| Jock McNinch | |
| Fullname: | John McNinch |
| Birth Date: | 1908 8, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Harryville |
| Position: | Right-back |
| Years1: | 1928–1934 |
| Years2: | 1934–1936 |
| Years3: | 1936 |
| Years4: | 1936–1937 |
| Caps1: | 238 |
| Caps2: | 75 |
| Caps3: | ? |
| Caps4: | ? |
| Goals1: | 12 |
| Goals2: | 3 |
| Goals3: | ? |
| Goals4: | ? |
| Nationalyears1: | 1931–1934 |
| Nationalteam1: | Irish League XI |
| Nationalcaps1: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 1931 |
| Nationalteam2: | Ireland |
| Nationalcaps2: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
John "Jock" McNinch was an Irish professional footballer. He was capped 3 times by Ireland during his career.
McNinch started his career with the local Summerfield team,[1] and in June 1928 was one of the first signings for the newly formed Ballymena team.[2]
McNinch was Ballymena's right-back in the 1928–29 Irish Cup final, as the Braidmen shocked Belfast Celtic to win the cup in their first season of senior football; his most prominent contribution to the game was a goal-line clearance after 10 minutes when goalkeeper Gough misjudged a high ball.[3]
He also picked up runners-up medals in 1930 and 1931, and in the latter final was watched by Bolton Wanderers.[4]
A scandal over amateurism saw Ballymena wound up in 1934, but McNinch signed for the phoenix Ballymena United side, as one of only three Irish players in the side.[5] After a disappointing 1935–36 season, McNinch was one of four United players to sign for Sligo Rovers in August,[6] but returned to the north in November when signing for Larne.[7]
He became the second player from the club (after Jimmy McCambridge) to earn an international cap, collecting the first of his three caps in February 1931,[8] a 0–0 draw against Scotland; after the match Liverpool and Preston North End both enquired about him, but the offers were turned down.[9] His second cap, the following September, came after outside-right Harry Duggan of Leeds United was unable to play, and regular right-back Hughie Blair was pushed up to his position, with McInch filling the vacancy.[10]
His final cap came in a 4–0 win over Wales in December 1931; despite marking Tommy Jones out of the game,[11] he was never chosen again. He had also played for the Irish League representative side twice in 1931, and would have one further appearance, against the Football League side in 1934.[12]
McNinch served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. He collapsed and died on 24 May 1970 while carrying a Ballymena Association banner at a Naval Association parade in Bangor.[13]