Tommy Cummings
Encyclopedia
Tommy Cummings was an English football player and manager.
Cummings was born in Sunderland, and started his football career at Hylton Colliery Juniors. Such was his quality as a centre-half he was invited to Strasbourg
in 1947 to represent Great Britain
in a junior international tournament. In the same year he signed a professional contract with Burnley
, also opting to continue his apprenticeship as a mining engineer.
Cummings made his league debut for Burnley
in December 1948. He also played for England B
three times. He played in the 1959–60 championship winning season and in the 1962 FA Cup Final, and in all made 479 appearances for the Clarets, standing fifth in their all-time list of Football League appearances with 434. He played his last game for the club nearly 14 years after making his debut.
In March 1963 he was appointed player-manager of Mansfield
leading them to promotion from Division Four at the end of the season. He was appointed Aston Villa
manager in the summer of 1967 but sacked in November 1968.
After retiring from football he went on to becoming a licensee and ran pubs in and around Burnley, including the Shooters Arms in
Nelson
.
Cummings was born in Sunderland, and started his football career at Hylton Colliery Juniors. Such was his quality as a centre-half he was invited to Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
in 1947 to represent Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in a junior international tournament. In the same year he signed a professional contract with Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, also opting to continue his apprenticeship as a mining engineer.
Cummings made his league debut for Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in December 1948. He also played for England B
England B national football team
England B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the England national football team. At times they have played other nations' full teams; they have also played matches against 'B' teams from other football associations...
three times. He played in the 1959–60 championship winning season and in the 1962 FA Cup Final, and in all made 479 appearances for the Clarets, standing fifth in their all-time list of Football League appearances with 434. He played his last game for the club nearly 14 years after making his debut.
In March 1963 he was appointed player-manager of Mansfield
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
leading them to promotion from Division Four at the end of the season. He was appointed Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
manager in the summer of 1967 but sacked in November 1968.
After retiring from football he went on to becoming a licensee and ran pubs in and around Burnley, including the Shooters Arms in
Nelson
Nelson, Lancashire
Nelson is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England, with a population of 28,998 in 2001. It lies 4 miles north of Burnley on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal....
.
External links
- Tommy Cummings profile at Clarets Mad
- Cummings' league stats at Neil Brown's site
- Tommy Cummings tribute at Lasting Tribute
- Tommy Cummings Tribute at Much Loved Memorial website, created by his Granddaughter.