| George Gaffikin | |
| Fullname: | George John Gaffikin |
| Birth Date: | 1868 5, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Belfast, Ireland |
| Death Place: | Belfast, Ireland[1] |
| Position: | Inside right |
| Years1: | 1886-1898 |
| Clubs1: | Linfield |
| Caps1: | 181 |
| Goals1: | 103 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1890-1895 |
| Nationalteam1: | Ireland Amateurs |
| Nationalcaps1: | 15 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 4 |
George Gaffikin (17 May 1868 – 31 December 1935) was an Irish footballer who played as an inside right.[2] [3]
Gaffikin was a founder member of Linfield, playing in their first ever game, a friendly game against Lisburn Distillery on 11 September 1886.,[2] and went on to make 181 appearances in his twelve years with the club, scoring 103 goals.[3] Gaffikin was part of the Linfield team which won the club's first trophy, the Irish Cup in March 1891, scoring in a 4-2 victory over Ulster, with Linfield also going on to win a domestic double the same season, a feat they repeated for the following three seasons, and again in 1895, with Gaffikin scoring in the 10-1 Irish Cup win against Bohemians. Gaffikin also scored twice in the final of the Belfast Charity Cup in May 1891, with Linfield defeating Ulster 7-1.[3] They won this competition for the next four seasons.[4]
Gaffikin made his debut for Ireland during the 1890-91 British Home Championship in a 2-5 defeat to Wales. He made a total of 15 international appearances, scoring against Wales the following season during the 1891-92 British Home Championship as Ireland recorded a 7-2 win, and then in three successive international games, against Scotland, and the following season against England and Scotland in the 1892-93 British Home Championship tournament.[2] During the game against England, Ireland were awarded the first penalty kick in international football, after Gaffikin was tripped,[5] although Sam Torrans' kick was saved.