Harry Duggan rare green and white Irish Free State v. Italy B match worn shirt, 1927

Harry Duggan rare green and white Irish Free State v. Italy B match worn long-sleeved shirt, 1927, with lace-up collar and embroidered cloth badge, holed front and back

The above was worn by Harry Duggan in the match against Italy B, played on 27th April 1927 in Dublin, the match ending in a 2-1 victory for Italy B

Provenance: By family descent to to present owner

The following lots 707 to 733 relate to the career of Irish Free State, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Leeds winger Harry Duggan

Harry Duggan was born in Dublin on 8th June 1903 and played for Dublin Junior club, Richmond United. He was watched closely by scouts after scoring 49 goals in the 1924-25 season and signed for Leeds United in May 1925.

He played in the reserve side before making his first team senior debut at inside left against Liverpool at Anfield on the 2nd October 1926. A brave player  capable of slotting into any of the forward roles, he stayed loyal to Leeds when a move would have undoubtedly improved his chances of more regular first team football.

He did not become a regular until he took over from Bobby Turnbull in the 1931-32 promotion season when he proved an effective little inside right or right winger. He became captain age 27 and he maintained an average of a goal every four games. His impressive goal scoring rate endeared him to the fans.

Harry played in one of Leeds United’s greatest ever wins on Saturday 7th April 1934 beating Leicester City 8-0.  Scoring 2 of the goals himself, Harry’s teammates that day included Willis Edwards, Ernest Hart, Wilf Copping and the famous Milburn brothers. Stan Moore, who was related to Harry by marriage, was the goalkeeper for the game.

In October 1936 Harry severed his 11 year connection with Leeds and signed for Newport County for a transfer fee of £1,500. He was made skipper and guided the team to the Division 3 South title in 1938-39.

In 1940 he retired from football due to the commencement of the war and came back to live in Leeds, within sight of Elland Road. He passed away in October 1968 aged 65 years.

International Career 1927-1937

Two years after joining Leeds in 1927, aged 24, Harry was called up to make his first international appearance for the Dublin based FA Irish Free State at Lansdowne Road on April 27th against Italy B. 

Up until partition in Ireland, the IFA had governed all of the Irish football, which meant players could be chosen from the two rival associations. Therefore, Harry gained five caps for the Irish Free State and was called up to the IFA eight times.

He scored his only international goal in 1937 for the Free State against Norway while he was at Newport County. This was his last international appearance.

In 1936, Berlin held the Olympic Games. Harry travelled with the Irish Free State but they withdrew as the Olympic Committee would not recognise their football association.

Harry was born in Dublin on the 8th June 1903 to a large Catholic family. He was a proud Irishman.

Age 14 years old, he was attending a football match at Croke Park on the Infamous Sunday of Violence on 21st November 1920 during the Irish War of Independence. More than 30 people were killed or fatally injured and those memories stayed with him throughout his life.

Harry took the pledge at an early age and never drank alcohol.

He was a family man. He married Doris in 1926 and had five children, nine Grandchildren and now many Great Grandchildren who are very proud of him as a man and a footballer. He was a generous and gentle man who made many friends.

Harry’s surviving son, Paddy, and his Grandson, Martin, have presented one of his international shirts to Leeds United in memory of him signing for them 100 years ago this May, therefore being a part of Leeds United’s history