Dual Irish International Footballers - Northern Irish Dual Internationals

Northern Irish Dual Internationals

Between 1931 and 1946 at least six players from Northern Ireland also played for both teams. From 1924 until 1936, the FAI called their team the Irish Free State and generally just selected players who were born in what is now the Republic of Ireland. However during this period at least one Northerner, Harry Chatton, also represented the FAI after having previously played for the IFA XI. On March 17, 1936 for the game against Switzerland, the FAI referred to their team as Ireland for the first time and subsequently declared their intention to follow the IFA and select players from throughout the island. In 1937 the FAI’s case was strengthened after the introduction of the Constitution of Ireland, and in particular Articles 2 and 3 which declared that the whole of Ireland formed one "national territory".

In 1936 and 1937 several Northerners including, Hugh Connolly, Davy Jordan, John Feenan, Mick Hoy, Tommy Donnelly and Jackie Brown all played for the FAI XI. However of these only Brown ever played for the IFA XI and became a dual international. In June 1946 when the FAI XI toured the Iberian Peninsula the squad included four Northern Irish players - Billy McMillan, Jackie Vernon, Jimmy McAlinden and Paddy Sloan - all of whom had previously played for the IFA XI. Sloan earned the FAI XI a surprise victory when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against Spain.