Sammy Cox
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sammy" Richmond Cox (born Darvel, Ayrshire, Scotland, 13 April 1924) is a former Scottish
international footballer
.
Cox initially played amateur football with Queen's Park
, Third Lanark and Dundee
during World War II
, before turning professional in 1946 when he joined Rangers
.
Cox, a versatile defender, made his league debut for Rangers in a 4-2 win over Motherwell
at the start of the 1946-47 season
. He made a total of 13 league appearances in his first season, including a 4-1 win over Hamilton Academical
in the last match, as Rangers beat Hibernian
to clinch the League title. In the following season, 1947-48
, Cox was an ever present as Rangers finished second to Hibs in the league, and won the Scottish Cup
after a 1-0 win over Greenock Morton
. Cox also netted his first Rangers goal during the season, scoring in a 2-1 win over Clyde
at Ibrox
. Cox also gained his first international cap, on 23 May 1948 in a 3-0 loss to France
.
In season 1948-49
, Rangers became the first club in Scottish football history to win the Treble
, and Cox played an important role, playing in 43 of Rangers' 44 matches. Rangers retained the League title in season 1949-1950
, and Cox was once again an ever present as Rangers edged out Hibernian by one point. Rangers also retained the Scottish Cup, beating East Fife
3-0 at Hampden
.
1950-51
was a disappointment for Rangers as they failed to register a trophy for the first time in five seasons. More disappointment followed as they were once again left trophyless in 1951-52
, however Cox continued to be an important member of both the Rangers and Scotland teams. In season 1952-53
, Rangers returned to domestic success as they won the League and Cup double
with Cox featuring in 37 of the 48 matches. However Cox missed out on the Scottish Cup final win over Aberdeen
.
Cox played in 44 games out of 47 in season 1953-54
, however Rangers failed to win a trophy and finished a distant 4th in the League. In 1954 Cox played his last match for Scotland, as he captained the team at Hampden in a 4-2 defeat by England in front on 134,544 spectators. 1954-55
was Cox' last season at Rangers as he made only 15 first team appearances. He made his final Rangers appearance in a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen on February 19, 1955.
After his Rangers career, Cox had a spell with East Fife before emigrating to Canada in 1958. In Canada Cox played in the National Soccer League for Toronto Ulster United in 1958, Toronto Sparta in 1959 and was player-coach of Stratford Fischers in 1960. He also played for the Ontario All-Stars against West Bromwich Albion in 1959. Cox made a total of 310 appearances for Rangers and won 24 caps
for Scotland
.Sammy is presently in a nursing home in Stratford, Ontario
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...
international footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
.
Cox initially played amateur football with Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
, Third Lanark and Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, before turning professional in 1946 when he joined 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...
.
Cox, a versatile defender, made his league debut for Rangers in a 4-2 win over Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
at the start of the 1946-47 season
1946-47 in Scottish football
The 1946–47 season was the 50th season of competitive football in Scotland, and the first since the 1938–39 season.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Rangers-Scottish League Division B:-Scottish League Division C:...
. He made a total of 13 league appearances in his first season, including a 4-1 win over Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
in the last match, as Rangers beat 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...
to clinch the League title. In the following season, 1947-48
1947-48 in Scottish football
The 1947–48 season was the 51st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Hibernian Relegated: Airdrie, Queen's Park-Scottish League Division B:Champions: East Fife, Albion Rovers...
, Cox was an ever present as Rangers finished second to Hibs in the league, and won 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...
after a 1-0 win over Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
. Cox also netted his first Rangers goal during the season, scoring in a 2-1 win over Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
. Cox also gained his first international cap, on 23 May 1948 in a 3-0 loss to France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
.
In season 1948-49
1948-49 in Scottish football
The 1948–49 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in Scotland. Rangers became the first team to win the Scottish domestic treble. Scottish League Division "C" was disbanded...
, Rangers became the first club in Scottish football history to win the Treble
The Treble
The term treble or Treble is used in association football to refer to a team winning three trophies in a single season. Honours usually considered to contribute to a treble are the top-tier domestic league competition, domestic cup competitions, and continental tournaments; although this depends to...
, and Cox played an important role, playing in 43 of Rangers' 44 matches. Rangers retained the League title in season 1949-1950
1949-50 in Scottish football
The 1949–50 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Rangers won the league with a 2–2 draw in their last match, away to Third Lanark, a game in which Rangers took a 2–0 lead...
, and Cox was once again an ever present as Rangers edged out Hibernian by one point. Rangers also retained the Scottish Cup, beating East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
3-0 at Hampden
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
.
1950-51
1950-51 in Scottish football
The 1950–51 season was the 54th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: HibernianRelegated: Clyde, Falkirk-Scottish League Division B:Promoted: Queen of the South, Stirling Albion...
was a disappointment for Rangers as they failed to register a trophy for the first time in five seasons. More disappointment followed as they were once again left trophyless in 1951-52
1951-52 in Scottish football
The 1951–52 season was the 55th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: HibernianRelegated: Greenock Morton, Stirling Albion-Scottish League Division B:Promoted: Clyde, Falkirk...
, however Cox continued to be an important member of both the Rangers and Scotland teams. In season 1952-53
1952-53 in Scottish football
The 1952–53 season was the 56th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Rangers won the title with a 1–1 draw in their last match, away to Queen of the South...
, Rangers returned to domestic success as they won the League and Cup double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
with Cox featuring in 37 of the 48 matches. However Cox missed out on the Scottish Cup final win over Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
.
Cox played in 44 games out of 47 in season 1953-54
1953-54 in Scottish football
The 1953–54 season was the 57th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: CelticRelegated: Airdrieonians, Hamilton Academical-Scottish League Division B:...
, however Rangers failed to win a trophy and finished a distant 4th in the League. In 1954 Cox played his last match for Scotland, as he captained the team at Hampden in a 4-2 defeat by England in front on 134,544 spectators. 1954-55
1954-55 in Scottish football
The 1954–55 season was the 58th season of competitive football in Scotland.Aberdeen won their first League Title.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Aberdeen...
was Cox' last season at Rangers as he made only 15 first team appearances. He made his final Rangers appearance in a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen on February 19, 1955.
After his Rangers career, Cox had a spell with East Fife before emigrating to Canada in 1958. In Canada Cox played in the National Soccer League for Toronto Ulster United in 1958, Toronto Sparta in 1959 and was player-coach of Stratford Fischers in 1960. He also played for the Ontario All-Stars against West Bromwich Albion in 1959. Cox made a total of 310 appearances for Rangers and won 24 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for 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...
.Sammy is presently in a nursing home in Stratford, Ontario