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Jimmy
Conlin |
 Bradford City
FC
1 appearance, 0 goals
P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 1:
A 2
0% successful
1906
captain: none
minutes played: 90 |
 |
|
Timeline |
| |
Private
James Farrell Conlin |
|
|
Between
April and June 1881 Mary Ann Courtney is pregnant with the child who would
become James. She would marry his father, Luke Conlin, in Lanchester,
County Durham. But they did return to Coatbridge before 1886, where all
future Conlin's were born. |
|
Birth |
Wednesday, 6 July 1881 in
Consett, County Durham |
|
|
registered as James Farrell Conlon in Lanchester July-September 1881 |
|
Education |
St. Patrick's
School, Meadow Park, Coatbridge |
|
"THURSDAY'S POLICE COURT. |
—At this Court—Bailie Gilchrist on the bench—Patrick Welsh,
Luke Farrell, Thomas Joyce, Isabella Baxter or Copper, and Annie M'Gregor or Stewart,
were convicted of making a great disturbance in Canal Street on Sunday
morning, the men being fined 15s each, or ten days, and the women 5s each,
or three days" - The Airdrie
Advertiser, Saturday, 11 June 1887 |
|
"DECREES IN ABSENCE, &c. |
COUNTY. LANARK... [AMOUNT] £20 0s. 0d.
[on] 10 Sept.1889. [DEFENDERS.] Luke
Farrell or Conlin, The Depôt, Coatbridge
[PURSUERS.] Gibson & Co., Coatbridge, grocers." - The
Commercial Gazette, Wednesday, 18
September 1889 |
|
"BREACHES OF THE PEACE |
Luke Conlin, puddler, Depot, Canal
Street, previously convicted—fined 10s, or seven days." - The Lanarkshire
Examiner, Saturday, 14 December 1889 |
|
"POLICE COURT. |
—At this court on Thursday, Alexander Lang,
carter, Summerlee, and Luke Conlin, Canal Street, pleaded not guilty of a
charge of stealing six £1 notes from the person of Mr. John Hendrie,
contractor, in Mr. Steel's public house, the case was continued for proof." - The Lanarkshire
Examiner, Saturday, 28 June 1890 |
|
"BEFORE BAILIE
LAVELL |
on Monday, Alexander Lang,
carter, and Luke Conlin, a puddler, were convicted of robbing John Hendrie,
and were both sent 14 days
to prison.." - The
Herald, Friday, 4 July 1890 |
|
|
According to the 1891 census,
James (Conlon) is the oldest of four children to Luke and Mary Ann. His younger
three siblings were all born in Coatbridge from 1885. His Scottish father
is a puddler, and the live at The Depot on Canal Street in Old Monkland in Coatbridge,
Scotland. |
|
|
According to the 1901 census, nineteen year old James
remains the oldest of the four children still at home with their parents.
Now living at 69 North Jackson Street in Old Monkland. James is a labourer
at the Iron Works. |
|
Marriage |
to Elizabeth
Plunkett
presumably married in Scotland in 1904 |
|
|
no registration found |
|
Children |
Jimmy and Elizabeth
Conlin have three children together. David (b.29
December 1905
Bradford), Elizabeth Ann
(b.14 June 1908 Coatbridge) and Ann (b.6 May 1913) |
|
26447 15th Battn: Highland Light Infantry |
According to the
1911 census, James is married to Elizabeth and is a professional
footballer, he has two children, David and Elizabeth Ann. They live at 10
Moorland Street in West Gorton, Manchester. |
|
"SUDDEN DEATHS. |
—Last Friday night Mary Ann
Courtney or Conlin, wife of an ironworker, residing in Coatbank Street,
died suddenly while standing on the stairhead at her house. Dr. Jepp,
locum tenens for Dr. White, examined the body, and certified death as due
to natural causes." - The
Coatbridge Leader, Saturday, 2 August 1913. |
|
Death
|
Sunday morning, 24 June 1917, from shrapnel received on the
battlefield.
He had a grave, but its location is now unknown,
however, he is commemorated on the Nieuport memorial at Arrondissement Veurne
in West-Vlaanderen (below left). |
|
aged 35 years 352 days |
registered in Army Deaths |
|
Obituary |
"INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALLER KILLED IN
ACTION—PTE. JAMES CONLIN.
"Mrs. Conlin, Coatbank
Street, Coatbridge, has received a letter from Lieutenant Doughty to the
effect that her husband, Pte. James Conlin, H.L.I., has been killed in
action
"Lieut. W. Doughty in his letter says—Dear Mrs. Conlin,—I am very
sorry to inform you that your husband, Pte. James Conlin, was killed on
24th ult., He was in our Company and will be very much missed by us all,
as he was very cheery and always in the best of spirits in the trenches.
