With Valentine's Day this month, February's object of the month is a 1912 cigarette card of Everton and Irish legend, Valentine Harris.
Valentine Harris, commonly known as Val Harris, was born in Dublin on the 23rd June 1884. He played gaelic football for Dublin and association football for Shelbourne, Everton and the Irish national team.
In March 1908 Harris moved from Shelbourne to Everton for £350, the maximum amount allowed at the time. He made his Everton debut against Woolwich Arsenal and soon established himself as the team's regular right-half. During his time at Goodison he was noted for his consistency and effectiveness and played in 6 different positions!
With Harris in the team, Everton regularly challenged for top honours, twice finishing as League runners-up as well as reaching the 1910 FA Cup Semi-Finals. Harris's team mates at Everton included fellow Irish internationals, Billy Scott and Bill Lacey, who had followed Harris from Shelbourne in February 1909. While at Everton, Harris made 190 League appearances and scored 1 goal. He also played a further 24 games, scoring a further goal in the FA Cup. After four years at Everton, Harris returned to Shelbourne in August 1914.
Harris made his international debut for Ireland as a centre-forward on the 17th February 1906, losing 5-0 to England. Thirteen years later he captained the Ireland team as they defeated England for the first time with a 2-1 victory at Windsor Park. The following year, in 1914, Harris and Ireland went a stage further and won the British Home Championship.
After retiring as a player in 1927, Harris became a coach with the Irish Free State and Shelbourne. In 1932 he took charge of the Irish team as they played the Netherlands and led them to a 2-0 victory. He later coached and managed Shelbourne, winning the 1939 FAI Cup for the first time in the club's history.
This cigarette card was produced in 1912 for F&J Smith's "Pinewood" cigarettes. There were 150 cards in this set, including Everton players, John Maconachie, Frank Jefferis and Harry Makepeace.
Valentine Harris, commonly known as Val Harris, was born in Dublin on the 23rd June 1884. He played gaelic football for Dublin and association football for Shelbourne, Everton and the Irish national team.
In March 1908 Harris moved from Shelbourne to Everton for £350, the maximum amount allowed at the time. He made his Everton debut against Woolwich Arsenal and soon established himself as the team's regular right-half. During his time at Goodison he was noted for his consistency and effectiveness and played in 6 different positions!
With Harris in the team, Everton regularly challenged for top honours, twice finishing as League runners-up as well as reaching the 1910 FA Cup Semi-Finals. Harris's team mates at Everton included fellow Irish internationals, Billy Scott and Bill Lacey, who had followed Harris from Shelbourne in February 1909. While at Everton, Harris made 190 League appearances and scored 1 goal. He also played a further 24 games, scoring a further goal in the FA Cup. After four years at Everton, Harris returned to Shelbourne in August 1914.
Harris made his international debut for Ireland as a centre-forward on the 17th February 1906, losing 5-0 to England. Thirteen years later he captained the Ireland team as they defeated England for the first time with a 2-1 victory at Windsor Park. The following year, in 1914, Harris and Ireland went a stage further and won the British Home Championship.
After retiring as a player in 1927, Harris became a coach with the Irish Free State and Shelbourne. In 1932 he took charge of the Irish team as they played the Netherlands and led them to a 2-0 victory. He later coached and managed Shelbourne, winning the 1939 FAI Cup for the first time in the club's history.
This cigarette card was produced in 1912 for F&J Smith's "Pinewood" cigarettes. There were 150 cards in this set, including Everton players, John Maconachie, Frank Jefferis and Harry Makepeace.
Valentine Harris cigarette card, 1912