Tommy Callaghan (6 December 1945 – 25 October 2024) was a Scottish professional footballer who played for Celtic, Dunfermline Athletic and Clydebank. He was a left-sided midfielder famous for his long attacking runs from deep positions, and powerful shot.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 December 1945 | ||
| Place of birth | Cowdenbeath, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 25 October 2024 (aged 78) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Lochore Welfare | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1962–1968 | Dunfermline Athletic | 126 | (20) |
| 1968–1976 | Celtic | 172 | (14) |
| 1976 | → San Antonio Thunder (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 1976–1978 | Clydebank | 30 | (2) |
| 1978–1979 | Galway Rovers | 29 | (4) |
| Total | 366 | (40) | |
| International career | |||
| 1968–1971 | Scottish League XI[1][2] | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1978–1979 | Galway Rovers | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editBorn in Cowdenbeath, he signed for Celtic from Dunfermline on 22 November 1968 for a reported £35,000. Although he scored on his debut the following day in a 4–0 win over Partick Thistle at Firhill, he took a long time to settle at Celtic Park and was never really accepted by the supporters. After making more than 250 appearances for Celtic, Callaghan moved on to Clydebank on 4 November 1976. He scored for his new club on his debut three days later. He left Clydebank in 1978 to become player-manager of Galway Rovers in Ireland.
Callaghan represented the Scottish League twice and gained his first Scottish Cup winner's medal while with Dunfermline in 1968, his final season with the Fife club.
Personal life and death
editHis brother Willie played for Dunfermline and Scotland, and his father William, maternal uncles Patrick Flannigan and David Flannigan, son Tommy Callaghan Jr[3] nephew Willie Callaghan Jr, and grand-nephew Liam Callaghan[4] all played football to some extent.[5][6]
On 25 October 2024, Callaghan died at the age of 78.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Tommy Callaghan". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
- ^ "Tom Callaghan". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
- ^ Callaghan, Tommy 1998-2001, Partick Thistle History Archive
- ^ Montrose FC duo appear in court in Dublin charged with assault and obstructing police, Stefan Morkis, The Courier, 13 December 2019
- ^ Cowdenbeath's Liam Callaghan given Birmingham trial, BBC Sport, 18 November 2011
- ^ Four generations with the Cowden, David Allan, Central Fife Times, 28 November 2011
- ^ "The great Tommy Callaghan passes away". Celtic FC. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- Sources
- Lunney, Paul (1992). Celtic: A complete record 1888-1992. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-873626-27-4.
- Tommy Callaghan at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database