Laurie Cumming

Laurence Stanley Slater Cumming (10 April 1905 – 19 November 1980) was a professional footballer and journalist, born in Derry, Ireland. Cumming played for Alloa Athletic, Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Southampton, Queen of the South and St Mirren. All of his international appearances were at inside-left, though at club level he was capable of switching between the number eight and ten shirts.

Laurie Cumming
Personal information
Full name Laurence Stanley Slater Cumming
Date of birth (1905-04-10)10 April 1905
Place of birth Derry, Ireland
Date of death 19 November 1980(1980-11-19) (aged 75)
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Inside-forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Alloa Athletic
1927–1929 Huddersfield Town 19 (6)
1929–1930 Oldham Athletic
1930–1931 Southampton 20 (4)
1931–1933 Alloa Athletic
1933–1938 Queen of the South
St Mirren
National team
1929 Ireland 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

5 foot 11 and 12 stone 4,[1] Laurie Cumming's sand dancing, clever ball control and finishing ability made him a great attraction wherever he played. To quote one newspaper report: "His pirouetting, Charlie Chaplin swagger and complete control of the ball.... left us longing to see ten of his kind."[2]

Playing career

Club

Cumming joined Huddersfield in March 1927.

In season 1928-29 Cumming was equal fourth top scorer for Huddersfield with six goals along with Bob Kelly. Those who scored more were George Brown, Alex Jackson and Johnny Dent. These were Cumming's only goals for the club in his 19 appearances.[3]

It was while at Huddersfield that he gained his first two full international caps.

It was at Oldham that Cumming gained his third and final cap.

Cumming was transferred to Southampton in June 1930 for £500,[4] making his Saints debut in a 5–0 defeat by Preston North End on the opening day of the season, followed by a spell of four goals in nine games, including a brace in an away win over Plymouth Argyle.[5] As winter set in and the pitches grew heavier his form dried up, and he never once found the net again in the Football League. He was dropped in February 1931, losing his place to Peter Dougall.[5] At the end of the season, Cumming was placed on the transfer list at his own request.[4]

Cumming returned to Scotland with Alloa in 1931 on a non-contract basis.

Cumming joined Dumfries side Queen of the South in the Autumn of 1933 in the club's debut season in Scottish Football's top division. Queens had been promoted as runners up to Hibernian the season before.[6]

As a player Cumming was part of two landmark events in the history of Queen of the South:-[6]

Other players at the club during this time included Willie Savage, Willie Culbert, Willie Ferguson and Joe Tulip.[6]

On 30 January 1937 with Cumming playing, Queen of the South condemned Rangers to a 1 - 0 first round Scottish Cup exit.[8]

Cumming was at Queens until March 1937 making 105 appearances and scoring 55 goals. Queens stayed in the top division throughout Cumming's stay at the club (as they would excluding war time interruption for most of the next 3 decades).[6]

International

Cumming was capped three times for Ireland. In the second of these Hughie Gallacher hit four for Scotland. Gallacher had been at Queen of the South prior to Cumming but by this time had gone on to be a championship winning captain at Newcastle United.

#DateOpponentResult
12 February 1929 WalesWales 2 – 2 Ireland
223 February 1929 ScotlandIreland 3 – 7 Scotland
319 October 1929 EnglandEngland 3 – 0 Ireland

After football

After retiring from playing, Cumming worked as a newspaper reporter and wrote for the Scottish edition of the Daily Express for many years. He was a founder member of the Scottish Football Writers' Association (SFWA).

Laurie Cumming died in 1980.

References
  1. NIFG: Lawrie Cumming
  2. The Queens - Season 1934-35 - W. Jardine.
  3. 99 Years & Counting - Stats & Stories - Huddersfield Town History
  4. Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 87. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
  5. Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.
  6. "Club History" on the official Queen of the South website
  7. George McLachlan profile and 1936 Overseas tour feature on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website
  8. Report of Queen of the South v Rangers, Scottish Cup, January 1937, in the "Queens Legends" career profile of Willie Savage on the official Queen of the South FC website
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