“It’s crazy what you could have had” – R.E.M.
As the World Cup finally will be hosted in The Middle East this year, the Northern Irish focus turns to Alistair Johnston – born in Canada but his ma is from Newtownards, it’s crazy what we could have had. He’s one of our own yet he’s going to Qatar as a maple leaf pancake instead of a cheese soda. He feels like a reverse Terry Moore, Jimmy Nicholl and Allan Mannus. Canadian Moore even made the Panini sticker book with Belfast Glentoran in 1986, Nicholl doubled himself in Paninis in 1982 and 1986, being the only Canadian born World Cup player not in the Canada squad in the latter.
“It’s Bolton again, and it’s Jason McAteer again” – Martin Tyler.
It’s time to reflect on what could have been for those players with Northern Ireland links who never actually played for Northern Ireland at the World Cup, but did, or almost did, for a different country.
1.Alistair Johnston (Canada, 2022)
Born: Vancouver, Canada.
Northern Irish Link: Mother from Newtownards, Northern Ireland.
Clubs: Lakeshore SC, Aurora Youth SC, Richmond Hill SC, ANB Futbol, Vaughan SC, St. John’s Red Storm, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Vaughan Azzurri, Nashville, CF Montreal.
Northern Ireland caps: 0.
Canada caps: 29, 1 goal.
Position: Full-back.
Claim to fame: Alistair declared for Canada in 2021 – he was never approached by Northern Ireland bosses Ian Baraclough or Michael O’Neill.
Further Reading: Alistair Johnston Wikipedia , Alistair on Canada at World Cup 2022.
18 July 2021 – Kansas City, KS, USA
Canada Soccer
Alistair Johnston
When Alastair Johnston made the Canada World Cup squad of 2022, it was the first parental link to a Northern Irish player at any World Cup for 2 decades.
2.Brian Quinn (USA, 1994)
Born: Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Northern Irish Link: Born there, grew up there, Veda loyal.
Clubs: Larne, Everton, LA Aztecs, San Diego Sockers, Montreal Manic, Hamilton Steelers, USSF.
Northern Ireland caps: 0.
USA caps: 48, 1 goal.
Position: Midfielder.
Claim to fame: Brian Quinn has more caps for a non-European country than any other Northern Irish-born footballer.
Brian Quinn has featured on teasers a few times. Which Northern Irishman was at a Merseyside club in 2 different decades, scored against Guatemala, won 48 caps and was dropped for 2 World Cup squads? This means that although Brian Quinn made the sticker book and cards set of USA 94, he was a surprising final cut for the 1994 squad and never played for the USA again. All his caps were from 1991 – 1994 which meant his first cap also came too late for him to make the 1990 World Cup squad. He could have been to 2 World Cups and made none. He did play in the US Cup and the CONCACAF Cup though.
3.John Hill (New Zealand, 1982)
Born: Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Northern Irish Link: Born there, grew up there, Wheaten farl loyal.
Northern Ireland caps: 0.
New Zealand caps: 17 (1980 – 1982).
New Zealand goals: 0.
Clubs: Glentoran, Gisborne City.
Position: Defender.
Claim to fame: John Hill played against Brazil at the 1982 World Cup. Alan Brazil, in a 5-2 defeat to Scotland.
John Hill is legendary. He is still the only Northern Irish born player to represent New Zealand at the World Cup and he did that in a tournament that Northern Ireland were also in, back in the 1982 heyday. New Zealand defied the odds to qualify as one of the Asian (as far as FIFA were concerned back then) teams, knocking out the likes of Australia and China on route and qualifying along with Kuwait. At the tournament, John Hill played in the 5-2 defeat to Scotland in the Group Stage. Brazil were in the same group and although John didn’t play against the country Brazil, a common teaser is that he did play against Brazil at the World Cup – Alan Brazil. That was his last cap for the All Whites.
John Hill in the Belfast Telegraph
4.Alan Kernaghan (Republic of Ireland, 1994)
Born: Otley, England.
Northern Irish Link: Grew up in Bangor, Ballyholme beach loyal.
Northern Ireland caps: 3 (Under 15s).
Republic of Ireland caps: 22 caps, 1 goal.
Clubs: Middlesbrough, Charlton Athletic, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City, Saint Johnstone, Livingston, Clyde, Brechin City, Falkirk, Dundee.
