Born in
Castlewellan,
County Down, Toner played for
Belfast United before joining
Arsenal in August 1919, making his debut for the side against
Everton on 11 October 1919. An
outside-left, he was a semi-regular in his first two seasons before breaking through properly in
1921–22. He won his first Ireland cap on 4 April 1922 against
Wales in Belfast; the match finished 1-1. His second cap came a year later, again against Wales, this time at
Wrexham. By now he had been dropped by Arsenal; thanks to fierce competition for the outside left spot from
Jimmy Paterson and
Samson Haden, Toner only played eight games in total during
1922–23 and
1923–24. He became a regular again in
1924–25 before being dropped after Arsenal were given a 5–0 hiding at home to
Huddersfield Town. He also won four more Ireland caps as an Arsenal player, before leaving to join
St Johnstone in January 1926 after new Arsenal manager
Herbert Chapman decided Toner wasn't part of his plans. In total he played exactly 100 times for Arsenal (89 in the league and 11 in the
FA Cup), scoring six goals (all of them in the league). After moving to Scotland, he won two further Ireland caps while with
St Johnstone (the first player to represent the
Perth club internationally), playing in the Home International games against
England and
Scotland in 1927. A broken leg forced him to retire, but he subsequently returned to Ireland and became a coach
Coleraine, and on one occasion came out retirement to deputise in the side. Toner also played
hurling for his county and
Gaelic football for Castlewellan GAC. ==References==