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Caps: 4 (of 4)
Goals: 0
Like many of his generation, Irishman Tom Brolly lost much of his professional career to the Second World War, but for this interruption, he may have gone on to win many more caps than he actually did and arguably gone to be one of the greatest defenders of his generation. Instead, he won a paltry four caps for Northern Ireland and was left thinking about what could have been.
Brolly was signed by compatriot Bill McCracken at the start of the 1934/35 season and it was McCracken who gave the talented young wing-half his debut. But it was under his successor, Charlie Hewitt, that the Ulsterman began to make a name for himself. Brolly was part of the spine that form a very successful Millwall side that also included the likes of Dave Mangnall, goalkeeper Duncan Yuill and, later, J.R. Smith.
The side reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1937 - the first from outside the top two divisions to do so - and won the Third Division (South) Championship the following season. Already capped twice by his country before promotion, Brolly became firmly established in the Northern Ireland international side and won two further caps during the 1938/9 season, playing opposition teammate Smith during their 7-0 drubbing at the hands of England at Old Trafford.
When Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Brolly was one of the first Millwall players to volunteer and became an instructor in the army. He continued to play for the club in wartime fixtures but missed The Lions day out at Wembley for the Cup Final of 1945. However, by the time the conflict ended Brolly was 34 and the club was a shadow of its former self.
The Irishman continued to play for Millwall in the immediate aftermath of the war - indeed, he went on to captain the club - until the club released him at the end of the 1948/49 season. But in a fit of pique, worthy of many of today's professionals, he refused to go and surprisingly fought his way back into the first team, helping to shore up a very leaky Lions defence.
Father Time eventually did catch up with Tom Brolly and the following season was to be his last before he retired from the game.