Bologna & Torino- South American Tour, 1929

Just 3 weeks after the decisive play off match that closed the 1928-29 Italian season, champions Bologna and runners up Torino were in South America on tour. The 2 squads sailed together from Genoa on the Conte Rosso.
The 2 sides had shared 205 goals during the domestic league season, Torino's Trio of Wonders (Rossetti, Libonatti and Baloncieri) scoring 89 between them. 
Following such an arduous season it is perhaps unsurprising that neither side was spectacular on tour. In fact one Torino historian went as far as to describe the excursion as a 'celebratory holiday'. 
 Bologna bolstered their ranks with guests:

Bologna- Gianni, Monzeglio, Gasperi, Genovesi, Baldi, Pitto, Martelli, Schiavio, Busini , Muzzioli (Bologna); Compiani, Tansini (Milan); Dugoni (Modena) Ferrari,  Banchero (Alessandria), Magnozzi (Livorno) , Costantino ( Bari).

I don't know the composition of the Torino squad, but among the tourists was  Roma's Rudolfo Volk, a future Capocannoniere.

Torino's Libonatti faced both his former club (Newell's Old Boys) and his former national team (Argentina).

25.07.29	Carioca Select	3	1	Bologna
28.07.29	Paulista Select	6	4	Bologna
30. 07.29	Corinthians	6	1	Bologna
10.08.29	Uruguay	0	1	Bologna
15.08.29	Argentina	3	1	Bologna
18.08.29	Argentina B	0	0	Bologna
21.08.29	Newell's Old Boys	2	1	Bologna
24.08.29	Huracan	2	1	Bologna
25.08.29	Argentina del Sud	1	2	Bologna
27.08.29	Boca Juniors	1	0	Bologna
30.08.29	Estudiantes de La Plata	3	3	Bologna
01.09.29	Santa Fè	3	0	Bologna
08.09.29	Palestra Italia	4	4	Bologna
10.09.29	Carioca Select	1	3	Bologna
14.09.29	Paulista Select	3	1	Bologna

P	W	D	L	F	A
15	3	3	9	23	38

28.07.29	Argentina	1	0	Torino
03.08.29	Argentina B	1	1	Torino
04.08.29	Argentina	4	1	Torino
08.08.29	Estudiantes de La Plata	5	0	Torino
10.08.29	Independiente	1	2	Torino
15.08.29	Rosario League	2	4	Torino
18.08.29	Newell's Old Boys	2	0	Torino
25.08.29	Uruguay	5	1	Torino
31.08.29	Peñarol	1	1	Torino
07.09.29	Carioca Select	6	0	Torino
10.09.29	Carioca Select	2	1	Torino
13.09.29	Palestra Italia	0	0	Torino
14.09.29	Paulista Select	6	1	Torino

P	W	D	L	F	A
13	2	3	8	12	36

Ireland, Ireland!

The Irish Football Association was formed in 1880 and, though focused on Belfast, was responsible for the administration of the game throughout the island. 
Although there were cultural and sectarian divisions, Ireland was a single country up until the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. The area now known as Northern ireland opted out of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic (founded in 1919). The south was known as the Irish Free State between 1922 and 1937, when it became the Republic of Ireland.

The situation regarding football now became complex. There was growing discontent in the south regarding what was percieved as northern bias on the part of the Irish Football Association. The IFA defended their position; the north, they argued, was the heartland of football in Ireland.
In September 1921 the Football Association of the Irish Free State (later known as the Football Association of Ireland) was formed by southern clubs and Leinster FA, which had seceded from The Irish Football Association.
Initially both the IFA and the FAI claimed to represent the whole of Ireland. Therefore during the period with which we are concerned, there existed a situation in which there were 2 bodies selecting 'all Ireland' sides. The Football Association of Ireland side was not not considered to represent only the Irish Free State.
In 1923 the Football Association of the Irish Free State joined FIFA and in 1924 the  Olympic Council of Ireland  selected a team to represent The Irish Free State at the Olympics.
In 1936 the  FAI adopted a policy of selecting Northern players, a practice that persisted until 1946. Therefore, between the foundation of the the Football Association of the Irish Free State and the end of the era this blog covers (summer 1937), a number of players were selected to represent both The Irish Football Association and the the Football Association of the Irish Free State (Football Association of Ireland).

