Glenn William “Sacky” Image 1 Shamrock Rovers 1935

Description

Dublin born right half William “Sacky” Glenn began his senior football career with Shamrock Rovers when only 16 years of age, his third match being in the 1922 Free State Cup Final.  Glenn went on to spend fifteen years at Glenmalure Park winning everything the domestic game had to offer. Over the course of his career he gained more honours than any other player in Free State football. “Sacky” played in the official opening of the Milltown ground on September 19th 1926 against Belfast Celtic. He played in a record ten FAI Cup finals plus four replays. His first was in 1922 when Rovers lost to St James’s Gate F.C. and his last was in the 1939 Final replay when he scored the only goal for Shelbourne against Sligo. Along with 1960’s and 1970’s star Johnny Fullam he shares the record for most winners medals. He was part of the team that went unbeaten in 1924-25 and 1926-27 and scored a total of 32 League goals for The Hoops.

He won eight caps for the Irish Free State making his debut against Italy on April 23rd 1927 in Ireland’s first ever home game at Lansdowne Road, captaining his country in his last four caps in 1935 and 1936. He earned two League of Ireland XI caps in 1930.

Glen had a benefit game at Dalymount Park in May 1937 before joining Shelbourne, and played for them until 1939 when he retired having won the Irish Cup for a final time that year with The Shels (his only honour with them), having won 4 Irish League Championships, 8 FA of Ireland Cups, 5 League of Ireland Shields, 5 Leinster Senior Cups and the Leinster Senior League in 1921-22.