For those of you who don't know, James McCarthy is the hottest midfield prospect plying his trade in Britain today. At the tender of 17 he has affirmed himself as one of the best midfielders playing in Scotland, for Hamilton Academicals in the Scottish Premier League. But the SFA and FAI are at loggerheads over James, why?
Teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and a host of other Premiership teams regularly keep track of young James, he has even caught the eye of suitors from Europe such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
Such is the attention in James that regular Hamilton fans claim their gate has doubled since he started playing, not down to an increase in fans but an increase in scouts!
James is good. Very, very good.
He made his debut for Hamilton when he was 15, and at the age of 16 had established himself as a fixture in their promotion winning team. Now at 17 he has played around 70 games for the Accies, so you can appreciate that James is somewhat of a prodigy.
He is blessed with strength and power and has a tireless engine. He is a very simple passer of the ball and has found the net on no less than eight occasions. At this stage of his career he is usually compared with Roy Keane.
The problems between the SFA (Scottish Football Association) and the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) arise because James was born in Glasgow, Scotland. But he plays for the Irish underage teams.
McCarthy's grandfather is from Donegal, and it is through his ancestry that he has been able to declare for Ireland. James' grandfather left Ireland in the '30s in search of work. That search eventually brought him to Castlemilk, Glasgow—an Irish enclave in Scotland.
Indeed another famous Glaswegian, Ray Houghton, was also from the same area and he too declared for Ireland. The people of Castlemilk consider themselves Irish and have celebrated everything Irish since the corporation estate was established.
At underage football James' talents began to show and he was left out of many Scottish squads while the SFA selectors dithered over whether he was good enough. But a chance meeting with Irish underage manager Sean McCaffrey would bring McCarthy's talents to the FAI.
A phone-call and a plane flight later McCaffrey found himself sitting in a living room in Castlemilk and the rest is history. Since then James has played at U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-21 level for Ireland, and is widely predicted to be part of Giovanni Trappatoni's squad to face Poland next month.
The reason James is being fast tracked into the senior side is the amorous attention he has received from Terry Butcher (Asst. Manager) and George Burley (Scotland Manager) recently.
James does not have to declare for a country until 21, if he doesn't play a competitive match. Burley and Butcher have both intimated to James that he would be included in future senior squads should he declare for Scotland.
The FAI were thrown into turmoil this week as McCarthy pulled out of the U-21 squad due to face Lithuania. And amid rumours he was about to defect FAI officials sought a meeting with James and his family.
39 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Guido 9 months ago
Quality article mate.
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
Thanks Guido. It's not exactly a popular topic. I'm glad you took the time to search it out. Fair play man.
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Guido 9 months ago
It's articles like this that attracted me to Bleacher Report in the first place. Anyone can find out about the big leagues like the Premiership, Serie A and La Liga. It's stuff like this that's more interesting to me, because I don't know a lot about it.
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Brandon Brown 9 months ago
I think he should play for Ireland. If he feels that closely to Ireland to have played on their youth setups, and was overlooked by Scotland, then why not?
We have many similiar situations in our US youth system. A handful of youngsters are causing stirs in the footballing community, and are already declaring US ties ... even though many of them come from Africa or South America.
Let's be honest, if just about every European team can have a Brazilian or two play for them on the national level, why can't a kid who loves everything Irish play for Ireland?
(Note: I know not every team in Europe has Brazilians on the squad, but a good chunk of them do. I was using "exaggeration".)
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
Believe it or not Brandon but the FAI have a small delegation who trawl through the US system looking for players with Irish ties. It's felt that the US is a great breeding ground for young Irish talent as it has always been No.1 destination for Irish emigrants.
Every National side in the world uses the parentage rule. And they always will.
The SFA are hopping mad a prodigious talent like McCarthy slipped through the net, normally it's average players who do. The SFA messed up.
There loss was Ireland's gain.
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Yoosof Farah 9 months ago
great article, hopefully this guy will play for us and not scotland. it would be good to see him play abroad as well, an ireland international playing for real madrid or barcelona would be great! also just thought i'd add, my family are from donegal too!! donegal town to be precise. you see, donegal produces the best irish sport stars: mccarthy (his grandfather is from donegal and that counts lol), and of course me, ireland's best ever table tennis player (who knows, i might be in the future lol).
