# Davy Walsh > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Davy_Walsh > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Davy_Walsh.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Walsh > Source revision: 1305631113 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Irish footballer (1923–2016)}} {{Use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Davy Walsh | image = Davy Walsh 2014.jpg | caption = Walsh in 2014 | fullname = David Joseph Walsh | birth_date = {{birth date|1923|4|28|df=y}} | birth_place = [Waterford](/source/Waterford), Ireland | death_date = {{death date and age|2016|3|14|1923|4|28|df=y}} | position = [Centre forward](/source/Centre_forward) | height = 5 ft 11 in{{cite web |url=https://nifootball.blogspot.com/2008/01/dave-walsh.html |title=Dave Walsh |website=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats (NIFG) |publisher=Jonny Dewart |access-date=20 September 2024}} | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = St. Joseph's | youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Corinthians | youthyears3 = | youthclubs3 = Shelbourne (Waterford) | youthyears4 = | youthclubs4 = Glen Rovers | years1 = 1942–1943 | clubs1 = [Limerick United](/source/Limerick_United_F.C.) | caps1 = 16 | goals1 = 13 | years2 = 1943 | clubs2 = → [Shelbourne](/source/Shelbourne_F.C.) (loan) | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1943–1946 | clubs3 = [Linfield](/source/Linfield_F.C.) | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = 1946–1950 | clubs4 = [West Bromwich Albion](/source/West_Bromwich_Albion_F.C.) | caps4 = 165 | goals4 = 94 | years5 = 1947 | clubs5 = → [Shamrock Rovers](/source/Shamrock_Rovers_F.C.) (guest) | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 1950–1955 | clubs6 = [Aston Villa](/source/Aston_Villa_F.C.) | caps6 = 108 | goals6 = 37 | years7 = 1955–1956 | clubs7 = [Walsall](/source/Walsall_F.C.) | caps7 = 20 | goals7 = 6 | years8 = 1956–1957 | clubs8 = [Worcester City](/source/Worcester_City_F.C.) | caps8 = | goals8 = | nationalyears1 = 1945–1946 | nationalteam1 = [Irish League XI](/source/Irish_League_representative_team) | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 2 | nationalyears2 = 1946–1950 | nationalteam2 = [Ireland (IFA)](/source/Ireland_national_football_team_(1882%E2%80%931950)) | nationalcaps2 = 11 | nationalgoals2 = 7 | nationalyears3 = 1946–1953 | nationalteam3 = [Ireland (FAI)](/source/Republic_of_Ireland_national_football_team) | nationalcaps3 = 20 | nationalgoals3 = 5 }} '''David Joseph Walsh''' (28 April 1923 – 14 March 2016) was an Irish [footballer](/source/association_football) who played as a centre forward for, among others, [Linfield](/source/Linfield_F.C.), [West Bromwich Albion](/source/West_Bromwich_Albion_F.C.) and [Aston Villa](/source/Aston_Villa_F.C.). Walsh was a [dual international](/source/List_of_dual_Irish_international_footballers) and played for both Ireland teams – the [FAI XI](/source/Republic_of_Ireland_national_football_team) and the [IFA XI](/source/Ireland_national_football_team_(1882%E2%80%931950)). In 1949, he was a member of the FAI XI that defeated [England](/source/England_national_football_team) [2–0](/source/England_v_Ireland_(1949)) at [Goodison Park](/source/Goodison_Park), becoming the first team to beat England at home. Walsh was a player with an eye for goal. Nimble and decisive in front of goal, he had the knack for being in the right place at the right time. After retiring as a player Walsh owned a sports shop / general store in [Droitwich](/source/Droitwich) and later ran holiday homes in [Thurlestone](/source/Thurlestone) and [Kingsbridge](/source/Kingsbridge) in Devon. In June 2003, Walsh, together with such other notable [Waterford](/source/Waterford) footballers as [Paddy Coad](/source/Paddy_Coad), [Alfie Hale](/source/Alfie_Hale), [Peter Thomas](/source/Peter_Thomas_(footballer_born_1944)), [Jim Beglin](/source/Jim_Beglin) and [John O'Shea](/source/John_O'Shea), was honoured by the city council and presented with [Waterford Crystal](/source/Waterford_Crystal) vase.[http://www.waterford-news.com/email/printer.asp?j=10879 Honoured by Waterford City Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928210337/http://www.waterford-news.com/email/printer.asp?j=10879 |date=28 September 2007 }} He died in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/wba-albion-dave-walsh-3007197.aspx|title=DAVE WALSH 1923–2016|publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.