Peden John Image 1 Linfield 1897

Description

Belfast born outside left John Peden began his senior football career with Distillery in 1885 and was a founding member of Linfield Football Club in 1886 Peden made his international debut for Ireland against Scotland at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 19th February 1887. Scotland won that day 4-1. Peden scored his first international goal in his next match in a 4-1 win over Wales at Cliftonville Cricket Ground, Belfast on 12th March 1887. He went on to play for the Ireland team on 24 occasions scoring a total of seven goals. The highlight of his international career was when he scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 victory over Wales on 05 April 1893. Peden seemed to enjoy scoring against the Welsh as six of his seven goals were scored against the Principality. John Peden last appeared in an Irish jersey on 04 March 1899. Peden also played in the first Irish League XI match, scoring as they beat The Scottish League 3-2 at Ulsterville, Belfast in April 1893 and won 3 further Irish League caps.

Peden signed for First Division club Newton Heath (now Manchester United) in February 1893, but did not make his Football League debut for the Manchester side until the opening game of the 1893-94 season against Burnley on 2nd September 1893. Peden is the first Irishman to play for Newton Heath and as such he also represents the first playing connection between Ireland and Manchester United. Having scored 8 goals in 32 matches, Peden left The Heathens at the end of the season after their relegation to join Sheffield United, but he could not hold down a first team place with The Blades, scoring twice in 8 matches through to December, and returned to Ireland to play once again for Distillery. He finally returned to Linfield in 1898 before retiring at the end of the 1898-99 season.