Frank Haffey Explained

Frank Haffey
Fullname:Francis Haffey
Birth Date:28 November 1938
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthyears1:1955–1956
Youthclubs1:Campsie Black Watch
Youthyears2:1956–1957
Youthclubs2:Celtic
Years1:1957–1964
Caps1:140
Goals1:0
Clubs1:Celtic
Years2:1964–1965
Caps2:4
Goals2:0
Years3:1965–1969
Clubs3:St. George-Budapest
Years4:1970
Clubs4:Hakoah
Nationalyears1:1960[1]
Nationalteam1:SFA trial v SFL
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1960–1961
Nationalteam2:Scotland
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0

Francis Haffey (born 28 November 1938) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Celtic and the Scotland national team.

Career

Remembered as one of Celtic's great and more eccentric keepers, Haffey made 201 appearances for the club in major competitions.[2] He had 61 clean-sheets and was first-choice goalkeeper for five seasons but did not win any trophies apart from one minor Glasgow Cup in 1961–62, finishing on the losing side in the Scottish Cup finals of 1961 and 1963, both of which went to a replay.

After breaking an ankle in the Glasgow Cup against Partick Thistle in November 1963, effectively ending his Celtic career, he left the following October to play for Swindon Town. Soon thereafter, Haffey moved to Australia, where after a five-year spell as a footballer there he found his way into the entertainment business as a cabaret singer, and later operated a goalkeeping centre on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

International

On his full international debut Haffey saved a Bobby Charlton penalty in a 1–1 home draw versus England in 1960.[3] In 1961, his second and final cap was also versus England. At Wembley, an inexperienced Scotland side featuring 4 debutants and averaging less than 6 full caps per player pre-kick off kept a high-scoring English attack[4] [5] at bay through large periods, and the game was poised at 5–3 with 12 minutes to go. However, two goals from Johnny Haynes, another from Bobby Smith and a third for Jimmy Greaves in the closing stages cemented Haffey's place in history. Scotland lost 9–3. Neither Haffey nor Motherwell's Bert McCann played for Scotland again.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Scotland in the 60s: The Definitive Account of the Scottish National Football Side During the 1960s. Ronnie McDevitt. 2016. Pitch Publishing. 9781785312458.
  2. http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=2635 Celtic player Haffey, Frank
  3. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/haffeys-upside-down-world-6nr702czltv Haffey's upside-down world
  4. Web site: 1961 England 9 Scotland 3 Football The Guardian. TheGuardian.com.
  5. Web site: Hapless Haffey finds absolution 40 years on Football The Guardian. TheGuardian.com.
  6. Web site: 19610415 Sat 15 Apr 1961 England 9 Scotland 3 .