Happy St Patrick's Day - Four fantastic Boys in Green who wore Claret and Blue! | West Ham United F.C.

Throughout the years, West Ham United have had the pleasure of having several Irish players on their team, including sixteen individuals who have played on the international level. In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we introduce you to four of the most incredible Irishmen who have proudly worn the Claret and Blue.

Charlie Turner: West Ham's First Irish Player

Charlie Turner was the first senior player from West Ham United to represent Ireland in international matches. He was given the role of captain and led the team in a 2-2 draw against Czechoslovakia in May 1938.

Turner was born in Athlone, a town located in the heart of Ireland, specifically in County Westmeath in November 1910. When he was still young, Turner relocated to Lancashire, where he played for various teams such as Eccles Schools, Lancashire Combination, Atherton, Manchester Central, and Stalybridge Celtic. Afterward, he became a member of Leeds United in 1933.

Turner was a backup player for England's Ernie Hart and played 13 matches in the League for Leeds. He then transferred to Southend United, a Division Three team located in Essex, where he participated in 99 League games. Eventually, he joined West Ham, a Second Division club, during the 1937/38 season after notable defender Jim Barrett retired.

When Turner played his first game against Sheffield Wednesday in February of 1938, he managed to prevent the other team from scoring any goals. However, he didn't have another victory until his eleventh and final time playing for Claret and Blue. This last game was in February of 1939, and it was a resounding 5-0 win against Nottingham Forest.

During the summer of 1939, the centre-half became a part of Hartlepool United. However, due to the outbreak of the Second World War, he couldn't continue his career in England. Thus, he went back to his home country, Ireland, where he played football and coached at Waterford. He also managed the Dublin-based team, Shelbourne, at a later stage.

Courageous Captain Noel Cantwell

The late Noel Cantwell holds the record for the most games played by an Irishman in the West Ham United football team. Cantwell, who was an exceptional full-back during his time, played a total of 278 games for the Hammers from November 1952 to September 1960.

Cantwell was born in Cork, which is located in the southwestern region of Ireland, during February in the year 1932. He participated in matches with his hometown club, Cork Athletic, and his skills were noticed by scouts from West Ham. Consequently, he was requested to come over to the east side of London.

Following his journey across the Irish Sea, he secured a spot on the first-team roster during the 1953/54 season. He established a successful bond with right-back John Bond and played an essential role as team captain while West Ham acquired promotion back to the First Division in the 1957/58 season, after a long gap of 26 years.

During the next season, he guided the Hammers to their highest-ever placement of sixth in the former First Division while participating in every one of the 42 games.

Outside of the football field, Cantwell extensively contemplated about the game and worked in collaboration with renowned figures such as Malcolm Allison, Phil Woosnam, and Dave Sexton to develop advanced coaching and strategic strategies that led to the establishment of the Academy of Football.

After leaving West Ham, Cantwell became part of Manchester United where he led the team to win the FA Cup in 1963. During his time as a player, he represented his country 36 times as well.

At a later point in his life, he took on the role of managing Coventry City, Peterborough United, and even worked in the United States. Additionally, he worked as a scout for England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. However, he unfortunately passed away in 2005 at the age of 73.

Liam Brady - The Greatest Ever

One could make the case that Liam Brady is the best football player that Ireland has ever produced. He was born on February 13, 1956 in Dublin and was already showing impressive skills as an attacking midfielder when he played for St. Kevin's Boys club as a kid. At just 15 years old in 1971, the same year Arsenal won both the league and FA Cup titles, Brady joined the Gunners and quickly proved himself to be a talented player.

After a mere couple of years, when he was 17 years and seven months old, Brady had his first chance to play with the top-tier team from northern London. The team won 1-0 against Birmingham City marking the start of a remarkable and lengthy career.

Brady, who has a knack for playing with his left foot, is a player with impressive technical skills and a keen eye for the game. He spent a total of nine years playing for Highbury and was hailed as Arsenal's best player three different times. In 1979, he played a pivotal role in winning the FA Cup and ended his tenure with the team with a memorable appearance in the final of the 1980 European Cup Winners' Cup.

Brady's skills and qualities attracted the top football clubs in Europe, and in 1979, he declared that he would transfer to Juventus the next year. He began his journey in Italy by winning two consecutive Serie A championships before advancing to play for Sampdoria, Inter Milan, and Ascoli.

At the age of 31 in March 1987, he made the choice to head back to London since he desired to raise his children in England. Following a successful negotiation of a £100,000 contract, Brady became a part of West Ham United's team.

During the time when the playmaker was with the Hammers, the team was undergoing changes. However, it was clear that they performed much better with Brady on their side. One highlight was their victory over Liverpool, with a score of 4-1 in the League Cup in November of 1988.

Brady had to play in the Second Division during the last season of his career because of relegation. He finished off his career with an unforgettable goal in a 4-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Upton Park in May 1990. This game marked his 532nd and final league game as a professional.

Ireland's Top Goalkeeper: Darren Randolph

Darren Randolph was born in Bray, a town in County Wicklow. His father was American while his mother was Irish. When Darren was 16 years old, he decided to leave Ireland and move to London in pursuit of his dream to become a professional footballer.

The talented goalie departed from his hometown team Ardmore Rovers and signed up with Charlton Athletic, where he made his first appearance at Liverpool in May 2007. He then had several temporary stints before moving forward with his profession in Scotland, playing a pivotal role in Motherwell's quest for the Scottish Cup championship and securing the second position in the Scottish Premier League.

Afterward, he returned to England with Birmingham City, and he performed amazingly in two seasons in the Championship. Following that, he signed up with West Ham United in 2015.

At that point in time, Randolph had become an established player for the Ireland national team. He had made his debut against Oman in September 2012, and by the time the national team went to UEFA Euro 2016 in France, he was the clear first-choice goalkeeper. At the tournament, Randolph's excellent saves played a crucial role in helping Ireland advance from a difficult group that included teams such as Sweden, Belgium, and Italy. Sadly, Ireland's remarkable run came to an end in the round of 16, where they lost to the hosts - but Randolph's performances had certainly stood out.

In the year 2017, Randolph left east London and joined Middlesbrough, where he stayed for two and a half years. However, in January 2020, he decided to come back to his former club, West Ham.

Randolph, a dependable goalkeeper, played for Ireland at Euro 2020 and then left London Stadium in January 2023 to join AFC Bournemouth.