Tom Farquharson

Thomas Gerard Farquharson (4 December 1900 – 24 December 1970) was an Irish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born in Dublin, he played youth football for local sides. In his teens, he became a member of the Irish Republican Army and was arrested by the British Army for removing wanted posters and held in Mountjoy Prison. He was released on the basis that he would leave Ireland, which he did, choosing to settle in South Wales.

Farquharson played football for Oakdale and Abertillery Town before being spotted by Football League side Cardiff City in 1922 for whom he made his professional debut that May. He helped the side finish as runners-up in the First Division during the 1923–24 season and reach the 1925 FA Cup final. In 1927, he was a member of the Cardiff City team that became the only non-English side to win the FA Cup. He remained with the club until 1935, winning the Welsh Cup on four occasions and the FA Charity Shield once. Farquharson played in 445 Football League matches for Cardiff, which remained a club record until 1985.

A dual internationalist, he also played for both Ireland teams – the Irish Free State national football team and the Ireland national football team (IFA). After making his debut for the IFA side in 1923, he went on to win seven caps. In 1931, he caused controversy by rejecting a call up to instead play for the Irish Free State side with whom he won a further four caps.

Farquharson was born on 4 December 1900 at 3 Lismore Cottages, Botanic Avenue, Dublin. He was the third child born to a Presbyterian father, Thomas Farquharson, a sanitary contractor, and a Catholic mother, Margaret Cassin, a dressmaker. Both of his parents hailed from Dublin and earned enough income to afford a live-in servant. Raised as a Catholic, he was brought up in the football heartland of Drumcondra at the family home in Golden Acre. The family later moved to Jones Road and his father became a reputable master builder and contractor in the area. Tom was educated at a school run by the Congregation of Christian Brothers.

As a youth, Farquharson played Gaelic football before taking up association football with Annually in 1916. He helped the side reach the final of the Leinster Minor Cup, held at Shelbourne Park, where they defeated Olympic B 4–2. Annually folded in 1919 after being unable to secure suitable playing grounds. Farquharson instead began playing for a Catholic Young Men's Society (CYMS). However, he eventually left Dublin because of his Republican sympathies during the Irish War of Independence. He was described as a "non-violent member" of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), a role that included running messages for the group and transporting people to safehouses.

A 19-year-old student at the time, he was arrested along with his friend Seán Lemass, later to become Taoiseach, for pulling down British Army wanted posters in St Stephen's Green. This proved embarrassing to Farquharson's father, who conducted business with the British. Farquharson and Lemass were held at Mountjoy Prison but Farquharson was released on bail by a British Army Major who was a friend of his father on the basis that he would leave Ireland.

He was sent to work in Blackwood, Caerphilly, in South Wales, gaining employment as either a carpenter or a painter and decorator. On arriving in Wales, he took up rugby union, playing as a full back for his local side Blackwood. He later went to watch local Welsh Football League side Oakdale who found themselves short of a goalkeeper for a match. Farquharson offered his services where his experience playing Gaelic football proved invaluable. He then moved onto Southern Football League side Abertillery Town for the 1921–22 season. His performances for the side saw him chosen to represent a Welsh Southern Football League XI.

Farquharson soon attracted the interest of Football League First Division side Cardiff City. His performances for Abertillery led to him being invited to a trial with Cardiff by club founder Walter Bartley Wilson in February 1922 before signing permanently. He made his debut for the club on the last day of the 1921–22 season, playing in a 3–1 victory over Manchester United on 6 May 1922. The following season, Ben Davies remained first choice at the start of the campaign before Farquharson featured in five consecutive matches between October and November 1922. The pair continued to compete throughout the season with Farquharson featuring in 21 league matches (one more than Davies) and playing in the club's 3–2 victory over Aberdare Athletic in the 1923 Welsh Cup final. His performances resulted in Davies' being sold at the end of the season to Leicester City with long-serving Herbert Kneeshaw remaining as cover.