Neil Duffy (footballer, born 1937)

Cornelius McQuade Duffy (7 March 1937 – 17 June 2013) was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside left. His most prominent spell was with Partick Thistle,[4] and he was inducted into their 'Hall of Fame' in 2009.[5]

Neil Duffy
Personal information
Full name Cornelius McQuade Duffy
Date of birth 7 March 1937[1]
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death 17 June 2013(2013-00-00) (aged 75–76)[2]
Place of death Glasgow, Scotland
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[1]
Position(s) Inside left
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Ashfield
1957Hamilton Academical (trial) 1 (0)
1958–1960 East Stirlingshire
1960–1964 Partick Thistle 134 (55)
1964–1967 St Johnstone 59 (22)
International career
1964[3] SFL trial v SFA 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Duffy began his career in the SJFA with north Glasgow team Ashfield[6] alongside future European Cup winner Stevie Chalmers, who stated in his autobiography that he felt Duffy was the more skilled of the pair of them.[7] Both were selected for the Scotland team at that level before stepping up to senior football.[6]

Other than a single Scottish Football League appearance on trial for Hamilton Academical,[8] his first senior club was East Stirlingshire,[9] followed by five years at Partick Thistle, during which the club made a challenge for the Scottish League title in the 1962–63 season, but lost form after delays caused by a very harsh winter.[5][6][10] In late 1964 he moved on to St Johnstone[11] in a swap deal involving Dan McLindon,[6] resuming a playing partnership with Gordon Whitelaw.[12]

Duffy then immigrated to South Africa where continued to be involved in football as a player and a coach.[6] His son, also named Neil Duffy, likewise became a footballer, growing up in South Africa and initially playing there before establishing himself in the Scottish leagues.

References

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  1. ^ a b Neil Duffy, The Thistle Archive. Retrieved 25 December 2022
  2. ^ Announcement | Death Notices & Obituaries | Neil Duffy, Evening Times, 19 June 2013
  3. ^ Ronnie McDevitt (2016). Scotland in the 60s: The Definitive Account of the Scottish National Football Side During the 1960s. Pitch Publishing. ISBN 9781785312458.
  4. ^ Partick Thistle 1946/47 - 2013/14, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
  5. ^ a b Hall of Fame | Neil Duffy, Partick Thistle FC
  6. ^ a b c d e Neil Duffy | Thistle Star Of The Past, match programme, Partick Thistle FC, 26 April 1981 (via Partick Thistle History Archive).
  7. ^ The Winning Touch: My Autobiography, Stevie Chalmers, Graham McColl; Hachette UK, 2012; ISBN 9780755363230
  8. ^ Hamilton 1946/47 - 2013/14, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
  9. ^ East Stirling 1946/47 - 2013/14, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
  10. ^ Thistle Advent | Day 2 | Neil Duffy, Partick Thistle FC, 2 December 2017
  11. ^ St Johnstone 1946/47 - 2013/14, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
  12. ^ "Great Saints" Player Profile – Gordon Whitelaw, saintshistory, 15 November 2013