Arthur Duncan (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Duncan is a retired Scottish
football player, who was capped six times by Scotland
and currently holds the record for the most number of league
appearances for Hibernian
.
Duncan played for Hibernian from 1969 until 1984. He featured in the teams of the 1970s managed by Eddie Turnbull
, which were known as Turnbull's Tornadoes. This team won the Scottish League Cup
in 1972
and finished second in the league in 1974
and 1975
, which was Hibs' greatest period of sustained success since the Famous Five
team of the early 1950s. A highlight of Duncan's time at Hibs was when he scored twice in the club's 7–0 victory at the home
of arch rivals
Hearts
on 1 January 1973.
Towards the end of this period, Duncan won international recognition, making his Scotland
debut against Portugal
on 13 May 1975. Duncan featured in the three Home Internationals
that season
, including the infamous 5–1 defeat by England
at Wembley.
Duncan won the last of his six caps later that year against Denmark
. Coincidentally, this was the game that was marred by an incident afterwards where five players (Billy Bremner
, Willie Young, Joe Harper
, Pat McCluskey
and Arthur Graham
) were allegedly ejected from a nightclub
in Copenhagen
. Those players were banned from playing for Scotland, initially for life, but the bans were eventually commuted
.
Duncan continued to play for Hibs as the club's fortunes declined in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The club did reach the Scottish Cup
final in 1979
, but Duncan's own goal
during extra time in the second replay
proved to be the winning goal for Rangers
. As Hibs have not won the Scottish Cup since 1902
, his own goal has given Duncan the unwanted distinction of being the only Hibs player to have scored the winning goal in a Scottish Cup final since then. Nonetheless, Duncan is highly regarded amongst the Hibs support for his long service and the memorable moments he helped to provide.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football player, who was capped six times by Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and currently holds the record for the most number of league
Scottish football league system
The Scottish football league system is a series of generally unconnected leagues for Scottish football clubs. The Scottish system is more complicated than many other national league systems, consisting of two completely separate systems of leagues and clubs, senior football and junior football...
appearances for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
.
Duncan played for Hibernian from 1969 until 1984. He featured in the teams of the 1970s managed by Eddie Turnbull
Eddie Turnbull
Edward Hunter Turnbull was a Scottish professional football player and manager.During the late 1940s and 1950s he was one of the Famous Five, the noted Hibernian forward line, along with Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Ormond...
, which were known as Turnbull's Tornadoes. This team won the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
in 1972
1972-73 in Scottish football
The 1972–73 season was the 76th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Kilmarnock, Airdrieonians-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Clyde, Dunfermline Athletic...
and finished second in the league in 1974
1973-74 in Scottish football
The 1973–74 season was the 77th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: East Fife, Falkirk-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Airdrieonians, Kilmarnock...
and 1975
1974-75 in Scottish football
The 1974–75 season was the 78th season of Scottish league football. It was the final season of the old, two-division set up. At the end of the season, the top ten teams in Division One formed the new Premier Division. The remaining eight teams, together with the top six from Division Two went...
, which was Hibs' greatest period of sustained success since the Famous Five
The Famous Five (football)
The Famous Five is the collective term for Hibernian's forward line of Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond. The north stand at Easter Road was named in their honour when it was rebuilt in 1995...
team of the early 1950s. A highlight of Duncan's time at Hibs was when he scored twice in the club's 7–0 victory at the home
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
of arch rivals
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
on 1 January 1973.
Towards the end of this period, Duncan won international recognition, making his Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
debut against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
on 13 May 1975. Duncan featured in the three Home Internationals
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
that season
1975 British Home Championship
The 1975 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. It resulted in a resounding victory for an England team which was going through one of the poorest periods of consistent play in their history...
, including the infamous 5–1 defeat by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Wembley.
Duncan won the last of his six caps later that year against Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
. Coincidentally, this was the game that was marred by an incident afterwards where five players (Billy Bremner
Billy Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road...
, Willie Young, Joe Harper
Joe Harper (footballer)
Joseph Montgomery Harper is a Scottish former footballer, mainly remembered for his two spells with Aberdeen, during which he became the club's record goalscorer.-Club career:...
, Pat McCluskey
Pat McCluskey
Pat McCluskey is a retired Scottish footballer. He spent most of his career in the Scottish League, except for part of one season in Ireland and one season in the United States....
and Arthur Graham
Arthur Graham
Arthur Graham is a former Scottish professional footballer who played for Aberdeen, Leeds United, Manchester United, Bradford City and the Scotland national team. He played as a left winger...
) were allegedly ejected from a nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. Those players were banned from playing for Scotland, initially for life, but the bans were eventually commuted
Commutation of sentence
Commutation of sentence involves the reduction of legal penalties, especially in terms of imprisonment. Unlike a pardon, a commutation does not nullify the conviction and is often conditional. Clemency is a similar term, meaning the lessening of the penalty of the crime without forgiving the crime...
.
Duncan continued to play for Hibs as the club's fortunes declined in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The club did reach the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
final in 1979
Scottish Cup 1978-79
The 1978–79 Scottish Cup was the 94th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Rangers who defeated Hibernian in the twice replayed final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replays:...
, but Duncan's own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
during extra time in the second replay
Replay (sports)
In sports, a replay refers to a second game between two teams after the first game's results were either nullified or ended in a draw. A game may be nullified if the game's result is protested and the organizers ruled to replay the game...
proved to be the winning goal for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. As Hibs have not won the Scottish Cup since 1902
1901-02 in Scottish football
The 1901–02 season was the 12th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:-Scottish League Division Two:-Scottish Cup:...
, his own goal has given Duncan the unwanted distinction of being the only Hibs player to have scored the winning goal in a Scottish Cup final since then. Nonetheless, Duncan is highly regarded amongst the Hibs support for his long service and the memorable moments he helped to provide.