The brilliant documentary about the late Northern Irish Dundalk FC footballer Jimmy Hasty won the outstanding short documentary prize at the Sports Emmy Awards in New York last week.
The UEFA documentary One-Armed Wonder: The Extraordinary Story of Jimmy Hasty from director Richard Milway tells the incredible story of the murdered Belfast striker who lost an arm as a teenager but still enjoyed a successful football career. Jimmy had to have his arm amputated when he was just 14 years of age when he was involved in a work accident during his first day working at the Jennymount Mill in North Belfast.
The Belfast man defied the odds by becoming a star striker for Dundalk FC and was a part of the side who famously wrote their name into the record books by becoming the first Irish side to win away in European competition as goals from Dermot Cross and Jimmy Hasty secured a 2-1 win against the Swiss champions FC Zurich.
It was former Dundalk chairman Jim Malone who spotted Jimmy’s potential after seeing the Belfast man play for Newry and although the one armed player’s signing was met with ridicule and skepticism in some quarters the new arrival would prove all his doubters wrong during his debut season with the Lilywhites with Jimmy scoring 19 goals to help Dundalk to their first league title in 30 years.
Jimmy would go on to score over 100 goals for Dundalk FC, securing his status as a club legend. He would later retire and settle down back in Belfast with wife Margaret and his two sons Paul and Martin.
Tragedy would come later on in his life however when he was walking to his place of work at a bookmakers in Belfast. On October 11th 1974, while walking down Brougham St., Jimmy was shot dead by the Protestant Action force in a sectarian ‘tit for tat’ shooting which would kill Jimmy who was aged just 38 at the time.
Hasty’s incredible story was picked up by Noah Media Group, who decided to create a documentary on the Belfast man with talented director Richard Milman putting the story together. The film includes contributions from Jimmy’s former Dundalk teammates including John Murphy, Davy McArdle and Francie Callan. Jim Malone, the man who brought Jimmy to Oriel Park is also featured in the documentary via old audio excerpts and there are also contributions from Jimmy’s family including his wife Margaret, and his sons Paul and Martin.
Last week in New York, the documentary deservedly was awarded a prestigious Sports Emmy in the Outstanding Short Documentary category and film director Richard Milway was there to pick up the award. In a statement Richard thanked everybody who had helped bring Jimmy’s story to a wider audience.
“Everyone at Noah Media Group and UEFA is thrilled that The Extraordinary Story of Jimmy Hasty won Outstanding Short Documentary at the Sport Emmys. It wouldn’t have been possible without all the help from Dundalk FC, Paddy Malone and his family and of course Jimmy’s family – his sons Martin and Paul and wife Margaret.
“Jimmy was an incredible man and this award is testament to that. It’s amazing to see a story virtually unknown outside Dundalk and Belfast be recognised on the international stage and we’re glad more and more people are discovering Jimmy,” stated Richard.