|date=14 March 2016}} ==Playing career== ===Irish Leagues=== Walsh began his career playing youth football in [Waterford](/source/Waterford) before joining [Limerick United](/source/Limerick_United_F.C.) in 1942 making his debut on 4 October scoring twice against [St James's Gate F.C.](/source/St_James's_Gate_F.C.) in the [League of Ireland Shield](/source/League_of_Ireland_Shield). Despite Limerick finishing second from bottom in the competition Walsh scored 6 goals. At the end of a very successful goalscoring [1942–43 League of Ireland](/source/1942%E2%80%9343_League_of_Ireland) season he was loaned to [Shelbourne](/source/Shelbourne_F.C.) for their [Dublin and Belfast Inter-City Cup](/source/Dublin_and_Belfast_Inter-City_Cup) ties. In 1943 he moved north of the border and joined [Irish League](/source/IFA_Premiership) side [Linfield](/source/Linfield_F.C.). Walsh scored 122 goals in Ireland, including 73 during the 1945–46 season for Linfield. While at Linfield he helped them win the [Irish Cup](/source/Irish_Cup) in 1945 and a [Northern Regional League](/source/Northern_Regional_League) / [Irish Cup](/source/Irish_Cup) [double](/source/Double_(association_football)) in 1946.[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1840188219 ''Who's Who Of Aston Villa'' (2004): Tony Matthews] His teammates at Linfield included, among others [Tommy Breen](/source/Tommy_Breen), [Sammy McCrory](/source/Sammy_McCrory) and guest player [Billy Liddell](/source/Billy_Liddell).{{cite book |last=Keith |first=John |title=Billy Liddell: The Legend Who Carried the Kop |year=2004 |publisher=Anova Books |isbn=1-86105-804-7 }} On 8 June 1947, together with [Jackie Vernon](/source/Jackie_Vernon_(footballer)), Walsh returned to Ireland to play as a guest for [Shamrock Rovers](/source/Shamrock_Rovers_F.C.) in a friendly against [Everton](/source/Everton_F.C.). ===English League=== In May 1946, Walsh joined [West Bromwich Albion](/source/West_Bromwich_Albion_F.C.) for a fee of £3,500 and subsequently made a terrific start to his [English League](/source/English_Football_League) career by scoring in each of his first six games. He continued to score regularly for WBA and, together with [Reg Ryan](/source/Reg_Ryan) and [Jackie Vernon](/source/Jackie_Vernon_(footballer)), he was a key figure when they gained promotion in [1949](/source/1948%E2%80%9349_in_English_football). He went on to score 100 goals for WBA before moving to [Aston Villa](/source/Aston_Villa_F.C.) for a fee of £25,000 in December 1950. He made 114 appearances and scored 40 goals for Villa, averaging a goal every three games, before moving onto [Walsall](/source/Walsall_F.C.) in July 1955. After one season there he joined [Worcester City](/source/Worcester_City_F.C.) where he retired as a player in May 1957. ==Irish international== When Walsh began his international career in 1946 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland-based [IFA](/source/Irish_Football_Association) and the Ireland-based [FAI](/source/Football_Association_of_Ireland) claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. As a result, several notable Irish players from this era, including Walsh, played for both teams. ===IFA XI=== Between 1946 and 1950, Walsh made 11 appearances and scored seven goals for the [IFA XI](/source/Ireland_national_football_team_(1882%E2%80%931950)). These include two [Victory international](/source/Victory_international)s played in early 1946. On 2 February, at [Windsor Park](/source/Windsor_Park) he made his debut for the IFA XI in a 3–2 defeat to [Scotland](/source/Scotland_national_football_team), scoring both of his team's goals. Then, on 4 May, he helped the IFA XI defeat [Wales](/source/Wales_national_football_team) 1–0 at [Ninian Park](/source/Ninian_Park). On 27 November 1946, he played for the IFA XI a 0–0 draw with Scotland. Together with [Johnny Carey](/source/Johnny_Carey), [Con Martin](/source/Con_Martin), [Bill Gorman](/source/Bill_Gorman), [Tommy Eglington](/source/Tommy_Eglington), [Alex Stevenson](/source/Alex_Stevenson) and [Peter Farrell](/source/Peter_Farrell_(Irish_footballer)), he was one of seven players born in the [Irish Free State](/source/Irish_Free_State) to play for the IFA XI that day. The draw helped the team finish as runners-up in the [1947 British Home Championship](/source/1947_British_Home_Championship). Walsh also helped the IFA XI gain some further respectable results, including a 2–0 win against [Scotland](/source/Scotland_national_football_team) on 4 October 1947 and a 2–2 draw with [England](/source/England_national_football_team) at [Goodison Park](/source/Goodison_Park) on 5 November 1947. It was at Goodison that Walsh scored his third goal for the IFA XI, in a game he was later to describe as the highlight of his footballing career. Walsh also scored both goals for the IFA XI on 9 October 1948 in a 6–2 defeat to England at [Windsor Park](/source/Windsor_Park). He then scored twice in the first five minutes at [Hampden Park](/source/Hampden_Park) against Scotland on 17 November 1948. However Walsh's goals could not prevent Scotland eventually winning 3–2. Despite both games ending in defeat, these four goals saw Walsh finish as top goalscorer during the [1949 British Home Championship](/source/1949_British_Home_Championship). Walsh made his last appearance for the IFA XI in a 0–0 draw with