Tommy Aherne

Date of birth26 January 1919
Place of birthLimerick
NationalityIrish
PositionFull back

Aherne 'Bud' Aherne grew up in Limerick and joined the Irish Army at 21. He joined Belfast Celtic, having previously played for Limerick, at the age of 26 and his football career blossomed late.

In 1947, he was a member of the Celtic team that beat Glentoran 1-0 at Windsor Park, with Charlie Tully (later of Glasgow Celtic fame) scoring the only goal, to win the Irish Cup. It was to be the last time that Belfast Celtic were to win this trophy.

Whilst with Celtic, he started to accumulate representative and international honours.

He was chosen to play for the Northern Ireland Regional League against the League of Ireland in March 1946 - the first of 6 Inter-League honours that he would win before moving to England.

In June of that year he made his full international debut for Republic of Ireland against Portugal in Lisbon and three months later he was capped for (Northern ) Ireland against England.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Belfast Celtic 01 Mar 1949
Luton Town 01 Mar 1949 30 Jun 1957

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1943-44 League of Ireland Inter League 2
1944-45 League of Ireland Inter League 2
1945-46 Ireland Victory 2
1945-46 Northern Ireland Regional League Inter League 2
1946-47 Ireland British Home Championship 1
1946-47 Irish League Inter League 1
1946-47 Northern Ireland Regional League Inter League 1
1947-48 Ireland British Home Championship 1
1947-48 Irish League Inter League 1
1948-49 Ireland British Home Championship 1
1948-49 Irish League Inter League 1
1949-50 Ireland FIFA World Cup 1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
30 Apr 1947 IRISH LEAGUE v SCOTTISH LEAGUE L 4-7 INTER LEAGUE
22 Oct 1947 IRISH LEAGUE v FOOTBALL LEAGUE L 3-4 INTER LEAGUE
06 Nov 1948 Irish League v Scottish League L 0-1 Inter League


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1945-46 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 2
1949-50 Republic of Ireland FIFA World Cup 3
1949-50 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 2
1950-51 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 3
1951-52 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 4
1952-53 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 1
1953-54 Republic of Ireland FIFA World Cup 1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
16 Jun 1946 Portugal v Republic of Ireland L 3-1 International Friendly
23 Jun 1946 Spain v Republic of Ireland W 0-1 International Friendly
08 Sep 1949 Republic of Ireland v Finland W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Group 5
21 Sep 1949 England v Republic of Ireland W 0-2 International Friendly
09 Oct 1949 Finland v Republic of Ireland D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Group 5
13 Nov 1949 Republic of Ireland v Sweden L 1-3 FIFA World Cup Group 5
10 May 1950 Belgium v Republic of Ireland L 5-1 International Friendly
26 Nov 1950 Republic of Ireland v Norway D 2-2 International Friendly
13 May 1951 Republic of Ireland v Argentina L 0-1 International Friendly
30 May 1951 Norway v Republic of Ireland W 2-3 International Friendly
17 Oct 1951 Republic of Ireland v West Germany W 3-2 International Friendly
04 May 1952 West Germany v Republic of Ireland L 3-0 International Friendly
07 May 1952 Austria v Republic of Ireland L 6-0 International Friendly
01 Jun 1952 Spain v Republic of Ireland L 6-0 International Friendly
16 Nov 1952 Republic of Ireland v France D 1-1 International Friendly
04 Oct 1953 Republic of Ireland v France L 3-5 FIFA World Cup Group 4


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.