Andy Cunningham (footballer)

For other people of the same name, see Andrew Cunningham (disambiguation).

Andy Cunningham

Personal information
Full name	Andrew Cunningham
Date of birth	30 January 1890
Place of birth	Galston, East Ayrshire, Scotland
Date of death
Position(s)	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1909–1915	Kilmarnock	?	(75)
1915–1928	Rangers	389	(182)
1928–1931	Newcastle United	15	(1)
International career
1920–1927	Scotland	12	(5)
1912–1928	Scottish League XI	10	(1)
Managerial career
1930–1935	Newcastle United
1937–1940	Dundee
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Andy Cunningham (30 January 1890 – 8 May 1973) was a Scottish footballer. His position was striker.

Playing career

Born in Galston, Ayrshire, Cunningham began his career with Newmilns FC before moving to Kilmarnock 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.

Managerial career

Cunningham moved to Newcastle United 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.

Honours

As a manager

Newcastle United

• FA Cup winner: 1932

External links

• Andy Cunningham at scottishfa.co.uk