BALLYMENA UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB || NORTHERN IRELAND

Full Internationals | 'B' Internationals | Under-23 | Under-21 | Irish League Representitive

Jackie MAHOOD

Born: Banbridge; date unknown

Caps: 9 caps for Ireland (1 with Ballymena)

The younger of the two Mahood brothers, who starred in the late twenties for Belfast Celtic and made his international debut for Ireland in 1926.
A left-winger by trade, Jackie's only cap whilst at Ballymena in 1933 was the last of nine full appearances for Ireland, the preceeding eight had been picked up whilst at Belfast Celtic - he also had two goals to his name against England and Wales.
He also played in the 'Bambrick' Wales game alongside Jimmy McCambridge. His only cap whilst at Warden Street was in September, 1933 when Ireland defeated Scotland 2-1.
His career was abruptly ended the following year after an injury picked up playing for the Sky Blues against former club, Belfast Celtic.

FULL LIST OF INTERNATIONAL CAPS

NO.
DATE COMPETITION VENUE OPPONENTS RESULT GOALS

1 27-Feb-26 British Championship A Scotland L 0-4
0

2 22-Oct-27 British Championship H England W 2-0
1

3 04-Feb-28 British Championship H Wales L 1-2
0

4 25-Feb-28 British Championship A Scotland W 1-0
0

5 22-Oct-28 British Championship A England L 1-2
0

6 02-Feb-29 British Championship A Wales D 2-2
1

7 23-Feb-29 British Championship H Scotland L 3-7
0

8 01-Feb-30 British Championship H Wales W 7-0
0

9 16-Sep-33 British Championship A Scotland W 2-1
0

James 'Hoody' McCAMBRIDGE

Born: Larne; 23rd September. 1905

Caps: 4 caps for Ireland (2 with Ballymena)

Born in Larne on 23rd September, 1905; James or 'Hoody' as he was usually known signed for newly-founded Ballymena FC in 1928 and scored numerous goals as the babies of the Irish League defeated Belfast Celtic to win the Irish Cup in their first season.
McCambridge won his first cap in the historic 7-0 victory against Wales in February, 1930. Linfield legend Joe Bambrick scored six of the seven goals that day. Jimmy also played in the next game against Scotland later that same month as Ireland lost 3-1.
McCambridge moved across the water to Everton, and then to Cardiff City - where he won the last two of his four caps against England and Wales.

FULL LIST OF INTERNATIONAL CAPS

NO.
DATE COMPETITION VENUE OPPONENTS RESULT GOALS

1 27-Feb-26 British Championship A Scotland L 0-4
0

2 22-Oct-27 British Championship H England W 2-0
1

3 04-Feb-28 British Championship H Wales L 1-2
0

4 25-Feb-28 British Championship A Scotland W 1-0
0

Jock McNINCH

Born: Ballymena; date unknown

Caps: 3 caps for Ireland

Ballymena's most capped player with three appearances for Ireland, Jock McNinch also played in three consecutive Irish Cup finals, including the 1929 2-1 win over Belfast Celtic. The following two finals were both played against Linfield, resulting in 4-3 and 3-0 defeats.
At the pinnacle of his career McNinch found himself with a Ballymena club in a state of major flux. During the 1933/34 season Ballymena were suspended by the Irish League for refusal to submit their financial records for inspection. For the 1934/35 campaign a "new" club arrived on the Irish League scene, Ballymena United. The new club actually featured much the same players and officials of the by then wound-up Ballymena, who essentially merged with Ballymena Crusaders.
McNinch was one of the many players who remained at the Showgrounds, and early in the 1934/35 season played his third inter-league match, a 6-1 defeat by the Football League at the Oval. He had previously played in a 4-0 defeat by the Football League and a 3-2 win over the Scottish League in 1931.

FULL LIST OF INTERNATIONAL CAPS

NO.
DATE COMPETITION VENUE OPPONENTS RESULT GOALS

1 21-Feb-31 British Championship H Scotland D 0-0
0

2 19-Sep-31 British Championship A Scotland L 1-3
0

3 05-Dec-31 British Championship H Wales W 4-0
0

Jim PLATT

Born: Ballymoney; 26th January, 1952

Caps: 23 caps for Northern Ireland (1 with Ballymena United)

Born in Ballymoney on 26th January, 1952; goalkeeper Jim Platt began his career at the Showgrounds before earning a �7,000 move to Middlesbrough in 1970.
Despite being second choice goalkeeper to the legendary Pat Jennings, Platt (pictured left) won 23 international caps for Northern Ireland and carved out a successful career between the sticks at Middlesbrough, were he played for 12 years.
Platt was part of the squad for the 1982 World Cup Finals, playing the 2-2 draw with Austria. In 1983, he returned to Ballymena as player-manager and won the Irish Cup in his first season, and also won the 21st of his caps against England at Wembley in April, 1984 - whilst a Ballymena United player.
He went onto manage Coleraine the following season - were he won two further caps to complete his total of 23. He also later managed Darlington and Gateshead.

FULL LIST OF INTERNATIONAL CAPS

NO.
DATE COMPETITION VENUE OPPONENTS RESULT GOALS

1 24-Mar-76 Friendly A Israel D 1-1
0

2 13-May-78 British Championship A Scotland D 1-1
0

3 16-May-78 British Championship A England L 0-1
0

4 19-May-78 British Championship A Wales L 0-1
0

5 16-May-80 British Championship H Scotland W 1-0
0

6 20-May-80 British Championship A England D 1-1
0

7 23-May-80 British Championship A Wales W 1-0
0

8 11-Jun-80 Friendly A Australia W 2-1
0

9 15-Jun-80 Friendly A Australia D 1-1
0

10 18-Jun-80 Friendly A Australia W 2-1
0

11 15-Oct-80 World Cup Qualifier H Sweden W 3-0
0

12 19-Nov-80 World Cup Qualifier A Portugal L 1-2
0

13 24-Mar-82 Friendly A France L 0-4
0

14 28-Apr-82 British Championship H Scotland D 1-1
0

15 27-May-82 British Championship A Wales L 0-3
0

16 01-Jul-82 World Cup Finals N Austria D 2-2
0

17 13-Oct-82 European Qualifier A Austria L 0-2
0

18 17-Nov-82 European Qualifier H West Germany W 1-0
0

19 15-Dec-82 European Qualifier A Albania D 0-0
0

20 30-Mar-83 European Qualifier A Turkey W 2-1
0

21 04-Apr-84 British Championship A England L 0-1
0

22 27-May-84 World Cup Qualifier A Finland L 0-1
0

23 23-Apr-86 Friendly H Morocco W 2-1
0

OTHER PLAYERS

Players to have played at full International level after leaving Ballymena United:

Chris Baird (Southampton, Fulham); ; Hubert Barr (Linfield, Coventry City); George Dunlop (Linfield); Gerry Mullan (Glentoran); Colin O'Neill (Motherwell); Stephen Penney (Brighton); Tom Sloan (Manchester United); Nigel Worthington (Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United);

Players to have played at full International level before joining Ballymena United:

Leon Browne (Mighty Barolle).

Blair Scoullar (Dundein Tech).

Alan Blayney (Doncaster Rovers), Rory Hamill (Glentoran); Billy McMillan (Belfast Celtic); Tommy Wright (Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City).

Jimmy Kelly (Derry City).

Joe Cassidy (Glasgow Celtic); Alex Parker (Falkirk).