Jordan Davy Image 1 Crystal Palace 1937

Description

Belfast born centre forward Davy Jordan began his senior football career with Glentoran in 1931 but made just two appearances before joining Ards in 1932. He moved to Third Division (North) club Hull City later in 1932, making his Football League debut, and only appearance of the season, scoring in a 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra that December, as The Tigers won the Championship and promotion, Jordan had three further seasons at Boothferry Park in the Second Division, and the following season scored 10 goals in 11 matches after he came into the side at the end of February, but by the time he joined First Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1936 he had still only made 25 appearances, scoring 15 goals.

He made his Wolves debut on 17th October 1936 against Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion but made only two further appearances for the club the following April before a move to Crystal Palace in the 1937 close season. He stayed with Palace until after the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, but made only 7 appearances for The Eagles without scoring.

When Jordan played international football in 1937 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland-based IFA and the Irish Free State-based FAI claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. In May 1937, the FAI organised a European tour with a squad that included Jordan and two other Northerners, Jackie Brown and John Feenan.

Jordan made his debut for the FAI XI on 17 May in a 1-0 win against Switzerland. A week later, on 23rd May, after receiving a pass from Jimmy Dunne, he scored the opening goal as the FAI XI defeated France 2-0. Fellow Northerner Brown scored the FAI XI’s second goal. This would prove to be Jordan’s last appearance for the FAI XI. In 1944, he turned out for a Glentoran Old Boys XI with Glens legends Fred Roberts and Johnny Geary against a Linfield Old Boys XI. The Glens triumphed 4-1 with 2 goals from Roberts, and goals by Geary and Jordan