In May 1936, Tom Parker, the manager of Norwich City, was on a scouting mission in Dublin, where he took stock of Benny Gaughran as one to watch. Gaughran soon moved to Celtic, but was released, on a free transfer, after only a season. Parker, by now managing Southampton, seized his opportunity.

He had, however, signed another centre-forward – Willie Dunn – the month before and Dunn was given first go at the start of the 1937-38 season. After Willie’s nine games for one goal,

Benny now had his turn. His four Division II goals in seven games persuaded First Division Sunderland that he was worth £1,000.

The Southampton directors were never going to turn down four figures in the 1930s, so their manager’s discovery was Wearside-bound. That was not a good move for Benny. After just two appearances for Sunderland and another two for Notts County in the Third South, he returned to Ireland, where he criss-crossed the border during the Second World War (or “The Emergency”, as it was known in the neutral Republic).