This is very unfortunate, but your husband died a good death in a great
cause. I was quite near him when it happened, and I have to say that he
passed away peacefully. He was buried in a nice place and a cross is being
erected to his memory.
"Sergt. Clackerty also writes:—Dear Mrs.
Conlin,—No doubt you will be surprised to get a letter from me, but I have
very sad news to convey to you. I am sorry to say that your husband was
killed on the morning of the 24th June by shrapnel. He was buried by his
comrades and an R. C. clergyman was present. He was very much liked both
in the Platoon and the Company for his cheery way. He had a cheery word
for everybody. Your husband was attached to the Company's Headquarters as
a signaller when he was killed. He will be missed by me and the members of
the platoon very much.
"As a football player deceased was assuredly one
of the finest that ever kicked a ball for any club and his great shooting
powers gained for him the greatest respect of the followers of the game.
He began his career as a footballer in the Coatbridge Schools' Cup
competition, and first played for St. Patrick's School on Meadow Park,
Whifflet. From that time he developed into a player of note. For a time he
figured in a Falkirk junior club, but fairly blossomed out in the ranks of
the Albion Rovers. He was in the hey-day of his fame in season 1903-1904,
the year that Albion Rovers entered the Second League. After that he
crossed the border and played for Bradford City. He was born in England of
Irish parentage, and in one season he was capped twice for England in the
great International against Scotland. He also played for Manchester and
Birmingham and on returning to Scotland figured in the ranks of the
Airdrieonians for a season, after which he did duty for Broxburn. On one
occasion James Conlin created a sensation in Coatbridge. While a
travelling circus was performing in Dunbeth Public Park a challenge was
thrown out by the proprietor that no man in the football world could score
against a great goal-saving elephant. 'Wee Conlin,' as he was familiarly
styled in the 'Brig, entered the ring and, with a cannon ball shot,
completely baffled the monstre animal goalkeeper amid the ringing cheers
of a multitude of onlookers. The year before Conlin left Coatbridge for
Bradford a well-known football critic penned the following lines on the
worth of the Albion Rovers' left wing:—'James Conlin is perhaps the most
popular player in the Rovers' team. His admirers call him a 'flier'
because he can run very fast with or without the ball; and can get goals
with considerable frequency in spite of the fact that he plays mostly on
the outside left. In that position he is most assuredly the smartest
player the club has possessed for several years. Passing along the streets
of the burgh he causes nearly as much excitement as would Mr. Chamberlain;
and what a thrill runs through the serried lines of spectators as the
Meadow when Conlin gets the ball. Those who see him are sure to shout 'Wee
Conlin's off!' If Conlin is off, complications may arise near the corner
flag or in the enemy's goal net. He has a rare turn of speed, he can go
full tilt with the ball at his toes, stop dead within a yard, double like
a rabbit, this way or that, and, in fact, do anything that occurs to him.
Probably, if he chose, he could stand on his head with the ball between
his feet, elude the backs, and finish off with a great goal.'
"Deceased
is survived by a widow and young family, for whom, we are sure, the utmost
sympathy will be expressed" -
The Coatbridge Express, Wednesday, 4 July 1917.
"CONLIN AND
SMITH—Old City Footballers Dead.