For their campaign at the 1924 Olympic Games the Olympic Council of Ireland selected just 1 player who had previously been capped by the Irish Football Association :

	Irish Football Association		Olympic Council of Ireland
	Dates	Games	Dates	Games
Dinny Hannon	1908-13	6	1924	2
Inside right. Bohemians, Athlone Town.

The following players were selected by the Football Association of the Irish Free State/ Football Association of Ireland having previously represented the Irish Football Association:

	Irish Football Association		Football Association of Ireland
	Dates	Games	Dates	Games
Billy Lacey	1909- 24	23	1927-30	3
During his career he played in all 11 positions! Shelbourne, Everton, Liverpool, New Brighton, Cork Bohemians.
Jimmy Dunne	1928-32	7	1930-39	15
Forward.  Shamrock Rovers, New Brighton, Sheffield United, Arsenal, Southampton.
Jimmy Kelly	1931-36	11	1932-36	4
Outside right. Coleraine, Liverpool, Derry City, Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk, Ballymena United, Ballymoney United.
Tommy Breen	1935-39	9	1937-45	5
Goalkeeper.  Newry Town, Belfast Celtic, Manchester United, Linfield, Shamrock Rovers, Glentoran.
Mick O'Brien	1921-27	10	1927-32	4
Centre half/ forward. Blyth Spartans, Celtic,  Brentford, Norwich City,  South Shields,  Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City, Hull City, Brooklyn Wanderers,  Derby County, Walsall, Watford.
Jackie Brown	1935-39	10	1937	2
Outside right. Belfast Celtic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City, Birmingham City, Barry Town, Ipswich Town.
Patsy Gallagher	1919-27	11	1931	1
Inside-forward. Celtic, Falkirk.
Tom Farquharson	1923-25	7	1929-31	4
Goalkeeper. Cardiff City.
Harry Chatton	1924-25	3	1931-34	3
Half back.  Dumbarton, Partick Thistle, Indiana Flooring, Heart of Midlothian, New York Nationals, Shelbourne, Cork.
Peter Kavanagh	1929	1	1931	1
Outside left. Bohemians, Celtic, Northampton Town, Hibernian, Stranraer, Babcock & Wilcox, Waterford United.
Frank Collins	1922	1	1927	1
Goalkeeper. Jacobs, Celtic.
Christy Martin	1925	1	1927	1
Outside right. Bo'ness, Falkirk, Brooklyn Wanderers.
Ed Brooks	1920	1	1924	1
Forward.  Shelbourne, Bohemians, Stockport County and Athlone Town.

Billy Lacey

Peter Kavanagh

Alex Stevenson



These players first represented the Football Association of Ireland before being selected by the Irish Football Association: 

	Football Association of Ireland		Irish Football Association
	Dates	Games	Dates	Games
Alex Stevenson	1932-48	7	1934-48	17
Inside left. Dolphin, Glasgow Rangers, Everton
Harry Duggan	1927-37	5	1929-35	8
Outside right. Richmond United, Leeds United, Newport County.
Patrick Moore	1931-36	9	1932	1
Forward. Shamrock Rovers, Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Tranmere Rovers, Aberdeen, Shelbourne, Brideville.
Tom Davis	1936-38	4	1938	1
Centre forward. Torquay United, New Brighton, FC Metz, Oldham Athletic, Tranmere Rovers, Cork City.
Owen Madden	1936	1	1937	1
Forward. Cork, Norwich City, Birmingham, Cork United.