Andy Cunningham (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andy Cunningham was a Scottish footballer. His position was striker
.
in 1909. After six seasons at Rugby Park
he joined Rangers
in 1915. He made his Rangers debut on 5 April 1915 in a 1–0 defeat to Partick Thistle
. He made 5 appearances in his first season at Ibrox
.
Cunningham continued to be used infrequently by manager William Wilton
before establishing himself in the Rangers team in season 1918–19. In total, he made 389 appearances and scored 182 goals for Rangers. He won 7 League titles and played in Rangers' famous 1928 Scottish Cup
final triumph where they defeated Celtic
4–0 to win their first Scottish Cup in 25 years.
Cunningham was also capped at international level, playing 12 times for Scotland
and scoring 5 goals. He lost just one of his 12 games for Scotland. Cunningham also represented the Scottish League XI
10 times.
in 1928, becoming the then oldest player to make his debut in the English football League
at the age of thirty-eight. He began his Newcastle career as player/manager and then went on to become full-time manager of the club after retiring from playing. Technically, he was the first true manager of the club, as his predecessor Frank Watt
had no control over team selection.
He guided the club to FA Cup
success in 1932 after beating Arsenal
2–1 in the final
. However the club was also relegated to the Second Division
whilst he was at the helm. Cunningham eventually left the club in 1935. He is remembered as a moderately successful manager of the club, having won 105 games out of 251.
After his time with Newcastle, he returned to Scotland where he managed Dundee
between 1937–1940 before becoming a sports writer after World War II.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Playing career
Born in Galston, Ayrshire, Cunningham began his career with Newmilns FC before moving to KilmarnockKilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
in 1909. After six seasons at Rugby Park
Rugby Park
Rugby Park is a football stadium situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. It was first used in 1899 and is the home of Kilmarnock F.C..It underwent a major redevelopment in 1994–95, becoming an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 18,128...
he joined Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in 1915. He made his Rangers debut on 5 April 1915 in a 1–0 defeat to Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
. He made 5 appearances in his first season at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
.
Cunningham continued to be used infrequently by manager William Wilton
William Wilton
William Wilton was the first ever manager of Rangers F.C., serving the club in that position from May 1899 until his death in 1920. He had previously filled several roles including match secretary to the reserve and first teams.-Career:Wilton joined the club in September 1883 as a player but never...
before establishing himself in the Rangers team in season 1918–19. In total, he made 389 appearances and scored 182 goals for Rangers. He won 7 League titles and played in Rangers' famous 1928 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
final triumph where they defeated Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
4–0 to win their first Scottish Cup in 25 years.
Cunningham was also capped at international level, playing 12 times for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and scoring 5 goals. He lost just one of his 12 games for Scotland. Cunningham also represented the Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
10 times.
Managerial career
Cunningham moved to Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in 1928, becoming the then oldest player to make his debut in the English football League
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
at the age of thirty-eight. He began his Newcastle career as player/manager and then went on to become full-time manager of the club after retiring from playing. Technically, he was the first true manager of the club, as his predecessor Frank Watt
Frank Watt
----Frank Watt was the unofficial manager of Newcastle United from 1895 to 1935. He did not have control over team selection so technically he was not manager but rather the club secretary, as a member of the committee that at the time owned the club....
had no control over team selection.
He guided the club to FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
success in 1932 after beating Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
2–1 in the final
1932 FA Cup Final
The 1932 FA Cup Final was contested by Newcastle United and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in what became known as the "Over The Line" final. Newcastle won 2–1, both of their goals scored by Jack Allen....
. However the club was also relegated to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
whilst he was at the helm. Cunningham eventually left the club in 1935. He is remembered as a moderately successful manager of the club, having won 105 games out of 251.
After his time with Newcastle, he returned to Scotland where he managed Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
between 1937–1940 before becoming a sports writer after World War II.
As a manager
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner: 19321932 FA Cup FinalThe 1932 FA Cup Final was contested by Newcastle United and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in what became known as the "Over The Line" final. Newcastle won 2–1, both of their goals scored by Jack Allen....