The Medlars and the FA/I
Donal Murphy
Within the Medlars, by far the most famous soccer player was Donal Murphy, son of Dinny and Tess (née Medlar).
Donal had a short domestic career as a teenager before signing for Coventry City as a youth player in 1970..
In 1972 Joe Mercer took over as manager of Coventry City and his first signing was Donal, again as a youth player.The photo, above, shows (l-r) Dinny and Tess, Donal's parents, Bob Dennison, who discovered Donal, and Joe Mercer, the new manager.
Donal was first signed in 1970 by Noel Cantwell, who played for Man U from 1960 to 1967 when he took over as manager of Coventry City from Jimmy Hill.
Donal did a bunk home from City in 1973 and arrangements were made for him to play for Shamrock Rovers, which he did for about 18 months. He returned to City in 1975 and was with them until 1978. He was on loan to Milwall towards the end of that period. He eventually got fed up and applied for a transfer, which brought him to Torquay, then to Plymouth Argyle, and to Blackburn Rovers. The remainder of his career, from 1982, was spent playing for Irish clubs (Drogheda United, Bohs, UCD, Home Farm and Shelbourne). He gave up the game in 1986.
Above, the Sky Blues (coventry City), with Donal kneeling in the front.
Two chewing gum cards featuring Donal.
Donal is booked and sent off in a match against Birmingham City, just after he has scored his first goal in a League match. The Coventry Evening Telegraph (29/11/1975) described what happened. "Then as the whistle went for half time there came a nasty flare-up off the ball on the half way line. Murphy was badly sandwiched by Burns and Want but unhappily "lost his rag" by getting up and taking a kick at Burns which left the Blues skipper stretched out on the pitch."
Donal with (first) wife Evelyn, whom he married in Torquay in [1979?] with their 2 year old daughter. Evelyn is from Drogheda which is where Donal ended up in 1982, playing for Drogheda United.
In that part of his career spent in British League football, Donal made 185 appearances and scored 39 goals.
He is now living in Farranfore, Co. Kerry, with his [second] wife Anne.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donal_Murphy
Denis Murphy
Denis is Donal's brother/son
Paddy Medlar
Paddy Medlar is the son of PJ Medlar. He played for Ierne.
Niall Medlar
Niall is Paddy Medlar's son.
Joseph Ledwidge
Paddy Medlar's sister Mai married Harry Ledwidge, from 14 St. James's Terrace, in 1954. Harry's father Joseph had been a well known soccer player at the turn of the century. He played for X club and was also capped for Ireland in XXXX and XXXX.
http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2007/04/joe-ledwidge.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Ledwidge