Position: Defender.
Geek Unique Fact: Alan is the last player to have grown up in Northern Ireland and played in a World Cup.
Alan Kernaghan grew up in the Towerview estate in Bangor and was even capped by Northern Ireland schoolboys. Owning both a British and Irish passport, Alan was born in England but grew up in Northern Ireland to parents who had links to the Republic of Ireland. He could have chosen England, Northern Ireland or The Republic Of Ireland. He was even a ball boy at Windsor Park as a kid, he wore the Northern Irish green and white and then switched to the green and white of the Republic of Ireland. In a cruel twist of fate, Alan played against Northern Ireland in November 1993 at Windsor Park, helping the newer Irish football team to qualify for their second World Cup.
5.Jason McAteer (Republic of Ireland, 1994, 2002)
Born: Liverpool, England.
Northern Irish Link: Granda from County Down. No ROI link at all.
Northern Ireland caps: 0.
Republic of Ireland caps: 52 caps, 3 goals.
Clubs: Bolton Wanderers, Marine, Liverpool, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, Tranmere Rovers.
Position: Right-back, Midfielder, Winger.
Geek Unique Fact: Jason scored the goal that took Republic of Ireland into their 2002 World Cup play-off, a 1-0 win over The Netherlands.
As Bolton midfielder Jason McAteer smashed the ball in for a famous Bolton away win at Highbury in January 1994, Jack Charlton wasn’t long getting on the blower. Within weeks, McAteer was living the dream – winning his first cap, playing in a 1-0 win over Italy at the World Cup and soon signing for Liverpool. He appears to be the only footballer with Northern Irish links to have played in the World Cup in 2 different decades spanning 8 calendar years. Wow, but come on Jason – you should have been Northern…you even revealed it was all fake (even getting the passport) on the Quickly Kevin Podcast.
6.Martin Keown (England 1998, 2002)
Born: Oxford, England.
Northern Irish Link: Dad from County Fermanagh.
Northern Ireland caps: 0.
England caps: 43 caps, 2 goals (full level), 1 cap (B level), 8 caps (under 21s).
Clubs: Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Everton, Leicester City, Reading, Wembley.
Position: Centre-back.
Geek Unique Fact: Martin went to two World Cups across two different decades as part of the England squad but didn’t make an appearance in either.
Martin Keown had a choice of three, and as a top level player, he went for glory. He could have played for Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland or England. He chose England and won 43 caps, scoring twice and going to two World Cups. Should’ve came over to Windsor Park Martin! At least we’d have played you in the tournament had we qualified. He did return to his old gaelic club though and obviously knows his roots.
7.Lucas Neill (Australia, 2006, 2010)
Born: Sydney, Australia.
Northern Irish Link: Dad from Belfast.
Northern Ireland caps: 0.
Australia caps: 96 caps, 1 goal (full level), 13 caps (under 23s), 8 caps, 3 goals (under 21s).
Clubs: Manly United, AIS, Millwall, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United, Everton, Galatasaray, Al Jazira, Al Wasl, Sydney FC, Omiya Ardija, Watford, Doncaster Rovers.
Position: Defender.
Geek Unique Fact: Lucas Neill is the only player with Northern Irish links to have played in the World Cup and the Olympics for a different country.
Perhaps the closest we came in recent years was the legendary Lucas Neill. He appears to be the only footballer with Northern Irish links to have played in the World Cup in 2 different decades spanning only 4 calendar years.
Red Herrings
1.George Eastham (England, 1966)
George Eastham is a red herring as although he played for Ards and won the World Cup for England, he wasn’t actually eligible to play for Northern Ireland. He is however the ONLY player to have won the World Cup and played in the Northern Irish League. Players such as Gordon Banks, Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst and Uwe Seeler have won the World Cup and played for Republic of Ireland teams.
2.Shay Given (Republic of Ireland, 2002)
While Given is definitely an Ulsterman (born in County Donegal), there have been rumours that he was born in County Derry/Londonderry and that one of his parents was from Northern Ireland. It’s all history now though, as Given went on to play major tournament football for The Republic of Ireland.
- There are probably a few I have missed especially due to grand parentage, so do get in touch or comment below if there are any corrections to be made.
- Steve Bruce never made a World Cup squad but his Mum is from Bangor, Northern Ireland.
