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If
the 1880's saw Distillery emerge as the top Irish Cup team, then
the 1890's with the arrival of new competitions such as the League
Championship and the City Cup saw the team consolidate it's position
as one of the top clubs in Ireland. Nine trophies were won during
the decade:--- League Championship 1895-96 and 1898-99, the Irish
Cup 1893-94 and 1895-96, the CAS 1892-93, 1895-96, 1986-97and 1899-1900,
and the Belfast Charities Cup 1899-1900.
1
JAMES THOMPSON made
his debut on 17-12-1892 and was the first choice keeper for the
rest of the decade. He took part in all 9 trophy wins and was capped
once by Ireland. Legend has it that during a thick fog bound game
with Glentoran, the referee abandoned the match and the rest of
the players were in the pavilion getting changed for 15 minutes
before they realised that poor Jimmy was still out on the pitch
not realising that the match was over!
2
JACK PONSONBY
was a tremendously versatile player who in his career played in
nine different positions for the club. His main position though
was right or left back. After four seasons at the Whites he played
a season (1897-98) for Stoke City, then returned to finish his career
with the Whites. He was capped 9 times by Ireland and played in
6 of the trophy wins.
3
MICK COCHRANE
joined Distillery from Milltown F.C. at the end of 1895-96 to play
two games. However the following season he signed for Glentoran
then joined Belfast Celtic. He returned to the Whites in 1897-98
and was transferred across the water in 1900-01 to Leicester Fosse
then to Middlesbro. He later returned to the Whites and then to
Belfast Celtic again.He was a tremendous left-back who could also
play at half-back and he was capped 7 times for Ireland during his
Distillery career.
4
SAM McCOY
was another versatile player who made his debut on 1-9-1894 as a
centre-forward. He played in eight different positions during his
Distillery career but was more effective as a half-back. He was
a regular in that great trophy winning season of 1895-96 and was
capped once by Ireland.
5
SAMMY SPENCER was
a great centre-half who emerged during the previous decade. He was
capped 6 times for Ireland during this decade. He retired to take
up refereeing in 1895.
6
TOM McCLATCHEY
was a consistent half-back who actually made his debut on the left-wing.
He was a regular player over foyr seasons in the middle of the decade
and played in 5 of the trophy wins.He was capped 3 times by Ireland
but a serious knee injury abruptly ended his career.
7
JOHN ' TOBY ' MERCER made
his debut on the right-wing on 10-10-1896. He was an ever present
and regular scorer for three seasons before being transferred to
Burton United and then Leicester Fosse. He later returned to the
Whites for a season before joining Derby County to form a partnership
with the legendary Steve Bloomer. He got 6 Ireland caps while with
the Whites.
8
BILLY McARTHUR
was a Distillery player for only two seasons during the decade,
but in both these seasons the team won the League Championship.
He joined from Milltown F.C. in 1895-96, helped win the League then
went to Glentoran for two seasons. He returned to the Whites in
1898-99 to help them win the League once more.
9
OLPHIE STANFIELD
became a legend during this decade, making 147 competitive appearances
and scoring at least 105 goals. He became the most capped Distillery
international, finishing his career officially at the end of the
1897-98 season with a total of 30 caps for Ireland. He was a prolific,
strong centre-forward who scored at least 7 hat-tricks during the
decade and scored important winners in the 1893-94 Irish Cup Final
and the 1895-96 League Championship Play-off.
10
JOHN PEDEN was
already an established Ireland international before he surprisingly
joined the Whites. He made his name in the previous decade with
Linfield before joining Newtown Heath (alias Manchester United)
and then Sheffield United. He returned to Ireland making his Distillery
debut on 7-9-1895 and played for four seasons, helping to win 5
trophies and scoring at least 42 goals in 87 competitive games.
He gained 10 of his 24 Ireland caps whilst at Distillery.
11
JACK WATTIE
was one of Glentoran's top players of the era. However a disagreement
saw him join the Whites for just over a season. He made his debut
on 10-9-1898 and helped Distillery win the League that season. He
scored 13 goals in 36 competitive games before returning to Glentoran
where he was revered. He got his only Ireland as a Distillery player.
Reserves:---
Pat
Farrell was
a centre-half during the 1895-96 season who went on to play for
Glasgow Celtic, Arsenal and Brighton.
Jack
Petrie was
already a legend before he joined the Whites in 1891-92 --- he had
established a British record of scoring 13 goals in a match (Arbroath
36 Bon Accord 0 in the Scottish Cup on 12-9-1885).
William
Rylie
only played one game for Distillery --- the Irish Cup Final on 14-3-1896
and he scored the opening goal.
Giddy
Baird
was the regular outside-right during the 3 trophies season - 1895-96.
James
Emerson the former Distillery Rovers player scored two goals
in the 1893-94 Irish Cup Final.
Mitchel
Calvey the
Lancashire Fusiliers centre-forward played during 1892-93 before
moving on to Blackburn and Manchester City.
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