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
Thanks Yoosof,
James is definetly a good player, whether he progresses is another thing. And it would be nice to have a real top quality player in the upper echelons of the game again. But there's a long way to go yet.
Good luck with the table tennis ted, the olympics is not that far away....
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Yoosof Farah 9 months ago
thanks man, 2012 is probably a bit too close for me at the moment, but definitely for 2016 i'm pretty sure i can get into team gb (or maybe an irish or an iranian team if they qualify!).
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
team gb....team gb.....
man you're half irish that means you're fully irish. I'll even buy you a pint of Guinness just to seal the deal!
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Yoosof Farah 9 months ago
cheers mate, i'm definitely playing for ireland now. i can never say no to a pint of guinness ..
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Maire Ofeire 9 months ago
I cannot believe you even considered Team GB, to them you'd be another medal winner to us a hero
:-) Imagine it, win a gold medal and you've free Guinness for life
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Yoosof Farah 9 months ago
ok sorry lol, ireland it is then.
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illya mclellan 9 months ago
I wonder where he himself is thinking of going, I hope its not bloody Man U or Chelsea, but I suppose if he wants to go there he probably will. Be cool if he went to Spain.
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
At this stage the interest is really just speculation. It would be nice to see him progress though and his next move will be critical. And will say alot about his intentions and how he sees himself. If he goes to Celtic he's taking the easy option...if he goes to Spain it's the hardest choice but it could also be the most rewarding personally and professionally.
Of course he could end up at Spurs.....
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illya mclellan 9 months ago
oh yeah, cool read, good to read about something a bit different.
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
Thanks Illya. Appreciate it.
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Andrew McNair 9 months ago
He's not the first player to slip through the net, Aiden McGeady is another example. McCarthy can do what he wants but just because he didn't get a call at under 17 or whatever by Scotland means nothing as far as I'm concerned.
Half his team mates at that level will never make it as pro's.
It upsets ,me as a scot when players grow up here, use scottish facilities and money then say oh but my grandad is Irish...which country opened its arms to his grandad? I know Scotland has had English players in the past through the same means but never a player that England actually wanted.
If he's not proud to be Scottish (which he is) then maybe he should decide to leave these shores sooner rather than later.
Thanks for the read Willie...I was thinking about doing this one myself. keep up the great work.
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
McGeady was a big loss to Scotland, even though he has yet to produce the goods for Ireland. You know he might just one day..
You're right about half of the lads never making it any further, the game is littered with lads who fell by the wayside.
Every national side nowadays uses the grandparent rule to it's advantage. And like Scotland we ususlly take players that England and Scotland weren't interested in. Ireland were just quicker off the mark, when he declared nobody knew he had potential. He still might never progress but in Ireland we can hope.
Thanks Andrew...appreciate it.
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hurler ditch 9 months ago
What country opened its arms to his grandad??? Don't make me laugh. Folded arms and turned backs.It's well documented son.
As for why doesn't he leave these shores??? Are you pimping yourself for a job at the record or sun or something?
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Andrew McNair 9 months ago
sounds like you are the one with the folded arms mate.
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Maire Ofeire 9 months ago
Great stuff Willie and I'm glad people are reading this.
There is two sides to this, It is great for Ireland but I can understand why Andrew and Scottish fans would be so annoyed. To loose McGeady and McCarthy to a different national side must be fustrating particularly as they play in the Scottish league.
However, rules are rules and if McCarthy wants to play for the Rep.Ireland then that is his decision, he was more than likely brought up to feel more Irish than Scottish so you can't blame the lad.
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
I agree with you totally Maire.
Our gain is Scotlands loss.
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Maire Ofeire 9 months ago
On another note it is a thing that could happen Ireland soon. With the influx of Brazilians/Polish and eastern Europeans recently I wonder will Ireland be trying to fend off the Granny rule in years to come?
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
The FAI are currently looking at the USA and Australia as both have been prime destinations for Irish emigrants in the past.
In Ireland young boys from NIgeria and Poland have already played for Ireland at schoolboy level. But they can't travel away because they don't have Irish passports....yet.
