Joe Bambrick

Joseph Gardiner Absolom Bambrick (3 November 1905 – 13 October 1983) was a Northern Irish footballer who played as a forward for Chelsea, Walsall, Glentoran, and Linfield.

A former gas worker of medium build, he was a prolific goalscorer in the Irish League and the Football League, adept at getting into good scoring positions and athletic enough to make the final touch count. "Head, heel, or toe, slip it to Joe" became a famous catch-phrase when referring to him. His scoring of six goals for Ireland v Wales at Celtic Park on 1 February 1930 in a 7–0 win, still remains the record score for a British Isles player in an international fixture. In total that season he managed 96 goals in all competitions, and his overall goal tally for Linfield was 509 goals managed in just 8 years, finishing as Irish League top scorer on four occasions.

Chelsea On 24 December 1935, Bambrick signed for English side Chelsea for a fee of £3,000, making his debut the following day (Christmas Day) against Aston Villa. He then scored his first goal the day after (Boxing Day) also against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Bambrick scored Chelsea's goal in their highest-attended competitive match at their ground Stamford Bridge. A crowd of 82,905 watched the 1–1 draw with local rivals Arsenal on 12 October 1935. In total, he scored 38 goals in 66 appearances for Chelsea, including four hat-tricks (on two of these occasions he managed four goals).

Walsall Bambrick gradually fell out of favour, losing the number 9 shirt to George Mills, transferring to Walsall in July 1938 where he spent a season before the outbreak of World War II led to his retirement. He returned to Linfield as a coach, but Walsall retained his registration and refused to release him to play for Linfield in war-time competitions. He eventually played for Linfield in the 1943 County Antrim Shield when he scored his final goal. His goal tally ensures that he still ranks as the joint-fourth highest goalscorer for the Northern Ireland national side.

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Result Competition 1 22 October 1928 Liverpool, England 1–2 1929 British Home Championship 2 23 February 1929 Belfast, Northern Ireland 3–7 3 4 1 February 1930 Belfast, Northern Ireland 7–0 1930 British Home Championship 5 6 7 8 9 10 5 December 1931 Belfast, Northern Ireland 4–0 1932 British Home Championship 11 27 March 1935 Wrexham, Wales 1–3 1935 British Home Championship 12 16 March 1938 Belfast, Northern Ireland 1–0 1938 British Home Championship