First and foremost: Bok in time

Celebrating landmark achievements and curious quirks in the history of Ireland’s Oldest Football Club, cliftonvillefc.net today continues a new mini series reflecting on some of the trailblazing enterprises where Cliftonville have led the way.

Every week throughout the summer break, ‘First and Foremost’ will shine a spotlight on startling statistics, tall tales and magical milestones that saw the Reds play a pioneering role in the story – with another World Cup link taking centre stage today.

Ahead of South Africa’s concluding Group A fixture with South Korea in Guadalupe, we’re turning the clock more than a century to Bafana Bafana’s first ever international match.

It was on September 24, 1924 that Solitude treated 6,000 spectators to a friendly clash between South Africa (above) and an Irish League XI.

Though advertised as an international match by the Irish Football Association, the selection of solely domestic-based players meant the contest was regarded as an all-amateur affair until as recently as 2001, when it was formally recognised as a full international, an upgrade which earned the game’s place in the history books as the visitors’ inaugural contest of that status.

Just over three weeks on from South Africa’s first ever fixture – a 4-2 win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park – and in the aftermath of friendlies against Wimbledon, Brentford, Wycombe Wanderers and Chelsea, they reported to the home of Cliftonville FC to take on an Ireland side which, to save on travel costs, did not include any players who plied their trades overseas.

Sporting the blue jersey synonymous with the international team, the hosts – who included Reds’ inside-left Ralph Lynas – took a 10th minute lead through Distillery’s Frank Rushe only for David James Murray to draw South Africa level ahead of Jim Green netting the Springboks’ winner.

Bafana Bafana have, of course, gone on to contest in excess of 500 further international fixtures but, as the clock ticks down to tonight’s World Cup duel with South Korea, this timely reminder of an historic sporting landmark further strengthens the country’s ties with Ireland’s Oldest Football Club, whose founding father’s direct descendants, Michael and Lisa McAlery, now live in the coastal city of Durban.