{{Short description|Wexford hurler (1932–2008)}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox Gaelic games biography | code= Hurling | sport = Hurling | image = | name = Jim English | irish = Séamus Inglis | birth_date = October 1932 | birth_place=[[Ballindoney]], [[County Wexford]], Ireland | death_date = 23 February 2008 (aged 75) | death_place=[[Muine Bheag]], [[County Carlow]], Ireland | feet = 5 | inches = 9 | occupation = Foreman | county = Wexford | province = Leinster | club = [[Rathnure GAA|Rathnure]]<br />[[Erin's Own GAA (Carlow)|Erin's Own]] | clubs = | clyears = | clapps(points) = | clcounty = | clprovince= | clallireland = | counties = [[Wexford county hurling team|Wexford]] | icposition = Right wing-back | icyears = 1951–1964 | icapps(points) = | icprovince = 5 | icallireland = 3 | nhl = 2 | allstars = | clupdate = | icupdate = }}
'''Jim English''' (October 1932 – 23 February 2008) was an Irish [[Hurling|hurler]] who played as a right wing-back for the [[Wexford county hurling team|Wexford senior team]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/Wexford/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=104949|title=Jim English|publisher=Hogan Stand website|accessdate=7 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/gaa-mourns-jim-english-death-1297988.html|title=GAA mourns Jim English death|date=26 February 2008|publisher=Irish Independent|accessdate=23 October 2011}}</ref>
English joined the team during the [[1951 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|1951 championship]] and subsequently became a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the [[1964 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|1964 championship]]. During that time he won three [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|All-Ireland]] medals, five [[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|Leinster]] medals and two [[National Hurling League]] medals. In 1956 English captained the team to the All-Ireland title.
At club level English enjoyed a successful career with [[Rathnure GAA|Rathnure]] in Wexford and later with [[Erin's Own GAA (Carlow)|Erin's Own]] in Carlow. He won numerous club championship winners' medals in both codes.
==Playing career==
===Club===
English began his club hurling career with [[Rathnure GAA|Rathnure]] and enjoyed much success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rathnuregaa.ie/history.php |title=Rathnure St. Anne's club history |publisher=Rathnure St. Anne's GAA website |accessdate=4 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216051112/http://www.rathnuregaa.ie/history.php |archive-date=16 December 2012 }}</ref>
In 1955 he was a key member of the defence as Rathnure reached only the championship decider with four-in-a-row hopefuls [[Ferns St Aidan's GAA|St Aidan's]] provided the opposition.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Furlong |first=Brendan |date=2010-01-08 |title=125 Greatest Wexford Hurlers |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/enniscorthy-news/125-greatest-wexford-hurlers/27233272.html |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref> A close game developed, however, a 2–9 to 2–5 victory gave English a [[Wexford Senior Hurling Championship]] medal.
English later transferred to the [[Erin's Own GAA (Carlow)|Erin's Own]] club in [[Muine Bheag]].
===Inter-county===
English first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Wexford minor hurling team during their unsuccessful championship campaign in 1950.
In 1951 English joined the Wexford senior hurling team. He was an unused substitute that year as the team secured a first [[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|Leinster]] crown since 1918 but later lost the All-Ireland decider to [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]].
After back to back Leinster defeats over the next two years, Wexford faced [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]] in the 1954 decider. A huge 8–5 to 1–4 victory gave English his first Leinster medal on the field of play. A record crowd of 84,856 attended the subsequent All-Ireland decider with [[Cork GAA|Cork]] providing the opposition. Wexford had a four-point lead with seventeen minutes left to play, however, history was against Rackard's side when [[Johnny Clifford]] scored the winning goal for Cork with just four minutes left. A 1–9 to 1–6 victory secured a third successive All-Ireland for Cork and defeat for English.
In 1955 Wexford continued their provincial dominance with English collecting a second Leinster medal following a 5–6 to 3–9 defeat of Kilkenny in a replay of the Leinster final. [[Galway GAA|Galway]], who got a bye into the final without picking up a hurley, provided the opposition and took a half-time lead. A [[Tim Flood (hurler)|Tim Flood]] goal nine minutes from the end clinched a 3–13 to 2–8 victory and a first [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|All-Ireland]] medal for English. It was Wexford's first All-Ireland triumph in forty-five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/sports-recreation/sport/wexford-hurling/wexford-hurling-in-the-19/all-ireland-win-1955/|title=All-Ireland Win 1955|publisher=Ask About Ireland website|accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref>
English was captain of the side in 1956 and added a [[National Hurling League]] medal to his collection as Tipperary were bested by 5–9 to 2–14. The subsequent championship campaign saw Wexford reach the provincial final once again. A narrow 4–8 to 3–10 defeat of Kilkenny gave English his third Leinster medal. Galway fell heavily in the All-Ireland semi-final, allowing Wexford to advance to an All-Ireland final meeting with Cork. The game has gone down in history as one of the all-time classics as [[Christy Ring]] was bidding for a record ninth All-Ireland medal. The game turned on one important incident as the Wexford goalkeeper, [[Art Foley]], made a miraculous save from a Ring shot and cleared the sliotar up the field to set up another attack. Nicky Rackard scored a crucial goal with two minutes to go giving Wexford a 2–14 to 2–8 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/sports-recreation/sport/wexford-hurling/wexford-hurling-in-the-19/all-ireland-win-1956/|title=All-Ireland Win 1956|publisher=Ask About Ireland website|accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/onefineday.html|title=One fine day – When Wexford went to Croker|publisher=RTÉ Radio 1 website|accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref> It was English's second All-Ireland medal while he also had the honour of lifting the [[Liam MacCarthy Cup]].
