Samuel Johnstone Irving was an Irish professional footballer and manager. Born In Ireland, he was raised in Scotland before playing football in the North of England. He turned professional in 1913 and played in the Football League for Bristol City before World War I. After the war he returned to non-league in England.
In 1920, he joined Scottish Football League side Dundee where he quickly established himself in the first team. He spent six years with the club, making over 150 appearances in all competitions, despite suffering persistent knee injuries for several years. He helped the club to two top four finishes and reach the 1925 Scottish Cup Final where they were defeated by Celtic. He joined Football League First Division side Cardiff City in 1926 in a swap deal with Joe Cassidy. In his first year with the club, he helped them win both the FA Cup, becoming the only team from outside England to win the competition, and the Welsh Cup. He also won the 1927 FA Charity Shield the following year, but fell out of favour midway through the 1927–28 season.
He was sold to Second Division side Chelsea where he gained promotion to the First Division in 1930. He signed for Bristol Rovers in 1932 and spent one season with the side before retiring from playing. At international level, Irving made 18 appearances for Ireland between 1923 and 1931, captaining the side on several occasions. After retiring as a player, he was co-manager of Dundee United for the 1938–39 season.
He made his debut for Chelsea in a victory over Hull City. Despite his advancing years, the Dundee Evening Telegraph reported that by December of the same year he was excelling following his move to Chelsea. Near the end of his first full season with Chelsea, Irving was signed on for another season shortly before the club embarked on a 20-match tour of South America. The team were surprised by the unsporting tactics of their opponents, and antics of the crowd who pelted them with oranges. Irving responded by catching one of the oranges, before peeling and eating the fruit. He was part of the side that won promotion out of the Second Division during the 1929–30 season after finishing the campaign as runners-up.
During a match against Liverpool in October 1931, Sam collapsed on the field late in the game and required medical attention. The cause was later discovered to be a burst varicose vein in his knee. The injury would keep him out of the side until the following year and, on his return, he found himself unable to regain his place in the first team. At the end of the 1931–32 season Irving was released by the club.
Sam married Nellie Gelston on 8 December 1922 in Monifieth. Bobby Willis, his Dundee teammate, served as his groomsman at the ceremony. The couple had a son and daughter together. Their son died as an infant in 1930 after suffering from diphtheria. During his playing career, he owned a shop in the Dundee area. After his retirement, Sam settled in Dundee where he ran the La Scala billiards hall and competed for the venue's team in the Dundee Snooker League.
In 1920, he joined Scottish Football League side Dundee where he quickly established himself in the first team. He spent six years with the club, making over 150 appearances in all competitions, despite suffering persistent knee injuries for several years. He helped the club to two top four finishes and reach the 1925 Scottish Cup Final where they were defeated by Celtic. He joined Football League First Division side Cardiff City in 1926 in a swap deal with Joe Cassidy. In his first year with the club, he helped them win both the FA Cup, becoming the only team from outside England to win the competition, and the Welsh Cup. He also won the 1927 FA Charity Shield the following year, but fell out of favour midway through the 1927–28 season.
He was sold to Second Division side Chelsea where he gained promotion to the First Division in 1930. He signed for Bristol Rovers in 1932 and spent one season with the side before retiring from playing. At international level, Irving made 18 appearances for Ireland between 1923 and 1931, captaining the side on several occasions. After retiring as a player, he was co-manager of Dundee United for the 1938–39 season.
He made his debut for Chelsea in a victory over Hull City. Despite his advancing years, the Dundee Evening Telegraph reported that by December of the same year he was excelling following his move to Chelsea. Near the end of his first full season with Chelsea, Irving was signed on for another season shortly before the club embarked on a 20-match tour of South America. The team were surprised by the unsporting tactics of their opponents, and antics of the crowd who pelted them with oranges. Irving responded by catching one of the oranges, before peeling and eating the fruit. He was part of the side that won promotion out of the Second Division during the 1929–30 season after finishing the campaign as runners-up.
During a match against Liverpool in October 1931, Sam collapsed on the field late in the game and required medical attention. The cause was later discovered to be a burst varicose vein in his knee. The injury would keep him out of the side until the following year and, on his return, he found himself unable to regain his place in the first team. At the end of the 1931–32 season Irving was released by the club.
Sam married Nellie Gelston on 8 December 1922 in Monifieth. Bobby Willis, his Dundee teammate, served as his groomsman at the ceremony. The couple had a son and daughter together. Their son died as an infant in 1930 after suffering from diphtheria. During his playing career, he owned a shop in the Dundee area. After his retirement, Sam settled in Dundee where he ran the La Scala billiards hall and competed for the venue's team in the Dundee Snooker League.