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Maire Ofeire 9 months ago
Yeah I got a feeling there will be a lot of fast tracked Irish passports been given out. Isn't there a young Nigerian guy in the U-18 or U-20s squad who big things are expected of??
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
The young Nigerian lad plays for the schoolboy side, and he can't travel to away fixtures as he needs an Irish passport to represent the country abroad. He will become a naturalised citizen soon though.
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Maire Ofeire 9 months ago
aha I found it his name is Emeka Onwubiko
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Matt Matterson 9 months ago
"Hottest midfield prospect plying his trade in Britain today"?
Big claim. Bostock? Wilshire? Lansbury?
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
It is isn't it.
And while he has a long way to go yet he has played around 70 first team games for Hamilton between the SPL and SD1.
The others have all had more media attention than McCarthy and possess massive potential they have all yet to make any kind of impact at their respective clubs.
Bostock has only played 4 games for Palace in the Championship and has yet to feature for Spurs, although he shouldn't have to wait long, as a Spurs fan I'd like to see him play. He can't be any worse than Zokora.
To the best of my knowledge Jack Wilshire has yet to play at Arsenal and was very surprised when Wenger gave him a squad number at the start of the season. He could be one for Arsenal's future.
Henri Lansbury also at Arsenal has only really come through in the last season and has only made two substitute appearances for the Gunners in the Carling Cup. And those in the know reckon he has huge potential.
All 4 players are obviously really good. But McCarthy has made the breakthrough while the others may never.
It would be nice if they were all Irish though.
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Maire Ofeire 9 months ago
Wilshire trains with the first team and came on as a sub against Blackburn. He started againt Sheffield Wednesday in the Cup and has been in a few of the squads for the Premier League. But I agree he has nowhere near as much first team apperances as McCarthy and there is no substitute for first team games.
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Matt Matterson 9 months ago
You're right, McCarthy has played a lot more games than the others (Wilshere has played in the Premier League and scored in the Carling Cup this season by the way).
And your also right in saying that the English lads have had more media exposure, but this is pretty unavoidable considering the Premier League & English media's dominance....
However...the standard of clubs and leagues that the players are at are almost incomparable. With all due respect to Hamilton, breaking into the Arsenal or Spurs first team is a much more difficult task. If Mccarthy was at a Premiership club would he have played as many first team games as he has?
To say he has already made the breakthrough is surely jumping the gun somewhat - he's made it in the SPL fair enough, but as a top player? Remember the buzz about Liam 'the new Roy Keane' Miller?
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
I agree with you about the differences in league standard. The EPL is far superior to the SPL. However reserve football in England is actually worse than the SD1. So James is getting a great education.
And if he was in England things may have turned out differently, I feel he has made "a" breakthrough in getting regular first team football.
If he can ever get a move to a major tean it will be a great move, but those days are a long way away.
For the moment he looks good and has great potential, and is getting a great apprenticeship at a good level.
Better players have failed at bigger clubs. Hopefully starting at Hamilton might be the making of him.
Good comparison with Miller , although he was never really considered that great. There was great optimism when he first came on the scene but the move to Utd was much too early for him. Hopefully James can learn from this.
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Matt Matterson 9 months ago
Forgot to say, nice piece by the way!
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
Thanks Matt. Appreciate it.
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Michael Griffin 9 months ago
In the end it is up to the player, not George Burley or Trappatoni, I hope he does play for us (Ireland), we need more of the young crop to come through. Then, he can come to United, or do what I would do in his position and see if I could get to Celtic, an Irish club playing in Scotland. Nuff' Said.
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
I think the Celtic move looks odds on at this stage. It makes a lot of sense in some ways.
But if he is really ambitious then he'll end up in Spain or England.
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Ryan Lynch 9 months ago
Very interesting article, Willie; it seems the lad has quite the personality, and I'll be sure to keep tabs on him.
Enjoyed the read, mate!
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Willie Gannon 9 months ago
Thanks Ryan.
He has potential, whether he lives up to it is another thing. Hopefully he will. Glad you enjoyed the read Ryan.
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Brandon Evans 9 months ago
there are a lot of other talents in midfield and not alot of people know about him but this a good article anyway
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