Bertie McGonigal

Robert Edwin McGonigal (2 May 1942 – 12 September 2014), known as Bert or Bertie McGonigal, was a Northern Irish professional footballer who made 57 appearances in the English Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Brighton & Hove Albion.[1] He also played domestically for Glentoran, Linfield, whom he represented in the European Cup and UEFA Cup, Ballyclare Comrades and Distillery, as well as in South Africa for Cape Town City. He represented his country at schoolboy and youth level, and played for the Irish League representative team.

Bertie McGonigal
Personal information
Full name Robert Edwin McGonigal[1]
Date of birth (1942-05-02)2 May 1942[1]
Place of birth Cookstown, Northern Ireland
Date of death 12 September 2014(2014-09-12) (aged 72)[1]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
19??–1959 Chimney Corner
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1959–1962 Glentoran
1962–1966 Brighton & Hove Albion 57 (0)
1966–196? Cape Town City
1967–1972 Linfield
1972–1974 Ballyclare Comrades
1974–197? Distillery
National team
1956–1957 Northern Ireland schoolboys
1959 Northern Ireland youth 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

McGonigal was born in 1942 in Cookstown, Northern Ireland.[1] He represented his country at schoolboy and youth level,[3][4] and played for Chimney Corner before signing for Irish League club Glentoran in 1959.[5] Playing part-time and working as a joiner,[2] he made 102 appearances in all competitions, and was Glentoran's goalkeeper as they won the 1960–61 Gold Cup.[5] In February 1962, he moved on to Brighton & Hove Albion of the English Second Division, where he was a first-team regular until December 1963 when a serious injury gave Brian Powney his chance.[2] McGonigal acted as backup to Powney after his recovery, but played little, and was released after four years with the club.[2]

He spent time with South African club Cape Town City before returning to Northern Ireland to join Linfield. He made more than 200 appearances,[5] including 4 each in the UEFA Cup and European Cup.[6] He was in goal in the 1967–68 Irish Cup final, which Linfield lost 2–0 to Crusaders,[7] and was part of the team that won the league title the following season.[2] While a Linfield player, he played for the Irish League representative team in matches against their English and Republic of Ireland counterparts.[8] He moved on to Ballyclare Comrades as trainer and player in 1972,[5][9] and made a brief return to senior football with Distillery two years later.[10]

McGonigal died in 2014 at the age of 72.[5]

References
  1. "Bertie McGonigal". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  2. Carder, Tim; Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Hove: Goldstone Books. pp. 155–156. ISBN 978-0-9521337-1-1.
  3. "NISFA U15/U16 Player Records". Northern Ireland Schools' Football Association. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  4. "Northern Ireland Youth Match Details 1948–1980". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  5. "Bertie McGonigal". Glentoran F.C. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  6. "Robert McGonigal: Club matches". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  7. Brodie, Malcolm (7 May 2011). "Down Memory Lane: A veggie diet inspired 1968 Crusaders victory". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  8. "Irish League Representative Match Line-Ups". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  9. Brodie, Malcolm (29 September 1972). "McGonigal quits Blues". Belfast Telegraph. p. 22.
    Ireland, Bill (2 January 1974). "Now comes the crunch battle". Belfast Telegraph. p. 20. 'We fear nobody,' claims veteran goalkeeper Bertie McGonigal. The consistency of McGonigal has been one of the features of Comrades' success run, the best they have enjoyed for many seasons.
  10. Ireland, Bill (30 July 1974). "McGonigal is back—with Distillery". Belfast Telegraph. p. 20.
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