Jim Cairney

Jim Cairney
Personal information
Full name James Cairney[1]
Date of birth (1931-07-13)13 July 1931[1]
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland[1]
Date of death 2018 (aged 86–87)
Place of death Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Half-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Strathclyde
0000–1949 Shawfield Juniors
1949–1956 Portsmouth 0 (0)
1956–1958 York City 53 (0)
1958 Polish White Eagles
1959–1963 Toronto Sparta/Roma
New York Ukrainians
Hartford Italia
Total 53 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James Cairney (13 July 1931 – 2018) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back in the Football League for York City, in Scottish junior football for Strathclyde and Shawfield Juniors, in North America for Toronto Roma, New York Ukrainians and Hartford Italia and was on the books of Portsmouth without making a league appearance.[1][2]

In 1958, he played in Canada's National Soccer League with the Polish White Eagles and was named to the All-Star team.[3] He would play with league rivals Toronto Sparta for the 1959 season and once more was selected to the All-Star team.[4] For the 1961 NSL season, Toronto Sparta was renamed, Toronto Roma.[5] Cairney would play in the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League in 1962 when Toronto Roma became a member.[6] He would re-sign with Toronto for the 1963 season.[7]

Jim Cairney was the brother of Scottish actor and writer John Cairney.[2] They were raised in the Parkhead area of Glasgow (where his first club Strathclyde were based); the referee Tiny Wharton was a childhood acquaintance.[8] Jim Cairney died in Canada in the summer of 2018.[9]

  1. ^ a b c d Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-85291-665-7.
  2. ^ a b c Jarred, Martin; Windross, Dave (1997). Citizens and Minstermen, A Who's Who of York City FC 1922–1997. Selby: Citizen Publications. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-9531005-0-7.
  3. ^ Waring, Ed (1 May 1958). "To Play Mexicans: Jimmy Feeney Coach Of NSL All-Star Team". The Globe and Mail. p. 31.
  4. ^ Entwistle, Bill (31 October 1959). "Italia Faces Tough Test Tomorrow". Toronto Daily Star. p. 35.
  5. ^ "Roma Drops White Eagles On Cribioli's Goal, 1-0". The Globe and Mail. 31 May 1961. p. 32.
  6. ^ Waring, Ed (26 July 1962). "Steelers Tumble Roma With Last-Half Rally". The Globe and Mail. p. 23.
  7. ^ Waring, Ed (11 May 1963). "Publicity-Shy Leaders of Roma Don't Want to Be Bitten Again". The Globe and Mail. p. 28.
  8. ^ Cairney, John (2011). The Sevenpenny Gate: A Lifelong Love Affair with Celtic FC. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1845967772.
  9. ^ "The Scottish Banner, Volume 42" (PDF). The Scottish Banner. August 2018. p. 2. Retrieved 6 August 2023.