Joe Grace (Irish footballer)

Joe Grace was an Ireland international footballer.[1][2]

Joe Grace
Personal information
Full name Joseph Grace
Date of death January 1959
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Bohemians
Belfast Celtic
Drumcondra
International career
1926 Irish Free State 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

International career

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On 21 March 1926, Grace made his only appearance for the Irish Free State national football team in a 3–0 defeat to Italy in Turin.[3]

His appearance at international level was controversial as the selectors included the former Belfast Celtic defender who was playing in the Leinster Senior League with Drumcondra at the time.

Grace had previously appeared for the Ireland amateur international team in November 1920 in a 4–0 defeat to England at Solitude, Belfast. This was an all island team.[4]

Club career

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In 1927, Drumcondra became the first non-senior team south of the border to win the FAI Cup. They were competing in the Leinster Senior League at the time.[citation needed]

Grace, a tall, commanding, centre-half was hugely influential as Drumcondra defeated Brideville 1–0 in the final.[citation needed]

Drumcondra further enhanced their reputation and paved their way for promotion to the League of Ireland by reaching the final again the following year losing 2-1 to Bohemians.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "FAI History: 1930 - 1959 | Football Association of Ireland". Fai.ie. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Statistics: Republic of Ireland [Powered by tplSoccerStats]". Soccerscene.ie. 21 March 1926. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Joe Grace". National-football-teams.com. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  4. ^ [1][dead link]