Tony Cunningham (footballer) explained

Tony Cunningham
Fullname:Anthony Eugene Cunningham
Birth Date:12 November 1957
Birth Place:Kingston, Jamaica
Height:[1]
Years2:197?–1979
Years3:1979–1982
Years4:1982–1984
Years5:1984
Years6:1984–1985
Years7:1985–1987
Years8:1987–1989
Years9:1989–1991
Years10:1991
Years11:1991–1993
Years12:1993
Years13:1993–1994
Years14:
Clubs1:Kidderminster Harriers
Clubs2:Stourbridge
Clubs3:Lincoln City
Clubs4:Barnsley
Clubs5:Sheffield Wednesday
Clubs6:Manchester City
Clubs7:Newcastle United
Clubs8:Blackpool
Clubs9:Bury
Clubs10:Bolton Wanderers
Clubs11:Rotherham United
Clubs12:Doncaster Rovers
Clubs13:Wycombe Wanderers
Clubs14:Gainsborough Trinity
Caps1:?
Caps2:?
Caps3:123
Caps4:42
Caps5:28
Caps6:18
Caps7:47
Caps8:71
Caps9:58
Caps10:9
Caps11:69
Caps12:25
Caps13:5
Caps14:?
Totalcaps:495
Goals1:?
Goals2:?
Goals3:32
Goals4:11
Goals5:5
Goals6:1
Goals7:4
Goals8:17
Goals9:17
Goals10:4
Goals11:24
Goals12:1
Goals13:0
Goals14:?
Totalgoals:116
Pcupdate:25 June 2007

Anthony Eugene Cunningham (born 12 November 1957) is a Jamaican former professional footballer.

Cunningham, a striker, began his professional career with Lincoln City in 1979. In three years with the Imps, he made 123 league appearances and scored 32 goals.

Barnsley came in for his services in 1982, and he went on to make 42 appearances for the South Yorkshire club, scoring eleven goals.

After leaving Oakwell, Cunningham remained in the White Rose county, making 28 appearances and scoring five goals for Sheffield Wednesday.

In 1984 Cunningham had a short spell with Manchester City before moving to the North East to join Jack Charlton's Newcastle United. He spent two years on Tyneside, making just short of 50 appearances for the Magpies, scoring four goals. He was commonly known to his friends while at Newcastle as 'Slug'.

Cunningham traded the North East for the North West in July 1987 when he signed for Sam Ellis' Blackpool for a tribunal-set fee of £25,000. He made his debut for the Seasiders in the opening day of the 1987–88 season, a draw at Gillingham.

What started as a promising Blackpool career became a disappointing one. As the team struggled, Cunningham was made a scapegoat, and at the end of the 1988–89, he rejoined Ellis, who had become manager of Bury.

On his return to Bloomfield Road with the Shakers, on 31 October 1989, Cunningham was sent off in the first half. The visitors, however, won the game by a single goal.

After Bury, Cunningham played for Bolton Wanderers, Rotherham United, Doncaster Rovers and Wycombe Wanderers. After almost 500 league games and over one hundred goals, he ended his career with non-league Gainsborough Trinity.

Post-retirement

Cunningham now lives and works in Lincoln as a solicitor.

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 . Peter . Dunk . Queen Anne Press . London . 1987 . 250 . 978-0-356-14354-5 .