Samuel Johnstone Irving was an Irish professional footballer and manager. Born In Ireland, he was raised in Scotland before playing football in the North of England. He turned professional in 1913 and played in the Football League for Bristol City before World War I. After the war he returned to non-league in England.
In 1920, he joined Scottish Football League side Dundee where he quickly established himself in the first team. He spent six years with the club, making over 150 appearances in all competitions, despite suffering persistent knee injuries for several years. He helped the club to two top four finishes and reach the 1925 Scottish Cup Final where they were defeated by Celtic. He joined Football League First Division side Cardiff City in 1926 in a swap deal with Joe Cassidy. In his first year with the club, he helped them win both the FA Cup, becoming the only team from outside England to win the competition, and the Welsh Cup. He also won the 1927 FA Charity Shield the following year, but fell out of favour midway through the 1927–28 season.
He was sold to Second Division side Chelsea where he gained promotion to the First Division in 1930. He signed for Bristol Rovers in 1932 and spent one season with the side before retiring from playing. At international level, Irving made 18 appearances for Ireland between 1923 and 1931, captaining the side on several occasions. After retiring as a player, he was co-manager of Dundee United for the 1938–39 season.
He made his debut for Chelsea in a victory over Hull City. Despite his advancing years, the Dundee Evening Telegraph reported that by December of the same year he was excelling following his move to Chelsea. Near the end of his first full season with Chelsea, Irving was signed on for another season shortly before the club embarked on a 20-match tour of South America. The team were surprised by the unsporting tactics of their opponents, and antics of the crowd who pelted them with oranges. Irving responded by catching one of the oranges, before peeling and eating the fruit. He was part of the side that won promotion out of the Second Division during the 1929–30 season after finishing the campaign as runners-up.
During a match against Liverpool in October 1931, Sam collapsed on the field late in the game and required medical attention. The cause was later discovered to be a burst varicose vein in his knee. The injury would keep him out of the side until the following year and, on his return, he found himself unable to regain his place in the first team. At the end of the 1931–32 season Irving was released by the club.
Sam married Nellie Gelston on 8 December 1922 in Monifieth. Bobby Willis, his Dundee teammate, served as his groomsman at the ceremony. The couple had a son and daughter together. Their son died as an infant in 1930 after suffering from diphtheria. During his playing career, he owned a shop in the Dundee area. After his retirement, Sam settled in Dundee where he ran the La Scala billiards hall and competed for the venue's team in the Dundee Snooker League.
In 1920, he joined Scottish Football League side Dundee where he quickly established himself in the first team. He spent six years with the club, making over 150 appearances in all competitions, despite suffering persistent knee injuries for several years. He helped the club to two top four finishes and reach the 1925 Scottish Cup Final where they were defeated by Celtic. He joined Football League First Division side Cardiff City in 1926 in a swap deal with Joe Cassidy. In his first year with the club, he helped them win both the FA Cup, becoming the only team from outside England to win the competition, and the Welsh Cup. He also won the 1927 FA Charity Shield the following year, but fell out of favour midway through the 1927–28 season.
He was sold to Second Division side Chelsea where he gained promotion to the First Division in 1930. He signed for Bristol Rovers in 1932 and spent one season with the side before retiring from playing. At international level, Irving made 18 appearances for Ireland between 1923 and 1931, captaining the side on several occasions. After retiring as a player, he was co-manager of Dundee United for the 1938–39 season.
He made his debut for Chelsea in a victory over Hull City. Despite his advancing years, the Dundee Evening Telegraph reported that by December of the same year he was excelling following his move to Chelsea. Near the end of his first full season with Chelsea, Irving was signed on for another season shortly before the club embarked on a 20-match tour of South America. The team were surprised by the unsporting tactics of their opponents, and antics of the crowd who pelted them with oranges. Irving responded by catching one of the oranges, before peeling and eating the fruit. He was part of the side that won promotion out of the Second Division during the 1929–30 season after finishing the campaign as runners-up.
During a match against Liverpool in October 1931, Sam collapsed on the field late in the game and required medical attention. The cause was later discovered to be a burst varicose vein in his knee. The injury would keep him out of the side until the following year and, on his return, he found himself unable to regain his place in the first team. At the end of the 1931–32 season Irving was released by the club.
Sam married Nellie Gelston on 8 December 1922 in Monifieth. Bobby Willis, his Dundee teammate, served as his groomsman at the ceremony. The couple had a son and daughter together. Their son died as an infant in 1930 after suffering from diphtheria. During his playing career, he owned a shop in the Dundee area. After his retirement, Sam settled in Dundee where he ran the La Scala billiards hall and competed for the venue's team in the Dundee Snooker League.
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