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The
1940's was basically a poor decade in Distillery history. The turmoil
of the Second World War led to a curtailed Regional League programme
with only 6 teams taking part and the sharing of Grosvenor Park
with Glentoran after the Oval was bombed. The only trophy won during
the decade was the CAS in 1945/46 and 8 of that team are mentioned
below. ( Note that a very good Seconds team won the Intermediate
Cup in 1947/48 ). The high-point of the era was the influx of English
League players who were stationed in N.I. as servicemen. Thirty-six
guest players turned out for Distillery and their presence plus
the innovative end of season Dublin/Belfast Inter-City Cup Competition
helped to boost crowds during the tense war-time years.
1
BILLY SMYTH who
was signed from Balmoral United as back-up to Ted Hinton made his
debut on 7-10-44. By Christmas he had established himself as first
choice keeper for the rest of the decade. He gained two NI caps
in 1949 and played 7 times for the Irish League during this era.
He made 231 appearances during this period.
2
EDDIE LONSDALE
was probably the most versatile player in the history of the club,
playing in seven different positions. He joined from Glentoran in
1938/39 making his debut on 19-11-38 at centre-half. By the start
of this decade he was right-half and by 1944-45 he was playing at
centre-forward. He first played at right-back on 13-10-45 and finished
the decade at centre-half. He made 404 appearances and scored 92
goals.
3
BILLY IRVINE
from Ballyclare Comrades made his debut on 29-8-42 and was the rgular
left-back for three seasons before switching to left-half in January
1945. He played his last game on 5-4-47 before moving on to Ballymena.
He made 149 appearances but never scored.
4
GEORGE BLACK had
previously played for the Whites as a youngster in 1925/26 (10 app)
and he returned after a career at Newry, Portadown and Dundalk to
make his second debut on 6-9-41. He played in the other half-back
positions and in his last game on 16-2-46 he actually played at
centre-forward. In this decade he made 163 appearances and scored
28 goals, with 20 of these coming in his last two seasons.
5
GERRY BOWLER
was signed from Derry City in April 1943. He was the regular centre-half
and he occassionally filled in at right-back. He scored his only
goal (a penalty) against Cliftonville on 29-9-46. He was signed
by Portsmouth in August 1946 and later played for NI. He made 121
appearances for the Whites.
6
BILLY KIRKPATRICK
from H & W Welders made his debut on 28-12-46 and played in
both wing-half positions. He also played at inside-left and made
100 appearances scoring 13 goals before moving on to Coleraine and
Ards.
7
JOHN ' JACKIE' BROWNLOW
the ex-Coleraine and Linfield winger made his debut on 21-9-42.
He was a penalty kick expert who scored 12 penalties in a row for
the Whites. He only made 45 appearances but scored 24 goals. After
the War he played for Gravesend, Ipswich and Hartlepool.
8
GEORGE DRURY was
a war-time guest player for two seasons. The Arsenal and former
Sheffield Wednesday player made his debut on 21-11-42. He played
in both inside-forward positions and made 59 appearances scoring
34 goals.After the War he played for West Brom and Watford.
9
JACK ROWLEY
was a war-time guest from Manchester United who made his debut on
28-3-42 and scored. In only 29 appearances he scored 26 goals. He
went home on leave for two weeks in November 1942 and played a game
for Wolves against Derby County on 21-11-42 --- he scored 8 goals
in the match.
10
ROBERT 'BOBBY' BRENNAN
made his debut on 18-3-44 at no.7 and scored. He properly established
himself in the team at inside-forward in January 1945. He made 108
appearances and scored 58 goals before being transferred to Luton
Town for £2000 in October 1947. He later played for Birmingham,
Fulham and Norwich and was capped 5 times for NI.
11
TOMMY WALKER
joined from Ballyclare Comrades and made his debut on 11-10-41 and
scored. He scored a goal in the 1945/46 CAS victory and also scored
two hat-tricks in his Distillery career. He played twice for the
Regional League team but his time at the Whites was cut short by
a serious illness that put him out of the game for a spell. He made
221 appearances and scored 73 goals. He later played for Crusaders
and Ards.
Reserves:---
Ted
Embleton
from Doncaster Rovers scored 47 goals in 46 appearances in 1941/42
including 7 in a game.
Sammy Ewing was a hard working inside-forward who later played for
Glentoran and Crusaders.
Bobby
McLaughlin was a left-sided forward who got an Irish League
cap in 1947/48 before being signed by Wrexham for £3000 in January
1950.
Albert Lyness, ex-Rangers and Linfield was an inside-left and left-half
who played for 5 seasons.
Bobby
McIlvenny was a right-winger who scored two goals in the 1945/46
CAS victory and later played for Merthyr Town and Oldham.
Walter Lumby ex-Stockport and Bradford was a half-back who played
for three seasons at the start of the decade.
Tommy Adams was a stalwart right-back from the previous decade who
played for 5 more seasons finishing with 390 appearances.
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