{{short description|Irish association football player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Jimmy Ferris |fullname = James Ferris |birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1894|11|28}}<ref name="NIFG">{{cite web |title=NIFG: Jimmy Ferris |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/11/jimmy-ferris.html |website=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref> |birth_place = Belfast, Ireland |death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1932|10|10|1894|11|28}}<ref name="STA">{{cite web |title=Stamford Bridge |url=http://www.stamford-bridge.com/player.php?id=182&surname=Ferris&firstname=Jim |website=Stamford Bridge |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Waterford Standard |url=https://playupliverpool.com/1932/10/10/the-death-of-james-ferris/ |accessdate=31 August 2020 }}</ref> |death_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland |height = {{height|ft=5|in=7}}<ref>{{cite news |title=First Division prospects. Chelsea |author=Achates |newspaper=Athletic News |location=Manchester |date=22 August 1921 |page=5}}</ref> |position = Forward |years1 = 1914–1917 |clubs1 = Distillery |caps1 = 73 |goals1 = 12 |years2 = 1917–1920 |clubs2 = Belfast Celtic |caps2 = |goals2 = |years3 = 1920–1922 |clubs3 = Chelsea |caps3 = 33 |goals3 = 8 |years4 = 1922–1924 |clubs4 = Preston North End |caps4 = 53 |goals4 = 11 |years5 = 1924 |clubs5 = Pontypridd |caps5 = 2 |goals5 = |years6 = 1924–1930 |clubs6 = Belfast Celtic |caps6 = |goals6 = | nationalyears1 = 1919–1928 | nationalteam1 = Ireland | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 1 }}
'''Jimmy Ferris''' (28 November 1894 – 10 October 1932) was an Irish footballer who played as a forward
==Club career==
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.<ref name="NIFG">{{cite web |title=NIFG: Jimmy Ferris |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/11/jimmy-ferris.html |website=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref>
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.<ref name="NIFG">{{cite web |title=NIFG: Jimmy Ferris |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/11/jimmy-ferris.html |website=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref>
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.<ref name="STA">{{cite web |title=Stamford Bridge |url=http://www.stamford-bridge.com/player.php?id=182&surname=Ferris&firstname=Jim |website=Stamford Bridge |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref> 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,<ref name="DT92">{{cite web |title=DT92 - James Ferris |url=http://doingthe92.com/display_player.asp?step=61&ID=36&pid=52489&ptag=James_Ferris |website=DT92 |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref> and would go on to make two appearances<ref name="NIFG">{{cite web |title=NIFG: Jimmy Ferris |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/11/jimmy-ferris.html |website=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref> 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==
Ferris was forced to retire from football in 1930 after being diagnosed with a heart condition,<ref name="NIFG">{{cite web |title=NIFG: Jimmy Ferris |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/11/jimmy-ferris.html |website=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Waterford Standard |url=https://playupliverpool.com/1932/10/10/the-death-of-james-ferris/ |accessdate=31 August 2020 }}</ref> but remained with Celtic in a scouting capacity, where he was credited with bringing Davy 'Boy' Martin<ref>{{cite web |title=The Grand Old Team: Jimmy Ferris |url=http://www.belfastceltic.org/jimmyferris.html |website=BelfastCeltic.org |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref> to the club.
Ferris died on 10 October 1932<ref>{{cite news |title=Waterford Standard |url=https://playupliverpool.com/1932/10/10/the-death-of-james-ferris/ |accessdate=31 August 2020 }}</ref> and was buried in Milltown Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Grand Old Team: Jimmy Ferris |url=http://www.belfastceltic.org/jimmyferris.html |website=BelfastCeltic.org |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref> His son, Raymond would later go on to follow in his father's footsteps as an Ireland international.<ref name="NIFG">{{cite web |title=NIFG: Jimmy Ferris |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/11/jimmy-ferris.html |website=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref>
==International career== Ferris made his Ireland debut against England during the 1919-20 British Home Championship, scoring a 70th minute equaliser.<ref name="NIFG">{{cite web |title=NIFG: Jimmy Ferris |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/11/jimmy-ferris.html |website=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="EUF">{{cite web |title=Ireland vs England |url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=4802 |website=EU Football |accessdate=31 August 2020}}</ref> He would make 6 international appearances in total.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferris, Jimmy}} Category:Irish association footballers (before 1923) Category:NIFL Premiership players Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Northern Ireland men's amateur international footballers Category:Pre-1950 IFA men's international footballers Category:1894 births Category:1932 deaths Category:Lisburn Distillery F.C. players Category:Chelsea F.C. players Category:Pontypridd F.C. players Category:Preston North End F.C. players Category:Association footballers from Belfast Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland Category:Belfast Celtic F.C. players