Peerie Cunningham Explained

Peerie Cunningham
Fullname:Henry Cunningham
Position:Forward
Birth Date:9 January 1898
Birth Place:Irvine, Scotland
Death Place:Ayr, Scotland
Years4:1921–1925
Clubs4:Ayr United
Caps4:140
Goals4:33
Years5:1925–1931
Clubs5:Kilmarnock
Caps5:156
Goals5:100
Totalcaps:296
Totalgoals:133

Henry "Peerie" Cunningham (9 January 1898 – 17 September 1972) was a Scottish footballer who played as a forward, initially being deployed on the right wing or in a creative role but later recording a high scoring rate as a central striker. He spent his early years in junior football in Ayrshire[1] before five seasons at Ayr United, then six at regional rivals Kilmarnock after Ayr were relegated from the top division in 1925.[2] [3]

Cunningham won the Scottish Cup with Kilmarnock in 1929[4] [5] and set club records for top seasonal goalscorer in the Scottish Football League (34 from 35 appearances) and both major competitions (36 from 39), both in the 1927–28 season;[6] [7] the overall record was soon beaten in 1933 by his replacement in the Killie side, Bud Maxwell,[8] while the league record was equalled by Andy Kerr in 1961 (playing one match fewer).

At representative level he played in an international trial during his time at Ayr United in 1924,[3] [9] but never received a full cap for Scotland.

Notes and References

  1. https://newcumnockhistory.com/2016/03/07/glenafton-athletic-the-beginning/amp/ Glenafton Athletic: The beginning
  2. https://www.vintagefootballers.com/product/cunningham-harry-peerie-image-1-ayr-united-1922/ Cunningham Harry "Peerie" Image 1 Ayr United 1922
  3. A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players. John Litster. Scottish Football Historian magazine. October 2012.
  4. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8UA_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=tkwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5970%2C1100284 Scottish Cup Surprise Kilmarnock's Great Victory Over Rangers
  5. Web site: 06-04-1929 Rangers (N) Scottish Cup Final Killie Win The Cup For The Second Time. KillieFC. 23 August 2020.
  6. http://www.fitbastats.com/kilmarnock/player.php?playerid=7201 (Kilmarnock player) Cunningham, Harry
  7. https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/news/kilmarnock-in-history-four-games-three-countries-five-days/ Kilmarnock in History: Four games, three countries, five days
  8. https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/news/kilmarnock-in-history-nibloes-tough-exit/ Kilmarnock in History: Nibloe's tough exit
  9. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3Z1AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T6UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4271%2C4207669 Football | "B" Team, 2; "A" Team, 1.