Tom Farquharson

Thomas Gerard Farquharson (4 December 1900 – 24 December 1970) was an Irish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born in Dublin, he played youth football for local sides. In his teens, he became a member of the Irish Republican Army and was arrested by the British Army for removing wanted posters and held in Mountjoy Prison. He was released on the basis that he would leave Ireland, which he did, choosing to settle in South Wales.

Farquharson played football for Oakdale and Abertillery Town before being spotted by Football League side Cardiff City in 1922 for whom he made his professional debut that May. He helped the side finish as runners-up in the First Division during the 1923–24 season and reach the 1925 FA Cup final. In 1927, he was a member of the Cardiff City team that became the only non-English side to win the FA Cup. He remained with the club until 1935, winning the Welsh Cup on four occasions and the FA Charity Shield once. Farquharson played in 445 Football League matches for Cardiff, which remained a club record until 1985.

A dual internationalist, he also played for both Ireland teams – the Irish Free State national football team and the Ireland national football team (IFA). After making his debut for the IFA side in 1923, he went on to win seven caps. In 1931, he caused controversy by rejecting a call up to instead play for the Irish Free State side with whom he won a further four caps.

Early life Farquharson was born on 4 December 1900 at 3 Lismore Cottages, Botanic Avenue, Dublin. He was the third child born to a Presbyterian father, Thomas Farquharson, a sanitary contractor, and a Catholic mother, Margaret Cassin, a dressmaker. Both of his parents hailed from Dublin and earned enough income to afford a live-in servant. Raised as a Catholic, The family later moved to Jones Road and his father became a reputable master builder and contractor in the area. Tom was educated at a school run by the Congregation of Christian Brothers.

A 19-year-old student at the time, he was arrested along with his friend Seán Lemass, later to become Taoiseach, for pulling down British Army wanted posters in St Stephen's Green. Farquharson offered his services where his experience playing Gaelic football proved invaluable. The following season, Ben Davies remained first choice at the start of the campaign before Farquharson featured in five consecutive matches between October and November 1922. The pair continued to compete throughout the season with Farquharson featuring in 21 league matches (one more than Davies) and playing in the club's 3–2 victory over Aberdare Athletic in the 1923 Welsh Cup final. In the following campaign, Farquharson helped the side reach their first FA Cup final where they suffered a 1–0 defeat to Sheffield United. His method of saving spot kicks by rushing forward as the penalty was being taken proved so effective that in the quarterfinal of the FA Cup, his save to deny Chelsea forward Andrew Wilson's penalty prompted the sport's governing bodies to change the rules of the game. Goalkeepers were subsequently banned from rushing from their goal line when facing penalty kicks. Farquharson explained the reasoning behind his technique, stating "By advancing forward I can leap to either side far more quickly than from a standing position." Farquharson kept five clean sheets from Cardiff's seven matches in the competition, conceding only three goals, The side returned to Cardiff following their victory where they were received by an estimated crowd of 150,000 people lining the streets to witness their return. where he played for a further three years before retiring in 1935. His total remains the highest by any goalkeeper in the club's history.

International career When Farquharson began his international career in 1923 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland – based Irish Football Association (IFA) and the Irish Free State – based Football Association of the Irish Free State (FAIFS) claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. As a result, several notable Irish players from this era, including Farquharson, played for both teams. Eddie Jenkins also recalled an incident when Farquharson was annoyed by teammate George Russell, who he believed was showing off, and produced the weapon before he tongue-in-cheek "threatened to shoot him if he didn't behave".

Farquharson and his family lived on Allensbank Road in Heath, Cardiff, before later moving to Cyncoed in the northern part of the city. Following his retirement from football, Farquharson returned to his work as a painter and decorator. He ran his shop until he and his wife decided to emigrate to Canada; all five of his children had emigrated there in previous years. His daughter Pam later described her father as "a very passive, quiet and private man." His great-grandson Steve Farquharson was drafted to the Ontario Hockey League in the 3rd round (58th overall) to the Toronto St. Michael's Majors where he played two seasons before playing one season with the Barrie Colts. He later became a scout for the Colts.

Tom Farquharson died of a heart attack on 24 December 1970 at the age of 70.

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1921–22 First Division

1922–23 First Division

1923–24 First Division

1924–25 First Division

1925–26 First Division

1926–27 First Division

1927–28 First Division

1928–29 First Division

1929–30 Second Division

1930–31 Second Division

1931–32 Third Division South

1932–33 Third Division South

1933–34 Third Division South

1934–35 Third Division South

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Honours Cardiff City runner-up: 1924–25 FA Charity Shield: 1927 Welsh Cup: 1923, 1927, 1928, 1930; runner-up: 1929