Falloon Eddie Image 2 Aberdeen 1937

Description

Diminutive Larne, County Antrim born right half or inside right Eddie Falloon began his football career with Newington Rangers and played intermediate football with Crusaders from 1922-23 before moving to Scotland where he signed for Aberdeen in May 1927, making his Scottish League debut at Cowdenbeath in December that year. Initially he played more as a forward but didn’t establish himself as a first team regular until 1931-32, when his 25 appearances doubled his total of the previous four seasons combined.

He was soon selected by Ireland, Falloon’s first appearance saw an Irish team robbed of all their English-based players achieve a 0-0 draw against Scotland at Windsor Park in February 1931 – a result with which they were “well satisfied”. Against an accomplished Scots back line Falloon, at inside right, put in a “clever” performance, but in reality the Irish could do little to dent the Scottish rearguard.

It was to be a year and a half before Falloon again took to the field for an international match in September 1932, once again the venue was Windsor Park and the opponents Scotland, the difference however was the final result and his role as right half. As the Scots ran out easy 4-0 winners the papers picked on Falloon, along with centre half Jack Jones and left half Bill Gowdy, as being “not up to international standard”.

Through his career Falloon dropped back to play in the half back line where he became noted as “one of the smallest centre halves in The Dons’ history (who) compensated with a fierce commitment and desire.” He captained Aberdeen in their 1937 Scottish Cup Final 2-1 defeat by Celtic in front of a European record domestic match crowd of 147,365, before moving on to Clyde for £700 in January 1938 after 6 goals in 249 appearances for The Dons.

Falloon had a little more luck in his second Scottish Cup Final in 1939 when, with another Irishman Ned Weir at left half, Clyde defeated Motherwell 4-0. He made 44 appearances for Clyde before, on the outbreak of the Second World War, Falloon played the only Irish League football of his career with hometown club, Larne. He then finished his near twenty year career back with Crusaders, retiring in 1941.