Irish Founding Fathers

**kingdom hoop** · 30/01/2007, 7:54 PM

The supposed involvement of one paddy mccarthy in the establishment of boca juniors got me thinking about where else great irishmen planted seeds of the beautiful game around the globe. the first example that sprang to mind was athenian club panathinaikos(i remember george hamilton making some reference to an irish priest and the clubs crest, a shamrock, in a CL match years ago). however after a cursory glance at wikipedia and a few club history pages there was no mention of any irish involvement. does anyone no more about this club, or others around the world.

i was thinking we could also discuss some obscure, but not so historical, escapades of irishmen spreading the gospel, eg when ronnie whelan was manager of panionios

**Dodge** · 30/01/2007, 8:06 PM

Neither Panathinaikos nor Boca Juniors have any irish roots.

I think there's a couple of clubs in Scotland but not sure of their names...

**Poor Student** · 30/01/2007, 8:20 PM

Needless to say lets not bother going over the Scottish clubs in this thread.

**kingdom hoop** · 30/01/2007, 8:35 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Neither Panathinaikos nor Boca Juniors have any irish roots.

aw, such a spoilsport. the shamrock is an irish root, a registered trademark of ireland indeed. a folklore discussion is inherently dubious and therefore easily refutable, if you just say 'no' we may as well not bother. any enthusiasm i had has been drained, like a sagging shamrock after 12 pints on patricks day.

**Dodge** · 30/01/2007, 8:49 PM

Apologies to all...

**NeilMcD** · 01/02/2007, 9:25 AM

Patrick O Connell was not not involved in the foundation of Spanish clubs but he is a legend at Betis and Barcelona winningi the title with both clubs and its the only time that Betis have one the league.

**Dodge** · 01/02/2007, 10:03 AM

He's not a legend at barcelona. He might be known by some but he could never be called a legend

**bennocelt** · 01/02/2007, 7:48 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Neither Panathinaikos nor Boca Juniors have any irish roots.

I think there's a couple of clubs in Scotland but not sure of their names...

im still with the paddy macca and boca idea, by the way

**NeilMcD** · 02/02/2007, 9:41 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

He's not a legend at barcelona. He might be known by some but he could never be called a legend

Well its probably so long ago that people dont remember it but to win league titles and to help save the club financially but taking them on a tour of the USA during the Civil War is pretty good going.

**Dodge** · 02/02/2007, 9:51 AM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Well its probably so long ago that people dont remember it but to win league titles and to help save the club financially but taking them on a tour of the USA during the Civil War is pretty good going.

They went on that tour to save their lives, not for money and it wasn't his idea. LOADS of managers have won titles at Barca. He's more noticeable to us, but he's a footnote there

**NeilMcD** · 02/02/2007, 12:14 PM

Well I would consider him a footnote in Irish history as most IRish people would not even know he exists. Of course the players went on a tour to save their lives but The future of Barcelona was also helped by the money they made on the tour. Anyway I am sure you can go around the rest of the net and find out little slight in accuracies if you so plese.

**Dodge** · 02/02/2007, 12:51 PM

I happen to have quite an interest in Barca and being Irish he's obviously of major interest to me. I was just pointing out that you overhyping him does him no favours. They weren't slight errors, they were just plain crap...

**dancinpants** · 02/02/2007, 6:28 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

im still with the paddy macca and boca idea, by the way

Even Boca's official site credits their foundation to 5 Italian immigrants, and surprisingly none of them were called Paddy McCarthy.

**bennocelt** · 02/02/2007, 6:51 PM

Originally Posted by dancinpants

Even Boca's official site credits their foundation to 5 Italian immigrants, and surprisingly none of them were called Paddy McCarthy.

so what?
i have met Argies that still refuse to accept that an irish man set up their Navy

**dancinpants** · 02/02/2007, 9:38 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

so what?

Ah OK then, yer right

**bennocelt** · 03/02/2007, 8:56 AM

Originally Posted by dancinpants

Ah OK then, yer right

funny guy

if you believed everything from footy sites, then Eric Cantona must be manure untides greatest ever player!

anyway
lets look at a few pointers

numerous sources talk about this Paddy Macca character and Boca Juniors, that cant be denied, i have heard of this story many times myself,
so if there are sources then the logical question would be how and why do they talk about this link?
and we do know that there were a lot of active irish men (and british - who brough football to argentina) in argentina at this time
on the boca website it doesnt mention him but the italian sailors, yes, but that wouldnt exactly be used as pure evidence, now would it?!
what we need is TG4 do go there, im sure they would collect some decent evidence

to totally dismiss it cause you goggled it or went to the boca site doesnt prove anything, and doesnt prove why there is this link
if you could give me a good explanantion of why paddy macca and boca are linked in certain sources then i could follow your arguments
but just saying "no" , doesnt prove anything

**Dodge** · 03/02/2007, 10:11 AM

Would you give it up bennocelt, you're 100% wrong. Stop making yourself look thick

**bennocelt** · 03/02/2007, 8:26 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Would you give it up bennocelt, you're 100% wrong. Stop making yourself look thick

yeah good reply, indepth, and exactly in tune with your previous answers, t w at

explain this then................" Paddy McCarthy (1871-1963) of Cashel, Co. Tipperary, is hired by Club Atl�tico Gimnasia y Esgrima of Buenos Aires to train its players. He was also coach of Boca Juniors, referee of the Argentine Association Football League during eighteen years, and one of the first professional boxers in Argentina (1904)."
http://www.irishargentine.org/timeline2.htm

interesting indeed

if anyone can speak spanish this looks interesting too!
http://www.elmundo.es/2000/11/27/deportes/27N0054.html

**GavinZac** · 03/02/2007, 8:33 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

yeah good reply, indepth, and exactly in tune with your previous answers, t w at

explain this then................" Paddy McCarthy (1871-1963) of Cashel, Co. Tipperary, is hired by Club Atl�tico Gimnasia y Esgrima of Buenos Aires to train its players. He was also coach of Boca Juniors, referee of the Argentine Association Football League during eighteen years, and one of the first professional boxers in Argentina (1904)."
http://www.irishargentine.org/timeline2.htm

interesting indeed

if anyone can speak spanish this looks interesting too!
http://www.elmundo.es/2000/11/27/deportes/27N0054.html

so he didnt set it up.
thanks for your humble admittance it must have been though, but as kenny says, know when to fold 'em

**Dodge** · 03/02/2007, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

yeah good reply, indepth, and exactly in tune with your previous answers, t w at

explain this then................" Paddy McCarthy (1871-1963) of Cashel, Co. Tipperary, is hired by Club Atl�tico Gimnasia y Esgrima of Buenos Aires to train its players. He was also coach of Boca Juniors, referee of the Argentine Association Football League during eighteen years, and one of the first professional boxers in Argentina (1904)."
http://www.irishargentine.org/timeline2.htm

interesting indeed

if anyone can speak spanish this looks interesting too!
http://www.elmundo.es/2000/11/27/deportes/27N0054.html

LMAO, you call me a **** and then prove me right and yourself wrong.

what a ****ing thick