"News
has been received this week-end of the death of two popular old Bradford
City footballers,
,%20Jimmy.jpg) Jimmy Conlin and Wally Smith, both of whom were very
prominent forwards in the Valley Parade club's Second Division days. Jimmy Conlin was killed at the front a fortnight ago though the news has only
just been received. He was serving in the Highland Light Infantry. His
early days were spent with Coatbridge Albion Rovers, and when Bradford
City secured him, he soon made a big reputation as an outside left. A tiny
fellow, but very much on the lines of Fred Walden, the Tottenham Hotspur
midget, he became quite the local idol. He only stood about 5ft. 4in. and
weighed 9st. 6lbs. While with City, he was 'capped' for England, and also
played for the English League. Later he transferred to Manchester City,
and eventually he found his way to Scotland, and turned out for
Airdrieonians." -
The Bradford Daily Telegraph, Monday, 9 July 1917. |
|
|
 Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], BantamsPast.co.uk/FallenHeroes
& |
|
Playing
Career |
Club(s) |
Jimmy
began his career in Scotland with captain Colt's Rovers. He went onto
Cambuslang FC and Hibernian FC. He joined Falkirk FC on 9 January 1900,
and on 14 March 1901 he joined Albion Rovers as a left winger. Conlin should have signed for Bradford City FC in April 1904, however,
Albion Rovers wanted £200. City appealed to the Scottish League Committee
and they set Conlin's transfer fee at £60. Albion Rovers responded by
alleging that City had approached Conlin without their consent. An
international committee, made up of representatives from both sides of the
border, met at Carlisle on 23 September. City were found guilty, but the
transfer was allowed to proceed. City were fined £50 for their 'illegal'
approach of the player. However, a £100 transfer fee was approved and Conlin was thus freed to appear in City's victory over Port Vale at Valley
Parade on 24 September 1904. |
|
Jimmy became the first
Bradford City player ever to be sent off when he was dismissed during a
6-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on 11 November 1905. On 10 February
1906 he was at the centre of yet another controversy. Manchester United
came to Valley Parade, during the game United's burly Bob Bonthron
repeatedly clashed with Jimmy. The crowd 'angered by Jimmy's treatment'
got completely out of hand. After the game the visiting team were pelted
with missiles as they made their way up Holywell Ash Lane. The Football
League held a commission of enquiry and duly closed Valley Parade for a
fortnight between 1-14 March. Sadly, Jimmy's off field problems
worsened when he failed to turn up for several Airdrieonians training
sessions. On 4 February 1913, after Jimmy admitted having a drink problem,
the board fined him again, ordered him to find work and told him to stop
drinking. The warning had no effect, on 15 April 1913 Jimmy was suspended
by the club and placed on the transfer list. Obviously, the club still
rated him as a footballer, as they were asking £200 for his services. |
| |
On 13
July 1906, Manchester City paid £1,000 to secure Jimmy's services,
and then left for Birmingham FC on 29
September 1911. A stay that was unfortunately plagued by injury. On 8 July 1912, Jimmy moved back to
Scotland, with Airdrieonians FC, for a fee of £150, but on 7 October he
was fined £2 10s. for failing to turn up for a game. On
13 August 1913, it was reported that he had joined Broxburn Athletic FC,
but it was a move that was 'not the will of the directors', as the £200 was not forthcoming. Jimmy
completed 27
appearances for Airdrie, scoring six goals. His long and occasionally
troubled career ended at Broxburn. |
League honours
243 appearances 35 goals
one expulsion |
Bradford City FC 1904-06
61 appearances,
five goals
debut
(division two): 24 September 1904 Bradford City FC 2 Burslem Port Vale FC
1.
Manchester City FC 1906-11 161 appearances, 28
goals
debut: 1 September 1906 Manchester City FC 1 Woolwich Arsenal FC
4.
Birmingham FC 1911-12 21 appearances, two goals
debut (division two): 30 September 1911 Birmingham FC 4 Leeds
City FC 3.
last (division
two): 2 March 1912 Grimsby Town FC 1 Birmingham FC 0. |
|
Club honours |
Scottish
Combination Championship 1901-02, 1902-03;
Lanarkshire Cup
runner-up 1902-03
winner 1911-12.
Scottish Qualifying Cup
runner-up 1903-04.
Football League Division One third
place 1907-08 (37ᵃ 6ᵍ); Division Two winner 1909-10 (35ᵃ 11ᵍ). |
|
Individual honours |
None |
|
Distinctions |
None |
|
Height/Weight |
5'
5", 9st.
1lb [1906]. also stated 5' 4", 9st 6lbs. |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
One of
three who became the 318th
players (320) to appear for England. |
|
Position(s) |
Outside-left |
|
Only match |
No. 88,
7 April 1906, Scotland 2 England 1, a
British Championship match at Hampden Park, Mount Florida, Glasgow, aged
24 years
275 days. |
|
Major tournaments |
British Championship 1905-06 |
|
Team honours |
British Championship shared
1905-06 |
|
Individual honours |
None |
|
Distinctions |
Died 22 days after Jack Yates |
|
Beyond England |
|
At the outbreak of the Great War,
James enlisted in Coatbridge with the Highland Light Infantry, serving in the 15th
(Service) Battalion (1st Glasgow). The battalion was transferred to
the Nieuport sector on the Belgium coast during June 1917, in readiness to
support a British offensive at the third Battle of Ypres. This is where
Private Conlin (26447) died. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.72./BantamsPast.co.uk/FallenHeroes |
|
The Numbers |
|
parties |
Appearances |
comp. apps |
minutes |
 |
captain |
| 1 |
1 |
1 |
90 |
0 |
none |
|
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation. |
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
-1 |
|
His only match was in the British Championship competition
and at an away venue |
Tournament Record
|
British Championship Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
BC 1905-06 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
|
BC
All |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
|
All Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
BC |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
-1 |
Match
History
|
apps |
match |
match details |
comp |
res. |
rundown |
pos |
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