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Gareth Fullerton

UEFA documentary charts remarkable life of one-armed Belfast footballer

The remarkable life and career of Belfast footballer Jimmy Hasty has been charted in a new UEFA TV documentary.

Originally from the Sailortown area of the city, Hasty lost an arm as a teenager in a factory accident but went on to play in the European Cup with Dundalk.

The 38-year-old tragically lost his life in October 1974 when he was shot dead while walking to work, with paramilitaries claiming responsibility for his killing at the time.

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Hasty scored over 100 goals during six seasons with Dundalk in the 1960s, with the Lilywhites becoming the first Irish team to win away from home in the old European Cup when they beat Swiss side FC Zurich in 1963.

The former Newry Town player's incredible life and career is often referred to as 'the forgotten story', but it has been remembered in a new UEFA TV documentary.

The programme, called 'One-Armed Wonder - the extraordinary story of Jimmy Hasty', remembers Hasty's prolific goalscoring and sporting achievements despite missing an arm.

The programme makers said: “A catalogue of the lives lost in the Troubles lists him as Victim 1205.

“But behind the violent death and anonymous number lies an incredible life...the life of Jimmy Hasty, a European footballer with a difference, and a man who redefined perceptions of how the game could be played.”

One contributor tells the documentary: "I wonder sometimes, is the story so seemingly far-fetched that people don't actually believe that it could be true?

"We all know about George Best. We know about all the sporting greats that come from Northern Ireland. But Jimmy Hasty should rank among them."

Another adds: "From a wee lad from Sailortown losing his arm, and then he gets to live his dream playing football and European Cup."

On the UEFA website, it reads: "A catalogue of the lives lost in ‘The Troubles’ lists him as Victim 1205. But behind the violent death and anonymous number lies an incredible life...the life of Jimmy Hasty, a European footballer with a difference, and a man who redefined perceptions of how the game could be played."

The full documentary call be watched HERE

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