McAlinden and Inniss

[Napster]

We have got previous for this from wikipedia:


In 1948 Southend United signed McAlinden from Stoke City for a fee of £8,000. He continued to play for United until 1954 and during his time with the club he served as club captain. He also became something of a cult hero among the club's fans and is remembered as being possibly the best player ever to play for the club. In 1950, McAlinden was caught up in controversy after it was alleged that he received illegal payments during his second spell with Portsmouth. As a result he was suspended for the first two months of the 1950–51 season.

 

[usa_shrimper]

Typical Southend signing, we are becoming a dumping ground for football criminals at this rate by the year 2764 we are gonna have a team full of crooks....I see a definite trend here...:dim:

 

[DoDTS]

Here's a bit more background and don't forget that the previous season we had finished third and were building a team round McAlinden.


Jimmy McAlinden’s Suspension
25th May 1950: Southend United will be without the services of their popular skipper, Irish International Jimmy McAlinden until October 1st as the result of a suspension arising from the findings by a Football Association investigating commission into illegal payments to a player by two directors of Portsmouth F.C. McAlinden is also fined £50. McAlinden is alleged to have received £750 in £1 notes from the former secretary manger of Portsmouth. This money it is stated had been paid as an inducement to McAlinden to return from Ireland and resume his service interrupted by the war as a professional player for Portsmouth F.C. McAlinden denied this payment had been made to him. On the evidence, the Investigating Commission were satisfied an illegal payment had been paid to McAlinden. Portsmouth F.C. were fined £750 and ordered to pay the costs of the enquiry.

1st June 1950: Southend United have lodged an appeal with the Football Association concerning the suspension until October 1st of Jimmy McAlinden. Mr. Nevil Newitt said “we have lodged an appeal with the Football association on the grounds of the acute hardship it will cause the club”. The suspension of McAlinden is of course a serious blow to the promotion hopes of the club. The team has once again been built around the Irish International skipper. While under suspension McAlinden is not allowed to frequent any ground under the control of the Football Association. When the term of suspension is concluded he will have to be trained up to match standard and this is expected to take at least another month. United are banking a great deal on this appeal as, between the opening of the season in August and October 1st they will be playing some of the toughest games in their programme.

8th June 1950: The F.A. have turned down a request from Southend United to reconsider their decision regarding the suspension of Jimmy McAlinden. The appeal was on the grounds of extreme hardship inflicted on the United by the loss of McAlinden’s services during a critical part of the season especially as the offence was committed when McAlinden was not a United player or in anyway connected with the club. In their reply the F.A. state that they took all these matters into consideration in arriving at their decision.

22nd June 1950: A letter from skipper Jimmy McAlinden, Blues Irish International suspended until October 1st, who tells Harry Warren “I will be back in match-fit condition on October 1st ready for the fray”. So Mac’s coming back, this news will relieve a large number of headaches possessed by many supporters, many of whom were resigned to facing the season without Blues schemer-in-chief.