Wales on 8 March 1950. As well as being part of the [1950 British Home Championship](/source/1950_British_Home_Championship), the game also doubled up as a qualifier for the [1950 FIFA World Cup](/source/1950_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification). Walsh, together with [Con Martin](/source/Con_Martin), [Reg Ryan](/source/Reg_Ryan) and [Tom Aherne](/source/Tom_Aherne), was one of four players from the Republic, included in the IFA XI that day and as a result he played for two different associations in the same [FIFA World Cup](/source/FIFA_World_Cup) tournament. This situation eventually led to intervention by [FIFA](/source/FIFA) and as a result Walsh became one of the last four [Republic](/source/Republic_of_Ireland)-born players to play for the IFA XI.[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/075531431X ''Soccer at War – 1939 – 45'' (2005): Jack Rollin][http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/article2336130.ece Article from Belfast Telegraph][https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bhc1947-66.html 1949 British Home Championship][https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1851589392 ''The Boys In Green – The FAI International Story'' (1997): Sean Ryan] ===FAI XI=== Between 1946 and 1953, Walsh made 20 appearances and scored five goals for the [FAI XI](/source/Republic_of_Ireland_national_football_team), making his debut for the team in a 3–1 defeat to [Portugal](/source/Portugal_national_football_team) on 16 June 1946. On 2 March 1947, Walsh scored twice against [Spain](/source/Spain_national_football_team), helping the FAI XI to 3–2 win. Both of his goals that day were set up by a fellow [Waterford](/source/Waterford) footballer, [Paddy Coad](/source/Paddy_Coad). On 2 June 1949, he scored his third goal in a 3–1 defeat to [Sweden](/source/Sweden_men's_national_football_team), during a qualifier for the [1950 FIFA World Cup](/source/1950_FIFA_World_Cup). Then, on 21 September 1949, together with [Con Martin](/source/Con_Martin), [Johnny Carey](/source/Johnny_Carey) and [Peter Farrell](/source/Peter_Farrell_(Irish_footballer)), he was a member of the FAI XI that defeated [England](/source/England_national_football_team) [2–0](/source/England_v_Ireland_(1949)) at [Goodison Park](/source/Goodison_Park), becoming the first non-UK team to beat England at home. He scored his fourth goal on 26 November 1950 against [Norway](/source/Norway_national_football_team) in a 2–2 draw. He scored his last goal for the FAI XI against [France](/source/France_national_football_team) on 4 October 1953 and made his last appearance on 25 November 1953 in a 1–0 defeat against the same team. Both of these games were [qualifiers](/source/1954_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification) for the [1954 FIFA World Cup](/source/1954_FIFA_World_Cup).[http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/player.php?id=310 Ireland (FAI) stats] ==Honours== '''Linfield''' *'''[Irish Cup](/source/Irish_Cup)''' **''Winners'' 1945, 1946 '''2''' **''Runners-up'' 1944: '''1''' *'''[Northern Regional League](/source/Northern_Regional_League)''' **''Winners'' 1944–45, 1945–46: '''2''' '''West Bromwich Albion''' *'''[Second Division](/source/Football_League_Second_Division)''' **''Runners-up'' [1948–49](/source/1948%E2%80%9349_in_English_football): '''1''' '''Ireland''' *'''[British Home Championship](/source/British_Home_Championship)''' **''Runners-up'' [1946–47](/source/1947_British_Home_Championship): '''1''' ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[https://nifootball.blogspot.com/2008/01/dave-walsh.html Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats] {{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Davy}} Category:Association footballers from Waterford (city) Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Ireland (FAI) men's international footballers Category:Dual Irish men's international footballers Category:Pre-1950 IFA men's international footballers Category:Limerick F.C. players Category:Shelbourne F.C. players Category:Linfield F.C. players Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players Category:Aston Villa F.C. players Category:Walsall F.C. players Category:Worcester City F.C. players Category:League of Ireland players Category:NIFL Premiership players Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. guest players Category:2016 deaths Category:1923 births Category:Association footballers from County Waterford Category:Irish League representative players Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Ireland (IFA) men's wartime international footballers Category:English Football League players --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Davy Walsh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Walsh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Walsh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.