John McCormick (footballer, born 1936)

John McCormick (18 July 1936 – 2 July 2017)[2] was a Scottish professional footballer. Playing as a centre back he made a total of 334 appearances in the Football League and Scottish League, for Third Lanark, Aberdeen and Crystal Palace before moving into non-league football with Wealdstone.

John McCormick
Personal information
Full name John McCormick
Date of birth (1936-07-18)18 July 1936
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death 2 July 2017(2017-07-02) (aged 80)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
St Roch's
Third Lanark
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1959–1964 Third Lanark 112 (0)
1964–1965 Aberdeen 28 (0)
1965–1973 Crystal Palace 194 (6)
1973–19?? Wealdstone ? (?)
International career
1962[1] SFL trial v SFA 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Third Lanark

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He began his senior career at Third Lanark, in 1959 to 1965 and helped his hometown club to a third-placed finish in the Scottish First Division in 1961. In the close season of 1964[3] he moved to Aberdeen after 190 appearances for Lanark, but without scoring.

Aberdeen

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McCormick spent two seasons at Aberdeen making 28 appearances without scoring, before moving to England with teammate Tom White to play for Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace

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Palace manager Bert Head paid just £1,500 for McCormick's services, on 30 May 1966.[2] White had been Head's main target[citation needed] but it was McCormick, after initially understudying Alan Stephenson,[3] who helped the club to its promotion to the First Division for the first time in 1968–69. In that season, McCormick was ever present making 42 appearances and scoring 3 times.[3] In the top flight he formed a solid defensive partnership with fellow centre-half Mel Blyth and won Palace's first ever "Player of the Year" award at the end of the 1971-72 season. He was awarded a testimonial during the next season.[3]

Wealdstone

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During the early part of the 1972–73 season McCormick lost his place, which was taken by Bobby Bell,[4] and was subsequently allowed to leave on a free transfer. He joined Wealdstone, then managed by former Palace colleague Eddie Presland, and helped the club to win the Southern League division one south in 1973–74.[3]

McCormick owned a hotel near Glasgow for 25 years. He lived in East Kilbride.[citation needed]

He died on 2 July 2017 at the age of 80.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Ronnie McDevitt (2016). Scotland in the 60s: The Definitive Account of the Scottish National Football Side During the 1960s. Pitch Publishing. ISBN 9781785312458.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. Breedon Books. p. 332. ISBN 0907969542.
  3. ^ a b c d e Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. Breedon Books. p. 81. ISBN 0907969542.
  4. ^ Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. Breedon Books. p. 239. ISBN 0907969542.
  5. ^ What a terrific centre-back he was' - Palace fans pay tribute to star of 1969 team John McCormick after passing away
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  • John McCormick at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database