Laurie Cumming
Encyclopedia
Laurence Stanley Slater "Laurie" Cumming (10 April 1905 — 1980) was a former 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.
5 foot 11 and 12 stone 4, 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."
In season 1928-29 Laurie 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.
It was while at Huddersfield that he gained his first two full international caps.
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
. 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
. At the end of the season, Cumming was placed on the transfer list at his own request.
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.
As a player Cumming was part of two landmark events in the history of Queen of the South:-
Other players at the club during this time included Willie Savage
, Willie Culbert
, Willie Ferguson
and Joe Tulip
.
On 30 January 1937 with Laurie Cumming playing, Queen of the South condemned Rangers
to a 1 - 0 first round Scottish Cup
exit.
Laurie 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).
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.
, Scottish edition for many years. Cumming was a founder member of Scottish Football Writers' Association
(SFWA).
To quote:-
"the names of the members who formed the first committee: Willie Allison (Sunday Mail
), Laurie Cumming (Daily Express), Bill Heeps (Evening Dispatch), Tommy Muirhead (Daily Express
), Andrew Wallace (Daily Mail
) and Norman MacDonald (Press & Journal
). Cyril Horne (Glasgow Herald) and James Aitken (Evening Citizen
) assumed the roles of treasurer and secretary respectively."
Laurie Cumming died in 1980.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, born in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Cumming played for Alloa Athletic
Alloa Athletic F.C.
Alloa Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division....
, Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
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.
5 foot 11 and 12 stone 4, 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."
Huddersfield Town
Laurie Cumming joined Huddersfield in March 1927.In season 1928-29 Laurie Cumming was equal fourth top scorer for Huddersfield with six goals along with Bob Kelly
Bob Kelly (footballer)
Robert "Bob" Kelly was an English professional football player. He broke the British football transfer record when he moved from Burnley to Sunderland for £6,550 in 1925. He spent two years at the Roker Park Club before joining Huddersfield Town...
. Those who scored more were George Brown, Alex Jackson
Alex Jackson
Alexander Skinner Jackson was a Scottish footballer.Alex Jackson was born in Renton in 1905. A highly-talented winger, known as the Gay Cavalier, he was particularly adept at dribbling and free kicks. He initially played for Renton Victoria Football Club but was transferred to Dumbarton F.C. in...
and Johnny Dent
Johnny Dent
John George "Johnny" Dent was a former professional footballer, who played for Durham City, Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest.-References:...
. These were Cumming's only goals for the club in his 19 appearances.
It was while at Huddersfield that he gained his first two full international caps.
Oldham Athletic
It was at Oldham that Cumming gained his third and final cap.Southampton
Cumming was transferred to Southampton in June 1930 for £500, making his Saints debut in a 5-0 defeat by Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
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
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. 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
Peter Dougall
Peter G. Dougall was a Scottish footballer who played at inside-left for various clubs in the 1920s and 1930s.-Football career:...
. At the end of the season, Cumming was placed on the transfer list at his own request.
Alloa Athletic (Second spell)
Cumming returned to Scotland with Alloa in 1931 on a non-contract basis.Queen of the South
Laurie Cumming joined DumfriesDumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
side Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
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
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...
the season before.
As a player Cumming was part of two landmark events in the history of Queen of the South:-
- Queens highly successful first season in the top division finishing 4th - their highest finish to date. Queens also made it to the quarter finals of the Scottish CupScottish CupThe 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...
for the first time (a feat the club now counts into double figures).
- He was part of the 16 player squad for the 11 game 1936 overseas tour and the Algiers invitational tournament. Queens returned with the trophy after beating Racing de SantanderRacing de SantanderReal Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
in the final. Queens were managed by George McLachlanGeorge McLachlanGeorge Herbert McLachlan was an FA Cup-winning Scottish footballer and manager. He was born in Glasgow and played as an outside left or at wing half.-Early years:...
at the time of this adventure. Cumming was the tour's top scorer.
Other players at the club during this time included Willie Savage
Willie Savage
Willie Savage from Burnbank was a former Scottish footballer, best known with Dumfries club Queen of the South.-Early days:Savage was a native of Burnbank who began his football as an inside forward at the local St Cuthbert School and representing Lanarkshire elementary schools against Glasgow...
, Willie Culbert
Willie Culbert
Willie Culbert was a former Scottish footballer best known with Dumfries club Queen of the South.-Queen of the South:Willie Culbert was a 1932 Queen of the South signing from Clyde....
, Willie Ferguson
Willie Ferguson
William Copeland Ferguson was a Scottish footballer and manager best known for his time at Chelsea and Dumfries side Queen of the South. His position was usually as a left winger.-Early years:...
and Joe Tulip
Joe Tulip
Joe Tulip was an English footballer best known for his time at Dumfries club Queen of the South.-Early years:The left-winger from Mickley in Northumberland joined Queens from Crawcrook Albion in 1933. The previous season Tulip had a brief spell at Blackburn Rovers.-Queen of the South:Joe Tulip was...
.
On 30 January 1937 with Laurie Cumming playing, Queen of the South condemned 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...
to a 1 - 0 first round 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...
exit.
Laurie 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).
International footballer
Laurie Cumming was capped 3 times for Ireland. In the second of these Hughie GallacherHughie Gallacher
Hugh Kilpatrick "Hughie" Gallacher was a Scottish football player in the 1920s and 1930s. In 624 senior games, Gallacher scored 463 times....
hit four for Scotland
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...
. 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.
| # | Date | Opponent | result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 February 1929 | Wales 2 - 2 Ireland | |
| 2 | 23 February 1929 | Ireland 3 - 7 Scotland | |
| 3 | 19 October 1929 | England 3 - 0 Ireland |
Journalist
After hanging up his boots Cumming worked as a newspaper reporter. He wrote for the Daily ExpressDaily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
, Scottish edition for many years. Cumming was a founder member of Scottish Football Writers' Association
Scottish Football Writers' Association
The Scottish Football Writers' Association is an association of Scottish football journalists and correspondents writing for newspapers and agencies, founded in 1965...
(SFWA).
To quote:-
"the names of the members who formed the first committee: Willie Allison (Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail (Scotland)
The Sunday Mail is a Scottish tabloid newspaper published every Sunday. It is the sister paper of the Daily Record and is owned by Trinity Mirror and as such has a left-wing outlook which in turn tends to guide Scottish political debate in that direction.The Sunday Mail is read by over one million...
), Laurie Cumming (Daily Express), Bill Heeps (Evening Dispatch), Tommy Muirhead (Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
), Andrew Wallace (Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
) and Norman MacDonald (Press & Journal
Press and Journal (Scotland)
The Press and Journal, often called the P&J, is a daily regional newspaper serving the northern counties of Scotland including the cities of Aberdeen and Inverness...
). Cyril Horne (Glasgow Herald) and James Aitken (Evening Citizen
Evening Citizen
The Evening Citizen, first published in 1877, was the first of three evening newspapers to be printed, published and sold in the Glasgow area of Scotland...
) assumed the roles of treasurer and secretary respectively."
Laurie Cumming died in 1980.