Tommy McGuigan (footballer)

Thomas McGuigan (22 November 1922 – 14 December 1997) was a Scottish footballer who played for Ayr United, Hartlepools United and Spennymoor United.

Tommy McGuigan
Personal information
Full name Thomas McGuigan
Date of birth (1922-11-22)22 November 1922
Place of birth Whitburn, West Lothian, Scotland
Date of death 14 December 1997(1997-12-14) (aged 75)
Place of death Hartlepool, England
Position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946–1950 Ayr United 74 (21)
1950–1958 Hartlepools United 325 (79)
Spennymoor United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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McGuigan began his playing career in 1922 with Ayr United. He played 74 times for Ayr, scoring 21 times.[1]

In 1950, McGuigan moved to English side Hartlepools United. McGuigan played 325 times for the club and was in the top 10 all time appearances list for Pools, until 2021 when he his tally was overtaken by Gary Liddle. He scored 79 times for Hartlepools including hat tricks against Halifax Town and Stockport County.[2] As of 2022, McGuigan remains in the top 10 of the all time top goal scorers list for Hartlepool.[3] His service to the club earned him a benefit game against Newcastle United in 1956 which Hartlepools won 6–3.[4]

After leaving Hartlepools, McGuigan played for Spennymoor United.

As part of Hartlepool's centenary year in 2008, McGuigan was one of seven players to have a street named after them on a new housing development in the town.[5][6]

In 2017, McGuigan was nominated as a part of a vote for Hartlepool United's greatest XI by The Northern Echo. The paper described him as a "hard-working forward" who was "full of honest endeavour and graft".[7]

Personal life

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McGuigan died in Hartlepool on 14 December 1997, aged 75.[8] He is the grandfather of Premier League referee Tony Harrington.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Tommy McGuigan - Newcastle Fans
  2. ^ Tommy McGuigan - In The Mad Crowd
  3. ^ "Tommy McGuigan - Stats". inthemadcrowd.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  4. ^ Tommy McGuigan - In The Mad Crowd
  5. ^ New street names to honour football heroes from the past - The Northern Echo
  6. ^ Streets Named After Pools Heroes - Vital Hartlepool
  7. ^ Hartlepool's Greatest XI - The Northern Echo
  8. ^ Tommy McGuigan - Newcastle Fans
  9. ^ Hartlepool referee Tony Harrington to take charge of Newcastle United vs Crystal Palace - Chronicle Live