Jump to content

Jimmy Ferris

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jimmy Ferris
Personal information
Full name James Ferris
Date of birth (1894-11-28)28 November 1894[1]
Place of birth Belfast, Ireland
Date of death 10 October 1932(1932-10-10) (aged 37)[2][3]
Place of death Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[4]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1914-1917 Distillery 73 (12)
1917-1920 Belfast Celtic F.C.
1920-1922 Chelsea 33 (8)
1922–1924 Preston North End 53 (11)
1924 Pontypridd 2
1924-1930 Belfast Celtic F.C.
International career
1919–1928 Ireland 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jimmy Ferris (28 November 1894 – 10 October 1932) was an Irish footballer who played as a forward

Club career

[edit]

Ferris, an inside forward, began his career with Distillery during World War I. After making his debut in January 1915, Ferris was part of the team which won the County Antrim Shield the same year, and the following season scored the only goal as Distillery won the Belfast Charity Cup against Linfield.[1]

After joining Belfast Celtic in 1917, Ferris won the Irish Cup with Celtic in his first season, and the League title the following season. Celtic would then withdraw from the League in 1920, shortly after Ferris had scored their final goal of the season in a 1-1 draw against Glenavon.[1]

With Celtic not in action, Ferris signed for English side Chelsea in September 1920, scoring on his debut in a 3-1 defeat against Bolton Wanderers.[2] He would go on to make 39 appearances for the Stamford Bridge club, scoring 6 goals in total before leaving for Preston North End in 1922. Ferris made 53 appearances for Preston, scoring 11 goals,[5] and would go on to make two appearances[1] for Pontypridd in the Southern League before returning to Belfast in October 1924.

After rejoining Celtic, Ferris was part of a very successful side who won the Irish League four seasons in succession between 1925 and 1929, as well as the Irish Cup in the 1925–26 season.

Retirement and death

[edit]

Ferris was forced to retire from football in 1930 after being diagnosed with a heart condition,[1][6] but remained with Celtic in a scouting capacity, where he was credited with bringing Davy 'Boy' Martin[7] to the club.

Ferris died on 10 October 1932[8] and was buried in Milltown Cemetery.[9] His son, Raymond would later go on to follow in his father's footsteps as an Ireland international.[1]

International career

[edit]

Ferris made his Ireland debut against England during the 1919-20 British Home Championship, scoring a 70th minute equaliser.[1][10] He would make 6 international appearances in total.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "NIFG: Jimmy Ferris". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Stamford Bridge". Stamford Bridge. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Waterford Standard". Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  4. ^ Achates (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Chelsea". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  5. ^ "DT92 - James Ferris". DT92. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Waterford Standard". Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  7. ^ "The Grand Old Team: Jimmy Ferris". BelfastCeltic.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Waterford Standard". Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  9. ^ "The Grand Old Team: Jimmy Ferris". BelfastCeltic.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Ireland vs England". EU Football. Retrieved 31 August 2020.