Arthur Brady

Diminutive winger Arthur ‘Mousey’ Brady was small in stature but big in heart and enjoyed a single campaign at the Showgrounds, but is fondly remembered for his exploits with Crusaders and Derry City.

Born and raised in West Belfast, Arthur – nicknamed ‘Mousey’ - was a late arrival to football, having enjoyed success following his father’s footsteps as an amateur boxer at flyweight and was also a talented Gaelic footballer and hurler – playing county football for Antrim in the late 1940s, before being subsequently banned under the GAA’s rule 27, of playing other sports.

Despite standing five foot and 3 inches tall, he was spotted playing junior football for his local club Springfield Amateurs, and had signed for Belfast Celtic in 1949, only to see the club withdraw from Irish League football that summer without getting the opportunity to showcase his talents. After starring in the popular summer leagues, Crusaders recruited the tricky outside forward for their debut Irish League season (1949/1950) having taken the place vacated by Celtic.

22-year-old Brady made his senior bow for the Crues in October 1949 but struggled for consistent game time in the first team as Crusaders struggled in their transition from Intermediate League kingpins to the top division, finishing eleventh in their first season, requiring an application to the league for re-election. Having featured predominantly as a Reserves player, “Mousey” was elevated to the starting eleven in the Autumn of 1950 and flourished thereafter, playing across the forward line.

Despite being under consideration for the Ireland Amateur team selectors in January 1951, he signed professional at Seaview that same month. With Brady now a regular on the wing in North Belfast, Crusaders quickly established themselves as a mid-table Irish League side and reached their first senior final in May 1952, losing the final of the one-off Festival of Britain Cup to Ballymena United

The final was Arthur’s last game for the Crues as he refused the terms offered by the club and paved the way for a move to Glenavon in June 1952 for a nominal fee. After some early promise at the beginning of the 1952/1953 campaign, Brady found himself out of favour and played out the second half of the season in the Reserves at Mourneview Park, as the first-team finished fourth in the Irish League – the winger was subsequently released at the end of the season.

His next move proved very fruitful, as he joined Derry City in June 1953 alongside his childhood friend Charles Heffron, a goalkeeper who had returned home from Bradford City. Brady quickly became a fan favourite at the Brandywell despite the club’s struggles for form in the league. The introduction of former Manchester United star Jimmy Delaney as the league’s record signing galvanised the Candystripes in the second half of the season as they went onto win the Irish Cup after two replays against Glentoran – earning Arthur his first senior medal and legendary status evermore in Derry.

After three seasons at Derry City, the 29-year-old made the move to Ballymena United in June 1956 – then under player-manager Walter Rickett. It proved a disastrous season for the Sky Blues who amassed only three league wins and finished one place off bottom and were forced to apply for re-election.

Career
Springfield Amateurs; (1948) Belfast Celtic; (1949) Crusaders; (Jun 1952) Glenavon; (Jun 1953) Derry City; (Jun 1956) Ballymena United; (May 1957) Crusaders; (Aug 1963) Drogheda United; (Jan 1964) Larne

Honours
(with Crusaders)
Festival of Britain Cup: (finalist) 1951/1952
(with Derry City)
Irish Cup: (winner) 1953/1954