Noel Brotherston facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Noel Brotherston | ||
| Date of birth | 18 November 1956 | ||
| Place of birth | Dundonald, Northern Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 6 May 1995 (aged 38) | ||
| Place of death | Blackburn, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1974–1977 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 | (0) |
| 1977–1987 | Blackburn Rovers | 317 | (40) |
| 1987–1989 | Bury | 38 | (4) |
| 1988 | → Scarborough (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 1989 | Motala AIF | ||
| National team | |||
| 1978 | Northern Ireland U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 1980–1985 | Northern Ireland | 27 | (3) |
|
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Noel Brotherston (born November 18, 1956 – died May 6, 1995) was a talented football player from Northern Ireland. He was known for his exciting style of play as a winger and represented his country on the international stage.
Contents
Playing for Football Clubs
Noel Brotherston played as a winger, which means he was a player who ran quickly down the sides of the field to help attack and score goals. He played for several teams in the Football League in England.
Early Career at Tottenham
Noel started his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur. He played there from 1974 to 1977.
Time at Blackburn Rovers
He is best remembered for his time at Blackburn Rovers, where he played for ten years, from 1977 to 1987. Fans loved him for his unique hairstyle and his amazing "jinking runs" down the wing, where he would dribble past defenders with quick, tricky movements. He played 317 games for Blackburn and scored 40 goals.
Later Club Teams
After Blackburn, Noel played for Bury from 1987 to 1989. He also had a short loan spell at Scarborough in 1988. Later in 1989, he played for Motala AIF in Sweden.
Representing Northern Ireland
Noel Brotherston was a proud international footballer for Northern Ireland. He earned 27 international appearances, known as "caps," and scored three goals for his country.
World Cup Appearances
He played in three FIFA World Cup qualification matches, helping his team try to reach the biggest football tournament in the world. He also played in the actual 1982 World Cup finals. This was a big achievement for Northern Ireland, as it was their first time qualifying for the World Cup in 24 years!
Key Victories
Noel was part of a famous 1–0 win for Northern Ireland against Israel. This victory was very important because it helped the team qualify for the 1982 World Cup. He also scored the winning goal against Wales in 1980. This goal helped Northern Ireland win the Home Internationals Championship trophy. This was a special win because it happened in the year the Irish Football Association celebrated its 100th birthday.
Noel's Life Outside Football
Noel Brotherston grew up in a town called Dundonald, which is in the east of Belfast, Northern Ireland. When he was a young boy, he lived on Bright Street in East Belfast.
After he stopped playing professional football, Noel became a painter and decorator in Blackburn, England. He had two sons named Lee and Ryan. Sadly, Noel passed away at the age of 38.
