 1 - 2
15/01/1898 LeagueA HALLIWELL ROVERS 2 - 3
27/12/1897 LeagueH WIGAN COUNTY 1 - 1
25/12/1897 LeagueH SOUTH SHORE 6 - 0
11/12/1897 LeagueA MIDDLETON 6 - 3
04/12/1897 Lancashire Senior Cup / 1H PRESTON NORTH END 0 - 4
20/11/1897 LeagueH CLITHEROE 3 - 1
13/11/1897 LeagueA CHORLEY 1 - 5
06/11/1897 LeagueA ASHTON NORTH END 0 - 1
23/10/1897 LeagueA SOUTH SHORE 3 - 0
09/10/1897 LeagueH CHORLEY 2 - 1
02/10/1897 LeagueH NEW BRIGHTON TOWER 1 - 0
25/09/1897 FA Cup / QH WORKINGTON BLACK DIAMONDS 0 - 2
18/09/1897 LeagueA STALYBRIDGE ROVERS 0 - 4
11/09/1897 LeagueA WIGAN COUNTY 1 - 5
04/09/1897 LeagueH NELSON 2 - 1
01/09/1897 LeagueA NELSON 0 - 2
19/04/1897 LeagueH STALYBRIDGE ROVERS 2 - 1
16/04/1897 LeagueH OLDHAM COUNTY 3 - 0
03/04/1897 LeagueH CHORLEY 3 - 1
31/03/1897 LeagueA CHORLEY 0 - 2
27/03/1897 LeagueH FAIRFIELD 4 - 1
20/03/1897 LeagueA NELSON 3 - 2
13/03/1897 LeagueH SOUTH SHORE 4 - 2
06/03/1897 LeagueA SOUTH SHORE 1 - 4
27/02/1897 LeagueH STOCKPORT COUNTY 6 - 1
20/02/1897 LeagueH WEST MANCHESTER 2 - 1
13/02/1897 LeagueA ASHTON NORTH END 1 - 0
06/02/1897 LeagueH FLEETWOOD RANGERS 3 - 0
30/01/1897 LeagueA FAIRFIELD 4 - 5
23/01/1897 LeagueA STALYBRIDGE ROVERS 4 - 0
16/01/1897 LeagueH HALLIWELL ROVERS 1 - 1
09/01/1897 LeagueA WEST MANCHESTER 1 - 2
01/01/1897 LeagueH BACUP 4 - 3
26/12/1896 LeagueH CLITHEROE 4 - 0
25/12/1896 LeagueH ROSSENDALE 10 - 0
12/12/1896 LeagueA STOCKPORT COUNTY 1 - 2
05/12/1896 Lancashire Senior Cup / 1A PRESTON NORTH END 0 - 6
28/11/1896 LeagueH ASHTON NORTH END 2 - 3
21/11/1896 FA Cup / 3QA STALYBRIDGE ROVERS 1 - 3
07/11/1896 LeagueA FLEETWOOD RANGERS 3 - 1
31/10/1896 FA Cup / 2QH WORKINGTON 2 - 0
24/10/1896 Lancashire Senior Cup / Qualifying 2H HALLIWELL ROVERS 3 - 1
17/10/1896 LeagueA ROSSENDALE 10 - 1
10/10/1896 FA Cup / 1QH BLACKBURN PARK ROAD 4 - 2
03/10/1896 LeagueA CLITHEROE 2 - 4
26/09/1896 LeagueA BACUP 0 - 0
19/09/1896 Lancashire Senior Cup / Qualifying 1A ASHTON NORTH END 6 - 0
12/09/1896 LeagueA OLDHAM COUNTY 3 - 6
05/09/1896 LeagueH NELSON 2 - 3

Games where player has scored

Date Competition Venue Opponents Score
19/02/1898LeagueH HORWICH 5 - 0
05/02/1898LeagueH MIDDLETON 1 - 2
29/01/1898LeagueA HORWICH 2 - 1
15/01/1898LeagueA HALLIWELL ROVERS 2 - 3
27/12/1897LeagueH WIGAN COUNTY 1 - 1
25/12/1897LeagueH SOUTH SHORE 6 - 0
11/12/1897LeagueA MIDDLETON 6 - 3
13/11/1897LeagueA CHORLEY 1 - 5
23/10/1897LeagueA SOUTH SHORE 3 - 0
04/09/1897LeagueH NELSON 2 - 1
19/04/1897LeagueH STALYBRIDGE ROVERS 2 - 1
16/04/1897LeagueH OLDHAM COUNTY 3 - 0
03/04/1897LeagueH CHORLEY 3 - 1
20/03/1897LeagueA NELSON 3 - 2
13/03/1897LeagueH SOUTH SHORE 4 - 2
27/02/1897LeagueH STOCKPORT COUNTY 6 - 1
20/02/1897LeagueH WEST MANCHESTER 2 - 1
06/02/1897LeagueH FLEETWOOD RANGERS 3 - 0
23/01/1897LeagueA STALYBRIDGE ROVERS 4 - 0
01/01/1897LeagueH BACUP 4 - 3
26/12/1896LeagueH CLITHEROE 4 - 0
25/12/1896LeagueH ROSSENDALE 10 - 0
28/11/1896LeagueH ASHTON NORTH END 2 - 3
07/11/1896LeagueA FLEETWOOD RANGERS 3 - 1
31/10/1896FA Cup / 2QH WORKINGTON 2 - 0
17/10/1896LeagueA ROSSENDALE 10 - 1
05/09/1896LeagueH NELSON 2 - 3

Related News Articles

Latest Updates

Nov 2023 Update – Big Help Group Takeover

30th November 2023 Daniel Hayes

Since 1888

23rd November 2023 Daniel Hayes 2

Sam Shrouder – RIP

16th November 2023 Daniel Hayes 1

Match Report – Non-League Paper – 17/09/23

17th September 2023 Daniel Hayes