Pat Cuff Explained

Pat Cuff
Fullname:Patrick Joseph Cuff[1]
Birth Date:19 March 1952
Birth Place:Middlesbrough, England
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthyears1:–
Youthclubs1:Middlesbrough
Years1:1971–1978
Caps1:31
Goals1:0
Years2:1971–1972
Clubs2:→ Grimsby Town (loan)
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:1978–1980
Clubs3:Millwall
Caps3:42
Goals3:0
Years4:1980–1983
Clubs4:Darlington
Caps4:110
Goals4:0
Totalcaps:185
Totalgoals:0

Patrick Joseph Cuff (born 19 March 1952) is an English former footballer who made 185 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Middlesbrough, Grimsby Town, Millwall and Darlington.[2]

Life and career

Cuff was born in Middlesbrough,[2] and was an English schoolboy international.[3] [4] He began his football career as an apprentice with his hometown club, Middlesbrough F.C., in 1968.[5] He made his debut in the Football League while on loan at Grimsby Town in the 1971–72 season,[2] but had to wait until April 1974 for his Middlesbrough debut, by which time the club had already won the Second Division title. According to the Guardians report of the goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers, "Pat Cuff, making his first appearance in the Middlesbrough goal after waiting six years for his chance, did well."[6] He continued as backup to regular goalkeeper Jim Platt until a dispute between Platt and manager Jack Charlton in late 1976 gave Cuff a run in the side.[7] [8]

He finished his Middlesbrough career with 31 League appearances, and moved to Millwall in the 1978 close season on a free transfer.[9] He spent two seasons with Millwall: in 1978–79, he was ever-present with 46 appearances in league and cups as the club were relegated to the Third Division,[10] but then lost his place to new signing John Jackson and never played for the first team again.[11] After three years in the Fourth Division with Darlington, which took his total league appearances to 185, Cuff retired.[2]

Cuff became a bookmaker after his retirement from football.[3] His son Phil played rugby union for West Hartlepool.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Miscellaneous documents – Darlington: Records of Darlington Football Club: Players' contracts with the club: Ref: D/XD 97/35/108 . Darlington F.C . Durham County Records Office . 16 June 1980 . 19 March 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407044234/http://www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk/Pages/AdvancedSearchCatalogueDetail.aspx?SearchType=Param&SearchID=7bf45029-4d4c-4937-9ff4-0bec9581e4e8&ByRelevancy=Yes&Page=19&ItemID=169759 . 7 April 2014 . dmy-all .
  2. Web site: Pat Cuff . Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database . Neil Brown . 27 March 2014.
  3. Web site: Cuff, Pat . Where Are They Now . Andy Pringle . 27 March 2014.
  4. News: Sean keeps it in the Cuff family! . Evening Gazette . Middlesbrough . 28 January 2006 . 27 March 2014.
  5. Web site: Interview with Peter Brine . Jim . Platt . Middlesbrough Former Players Association . 27 January 2009 . 27 March 2014.
  6. News: Record spoiled . The Guardian . London . 10 April 1974 . 23.
  7. News: Platt in row with Boro . Colin . Diball . Daily Mirror . London . 31 December 1976 . 31.
  8. News: The Wombledon ploughing match . Peter . Corrigan . The Observer . London . 9 January 1977 . 16.
  9. News: Sansom stays with Palace – for three years . Ray . Bradley . Sunday Express . London . 30 July 1978 . 31.
  10. Web site: Statistics 1978/79 . The Millwall History Files . 27 March 2014.
  11. Web site: Statistics 1978/79 . The Millwall History Files . 27 March 2014.
  12. News: Off the Cuff . Hartlepool Mail . 9 February 2001 . 27 March 2014.

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