Died
27 January 2003
Born
14th June 1931
Sources
North West Evening Mail
Barrow News
Cumbria BMD
Ancestry
Electoral Register
ianvisits.co.uk
Place
Themes
Tommy Cahill
Tommy Cahill was a long-standing crowd favourite among the Holker Street faithful who followed Barrow A.F.C., the “Bluebirds”.
The North-West Evening Mail reacted to the news of his death (28/01/2003, from where the picture is taken):
North West Evening MailEx-Bluebirds star Cahill dies
Tommy Cahill, one of Barrow AFC’s favourite players of the 1950s and 60s, died yesterday while on holiday with his wife Margaret in Spain. He was 71.
The solid left-back made 314 appearances for the Bluebirds in a nine-year career, scoring on three occasions.
Cahill signed for AFC in 1955 from Newcastle United and was the first player to join Holker Street from the old first division.
Born in Glasgow on June 14, 1931, Cahill was very popular in and out of football circles.
After moving to Barrow, Cahill settled in the town. He returned to Glasgow, only to come back to live on Walney.
Barrow AFC chief safety officer George Woods, who watched Cahill play, has great memories of him.
He said last night: “He was a good, solid defender who read the game well. There was one unique thing about Tommy as he was the only player that Barrow AFC signed who was still on the retain list of top league club Newcastle. He was still on their books. We have never done that before or since.
“He was a very popular man, a man who probably would, but for his national service, have gone on to better things. But it interrupted a lot of people’s careers, football or otherwise.
“He was destined for big things, because Celtic were keen on him.”
When Cahill joined Barrow part of the deal was for Newcastle, who included the great Jackie Milburn, to bring a team down to Holker Street.
His stepson Mark Nicholson said last night: “He was an absolute gentleman.”
Cahill began his career playing for Scottish junior outfit Vale of Clyde, and it was while there that he attracted the attention of both Kilmarnock and Glasgow Celtic.
While on National Service he attracted the attention of Fulham, and played for the reserve team who were in the London Combination League.
Soon after returning to Scotland, Fulham, Chelsea, Liverpool, Aberdeen and Aston Villa all sought his signature.
But he continued to play for Vale of Leven, who were in Scottish Junior Football.
With more league clubs taking an interest, the lure of a St. James’ Park contract proved too much, as he put pen to paper for Newcastle in 1951.
After leaving AFC he played for Vickers SC for two seasons.
Cahill, who was a regular at Walney’s St. Columba’s Roman Catholic Church, leaves two children, eight grandchildren, five step-children and six step-grandchildren.
The Barrow News announced Cahill’s arrival on 4 August 1955:
Full-back capture by Barrow
TOM CAHILL FROM NEWCASTLE
MR. JOE HARVEY, Barrow A.F.C.’s new manager, completed his first deal for Barrow A.F.C. on Thursday when he signed a promising young left-back from his former club, Newcastle United. It I the first time Barrow have signed a retained First Division player and the fee involved is a substantial one.
The capture is that of 24 years-old Tom Cahill, who has played several First Division games for his club with whom he has been for three seasons. Cahill, understudy to Irish international Alf McMichael and Ron Batty has been unable to gain a regular place because of the form of these two recognised stars.
Mr. Harvey believes that Cahill has a bright future and is likely to make rapid progress in Third Division football.
Cahill, who weighs 12st., is 5ft. 10in. and has been reared in Central League football.
Mr. David Glicksman the Barrow chairman said yesterday “The amicable relationship now existing between Newcastle and Barrow has made this transfer possible.”
Mr. Harvey, who remained in Newcastle, is hopeful of making a second signing this week-end.
Joe Harvey had only just signed for Barrow, on July 26. The Barrow News 30 July 1955 wrote “He later signed a four year contract at a salary which is said to be £1250 a year – the highest the club have ever paid.”
Tommy Cahill’s biography
Born 14 June 1931 to Thomas & Agnes (nee Martin) Cahill, in Glasgow.
Married Elizabeth Cassidy Murphy in 1953.
Married Margaret C. Nicholson (nee Duff) at St. Columba’s R.C. Church, Walney, in 1996, his first wife Betty having died on 4 June 1987 in Barrow.
Electoral Register 2003
In the Electoral Register 2003 he is living at 20 Naiad Street, Walney.
A family photo from a Tree on Ancestry. Tommy Cahill at Holker Street.
Tommy’s stepson Mark Nicholson, mentioned above, told me “The story (about his career) that interests me is about Tommy's time at Newcastle United. Tommy made his first team debut on Christmas Day 1952 against Cardiff City at home. His second game was on Boxing Day 1952! So after the Christmas Day game, the players from both teams took the train to Cardiff to play the return fixture. This is obviously a far cry from the lifestyles enjoyed by modern Premier League players and could explain why international fullback Alf McMichael may have been injured over Christmas!”
My experience as a youth was that Christmas fixtures were often local derbies, or as close as possible. Newcastle and Cardiff: as far apart as possible and in two different countries. I was also surprised to find that train services were running on Christmas Day, but internet research suggests that this was the norm until the early-mid 1960s. Read More...
