Patrick Quigley

Patrick was born in Londonderry Ireland on the 21st July 1898, and played for local club Distillery as a youngster, His mother hated the game so much that on many occasions would hide his boots.
Political trouble in the country resulting in the uprising against the British meant football in Ireland was suspended. Patrick along with other talented youngsters emigrated to England to play.
In 1919 he signed on with Accrington Stanley as a part time pro, also working in the local post office. He was a member of the Stanley team that was elected to the Football league in 1921, he stayed with Stanley for 4 years, (interrupted only by a short spell with Preston North End) before moving to Rossendale then Chorley.
Joe Smith signed him on for Darwen in 1929 and he became a member of the successful Darwen team of the Thirties, taking over as captain from Joe Smith in 1932, his proudest moment in football was to lead out Darwen at Highbury in 1932. (Click here) He won a Irish Junior International cap in 1920.
Patrick could have easily played football at a higher level, for he had not been at Accrington very long when Preston North End showed a interest in him. he signed and played a couple of times for the North End but found the stringent training requirements and long distances to travel across the country did not fit in with his job at the post office. He chose not to stay, siting the greater long term security that his job offered him.

Acknowledgements for the history in this section are made to :  Darwen RBL -- who originally published this page in 2002