Matt Doherty Jr. (1940 â 16 July 2019) was a Northern Irish professional footballer who played as an inside right for Derry City and Glentoran.
Doherty played for Don Bosco FC and Foyle Harps Y.F.C. in the Derry and District League before joining Derry City in 1956. He signed a professional contract two years later, in which he made his senior debut in a 2âÂÂ2 away draw against Glentoran at The Oval. He managed to reach the Irish Cup semi-final with his club in 1959âÂÂ60, along with his brother Tom during the management of their father Matt Sr., where they lost 1âÂÂ0 to Ards.
In December 1960, Glentoran paid ã2,000, a record transfer fee between Irish League clubs at the time, in order to acquire his services, as he preferred their home turf over other interested clubs. In the 1961âÂÂ62 Gold Cup semi-final, he netted a hat-trick in a 4âÂÂ3 win over Coleraine; however, he missed the final due to a car accident on his way to the match. He scored his club's first ever goals in European competitions in a 6âÂÂ2 away defeat against Real Zaragoza during the 1962âÂÂ63 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
He returned to Derry City under coach Willie Ross for another ã2,000 fee. He won the Irish Cup in 1963âÂÂ64, scoring a goal in a 2âÂÂ0 victory against his former club Glentoran, followed by the 1964âÂÂ65 Irish League for the first time in club's history. He played until 1970, retiring at the age of 30.
Doherty also managed to win a "B" international cap for the Northern Ireland national team.
In December 2011, he was included in Derry City's Hall of Fame. He died on 16 July 2019.
Derry City