Stephen Baxter

Name: Stephen Baxter
Born: 1 October 1965, Belfast
Height: 6.02 ft Weight: 12.10 st
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-18, 3 Schools Caps (1981); Irish League: 2 Caps (1987).
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Irish League Champion 1988/89, 1992/93; Irish Cup Runner-Up 1991/92; Gold Cup Winner 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90; Irish League Cup Winner 1991/92; (with Crusaders) Irish League Champion 1995/96, 1996/97; Gold Cup Winner 1995/96; Irish League Cup Winner 1996/97; (with Glenavon) Mid-Ulster Cup Winner 1998/99.
Awards: Ulster Footballer of the Year 1996/97; NI Football Writers’ Player of the Year 1996/97.

Club Career:
Glentoran (0/0 Total); Ards 1985/86-1986/87 (41(2)/21 League, 1 Irish Cup goal, 20 Other goals); Linfield 1987/88-1992/93 (82(32)/51 League, 3(1)/0 Europe, 82(20)/50 Other); Distillery 1993/94 (21(4)/6 League, 3/2 Irish Cup, 3/4 League Cup, 8(3)/2 Other); Crusaders 1994/95-1997/98 (106(2)/40 League, 4/1 Europe); Glenavon 1998/99-1999/00 (44(3)/19 League, 8 Other goals); Crusaders 2000/01-2001/02 (51(5)/19 League, 3/1 Irish Cup, 1/0 League Cup, 4(1)/5 Other); Bangor 2002/03 (0(2)/0 Other).

Biography:
To follow.

Noel Bailie

Name: Noel Bailie MBE
Born: 23 February 1971, Lisburn
Height: 5.09 ft Weight: 12.03 st
Position: Defender/Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Under-23 Cap (1990), 2 Under-21 Caps (1990-1994), Under-18, Under-18 Schools, Under-16; Irish League: 2 Caps (1990-1995).
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Irish League Champion 1992/93, 1993/94, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2003/04, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/11; Irish Cup Winner 1993/94, 1994/95, 2001/02, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, Runner-Up 1991/92, 2000/01; Irish League Cup Winner 1991/92, 1993/94, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2001/02, 2005/06; Gold Cup Winner 1989/90, 1996/97; Ulster Cup Winner 1992/93; Floodlit Cup Winner 1993/94, 1997/98; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1994/95, 1997/98, 2000/01, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06; Setanta Cup Winner 2004/05; Charity Shield Winner 1993 (shared), 1994, 2000.
Awards: Ulster Footballer of the Year 1994; NI Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year 1994; MBE June 2013.

Club Career:
Hillsborough Boys Club; Linfield 1988/89-2010/11.

Biography:

After over a thousand appearances for his only senior club, Noel Bailie announced his retirement for the end of the 2010/11 season.

"I suppose if I had one regret it would be that I didn't get the chance to play for Northern Ireland. That would be my biggest regret - that when I was at my prime, whenever that would have been, I didn't get the chance to play for my country. I'd have loved to have pulled on the green jersey. However, I have to be grateful because I managed to achieve a lot in Irish League football. I'll be sad when the time comes to retire after the last match when it comes along and hopefully that will be another Irish Cup final. I don't have too many regrets but I will be sad that I won't get to set foot out on that pitch any more."

His career was rounded off with a tenth Irish League title, equalling Bob Milne's century old record.

𝗡𝗼𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲 Born on 23 February 1971, Noel began his playing career at Hillsborough Boys' Club and also played for...

Posted by Irish Football Memories on Monday, 11 January 2021

Eric Bowyer

Name: Eric Bowyer
Born: Belfast
Height:
Weight:
Position: Half-Back/Defender

Representative Honours: Irish League: 2 Caps (1970).
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Irish League Champion 1968/69, 1970/71, 1974/75; Irish Cup Winner 1969/70, Runner-Up 1972/73, 1974/75, 1975/76; Gold Cup Winner; Ulster Cup Winner; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1972/73; Blaxnit All-Ireland Cup Winner 1970/71; (with Glenavon) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1980/81; (with Carrick) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1983/84.
Awards: Ulster Footballer of the Year 1975.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
Broadway Thistle	-	-	-	(Northern Amateur League)
Linfield	67/68-77/78	-	Amateur	-	-	-	10(0)/0	-
Glenavon	78/79-80/81	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bangor	81/82	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Brantwood	-	-	-	('B' Division)
Dungannon Swifts	-	-	-	('B' Division)
Carrick Rangers	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£-		-	-	-	10(0)/0	-

Biography:
To follow.

Northern Ireland Amateur Cap Details:

1. 29-09-1968 England. A L 0-5 BAC
2. 11-01-1969 Wales .. A L 0-1 BAC
3. 22-03-1969 Scotland H L 1-2 BAC

Summary: 3/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 3.

Irish League Representative Match Details:

1. 17-03-1970 League of Ireland A W 2-0
2. 23-09-1970 Football League.. A L 0-5 sub

Summary: 1(1)/0. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 1.

Billy McAvoy

Name: William McAvoy
Born: c. 1949, Newtownards
Position: Inside-Right

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Under-23 Cap (1968), Amateur; Irish League: 1 Cap (1969).
Club Honours: (with Ards) Irish Cup Winner 1968/69, 1973/74; Gold Cup Winner 1973/74; Ulster Cup Winner 1973/74; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1971/72; Blaxnit All-Ireland Cup Winner 1974/75.
Awards: Ulster Footballer of the Year 1969.

Club Career:
Ards Boys; Ards 1964/65-1977/78 (404/300 Domestic, 6/1 Europe); Ballymena United 1977/78.

Biography:

To follow.