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Players Index Page Last Updated
9 December 2022
 
 

Irvine Thornley

Manchester City FC

 1 appearance, 0 goals

P 1 W 0 D 1 L 0 F 1: A 1
50% successful
1907

captain: none
minutes played: 90

Timeline
  Irvine Thornley
Birth Thursday, 11 October 1883 at 1 Derby Street, in Whitfield, Glossop, Derbyshire
  registered as Irven in Hayfield October-December 1883
Baptism Thursday, 7 November 1883 in Whitfield Parish Church, Glossop. The entry states his birthdate and that his father is a police constable.
 

According to the 1891 census, Irvine is the second of four children, to Thomas and Henrietta (née Cooper), living at 1 Derby Street in the Whitfield area of Glossop. His father is now a butcher and his mother is a cotton weaver.
He is actually one of six. His sister, Florence, died before Irvine was born, and Ruth and then Tom, both died before their first birthdays.
 

According to the 1901 census, Irvine is a tripe dresser, the oldest of three children, now living at 13 Hadfield Place in Whitfield. His father remains a butcher.
He actually lost another brother, Thomas, in 1896, who died before he was two.
His father died on 12 July 1907.
Marriage to Emma Sykes, on Monday, 7 February 1910, at St. James' Church, Glossop, Derbyshire. He was living at 86 Victoria Street at the time.
  registered in Glossop January-March 1910
Children Irvine and Emma Thornley have two children together. Irvine Sykes (b.1 January 1914) and Muriel (b.15 July 1915).
19213

According to the 1911 census, Irvine is a professional footballer married to Emma. They live at 9 Slatelands Road, still in the Whitfield area of Glossop.
At the time of his attestation, 8 December 1915, with the Royal Regiment of Artillery, he was living at 5A Westoe Crescent in South Shields. He was a gunner and discharged on 11 May 1919. However, his brother, John, was killed in Flanders, 31 March 1918.

According to the 1921 census, Irvine, now a grocer, is still married and they now have two children, Irvine and Muriel and they live at 36 St. Vincent Street in the Westhoe area of South Shields.
Ward's Directory confirms Thornley as a grocer at 36½ St. Vincent Street in 1936.
  According to the 1939 register, Irvine, a land dealer, and Emma remain married and both are cake makers, with their son, Irvine S.. They live at 36 St. Vincent Street.
His wife, Emma died in South Shields, mid-1950.
Death Sunday, 24 April 1955 at The Ingham Infirmary, Harton Lane in South Shields, County Durham.
aged 71 years 195 days registered in South Shields April-June 1955
Obituary
 
Probate "THORNLEY Irvine of 10 Aldwych-street South Shields died 24 April 1955 at The Ingham Infirmary South Shields Probate Newcastle-upon-Tyne 26 July to Muriel Evans (wife of Albert Edward Evans). Effects £1298 19s. 2d." [2025 equivalent: £29,580]

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career
Club(s) Began his football career with Glossop Villa FC, also playing with Glossop St. James FC, and then Glossop North End FC in 1901-02, joined Manchester City FC on 22 April 1904. Thornley's popularity at City was recognised when his benefit match raised a record £1036 for him. Joined South Shields FC of the North-Eastern League, on 15 August 1912. Played for Hamilton Academicals FC in the 1919-20 season. Then North-Eastern League side Houghton FC in 1920.
Club honours Football League Division Two winners 1909-10;
Individual honours Football League (two appearances)
Distinctions None
Height/Weight 5' 8" [1916], 5' 9", 11st. 0lbs [1919].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of four who became the 326th players (327) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-forward
Only match No. 90, 18 March 1907, England 1 Wales 1, a British Championship match at Craven Cottage, New Road, Fulham, London, aged 23 years 158 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1906-07;
Team honours None
Individual honours None
Distinctions The only player in the match against Wales not to win another cap.
Died 23 days after Alf Baker.

Beyond England
No additional information. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.247.

 

Irvine Thornley - Career Statistics
Squads Apps comp. apps Mins. Goals goals ave.min comp. goals Capt. Disc.
2 1 1 90 0 0 min 0 none none
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.

 

Irvine Thornley - Match Record - All Matches - By Type of Match
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home - British Championship 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
All 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0

 

Irvine Thornley - Match Record - Tournament Matches
British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1906-07 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
BC All 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
All 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0

 

Irvine Thornley - Match History
 Club: Manchester City F.C. - 1 full cap

F.A. International Select Committee - 1 full capx

Age 23
- 89 16 February 1907 - England 1 Ireland 0, Goodison Park, Liverpool BC HW reserve
1 90 18 March 1907 - England 1 Wales 1, Craven Cottage, Fulham HD Start cf

Notes

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