Two year later in 1958 English added a second National League medal to his collection following a 5–7 to 4–8 defeat of [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]].
In 1960 Wexford were back in the provincial decider. A narrow 3–10 to 2–11 defeat of Kilkenny gave English his fourth Leinster medal. The All-Ireland decider saw Tipperary provide the opposition. A pitch invasion at the end resulted in much confusion, however, goals by [[Mick Hassett]] and [[Oliver McGrath]] gave Wexford a merited 2–15 to 0–11 victory. It was English's third All-Ireland medal.
After surrendering their titles the following year, Wexford were back in 1962. Another narrow 3–9 to 2–10 defeat of Kilkenny gave English a sixth Leinster medal. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of 1960 with Tipperary, the reigning champions, lining out in opposition. Wexford got off to a disastrous start when [[Tom Moloughney]] and [[Seán McLoughlin (hurler)|Seán McLoughlin]] scored goals for Tipp inside the first minute. Wexford fought back, however, English's side were bested on a 3–10 to 2–11 score line.
Wexford faced early championship exits over the next two years and English called time on his inter-county career in 1964.
===Inter-provincial===
English also had the honour of being selected for [[Leinster GAA|Leinster]] in the inter-provincial series of games and enjoyed some success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leinster.gaa.ie/archive/pdf/P70_75RailwayCup.pdf |title=Leinster Railway Cup Winning Teams |publisher=Leinster GAA website |accessdate=28 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304073518/http://leinster.gaa.ie/archive/pdf/P70_75RailwayCup.pdf |archive-date= 4 March 2009 }}</ref>
In 1956 he was on the starting fifteen as Leinster faced [[Munster GAA|Munster]]. A 5–11 to 1–7 trouncing of their fierce rivals gave English a [[Railway Cup]] medal.
After five years of Munster dominance, Leinster fought back in 1962. A narrow 1–11 to 1–9 defeat of the six-in-a-row hopefuls gave English a second Railway Cup medal.
==Post-playing career==
In retirement from play English maintained a keen interest in hurling. In 1972 he was elected Leinster Council delegate for [[Carlow GAA|Carlow]], serving in that position until 1992. That year English became Chairman of the Carlow County Board.
==Personal life==
Jim English was born in [[Ballindoney]], [[County Wexford]] in 1932. Son of Thomas & Mary Kate, Brothers Paddy, Tommy, Matty, John, Joe & Sisters Maggie (Rowe) Maureen (Walsh) He grew up on the family farm and from a young age he showed a great interest in the game of [[hurling]]. English was educated locally and later attended [[New Ross]] [[Congregation of Christian Brothers|CBS]] where he first tasted hurling success.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box | title=[[List of Wexford senior hurling team captains|Wexford Senior Hurling Captain]] | years=1956 | before=[[Nick O'Donnell (hurler)|Nick O'Donnell]] | after=[[Tom Ryan (Wexford hurler)|Tom Ryan]] }} {{s-ach|ach}} {{succession box | title=[[List of All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winning captains|All-Ireland SHC]]<br />winning [[Captain (Gaelic games)|captain]]| | years=[[1956 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|1956]] | before=[[Nick O'Donnell (hurler)|Nick O'Donnell]]<br />([[Wexford county hurling team|Wexford]]) | after=[[Mickey Kelly]]<br />([[Kilkenny county hurling team|Kilkenny]] }} {{s-end}}
{{Navboxes |title= Jim English navigation boxes |bg= |fg= |list1= {{Wexford Hurling Team 1954}} {{Wexford Hurling Team 1955}} {{Wexford NHL Team 1956}} {{Wexford Hurling Team 1956}} {{Wexford Hurling Team 1960}} {{Wexford Hurling Team 1962}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:English, Jim}} [[Category:1932 births]] [[Category:2008 deaths]] [[Category:All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winners]] [[Category:Erin's Own (Carlow) hurlers]] [[Category:Leinster inter-provincial hurlers]] [[Category:Rathnure hurlers]] [[Category:Wexford inter-county hurlers]] [[Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen]]