Cannon, Bernard

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Fullname: Bernard Cannon
aka: Barney Cannon
Born: 4 May 1922
Died: […]
Birthplace: Buncrana (?)
Signed: 5 March 1947
Left: 4 May 1948 (free); c1948 (Derry City)
Position: Outside-left
Debut: Hibernian 2-0 Celtic, League, 12 April 1947
Internationals: none

Biog

Outside-left Bernard ‘Barney’ Cannon joined Celtic as the Hoops were enduring their post-Second World War slump.

The Donegal man had started his football career with his hometown club Buncrana Athletic. After stints with Mile End Athletic and Blantyre Celtic, he moved to Parkhead in March 1947 after impressing in a trial match on 1st March when Celtic beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Birmingham. He was provisionally signed but allowed to return to his junior club as long as they were in the Scottish Junior Cup.

However his stay in Glasgow was to be brief, and having made his debut at Easter Road in a 2-0 defeat to Hibernian, Cannon went on to only make another two further league appearances plus one Glasgow Charity Cup match for the Bhoys in a short run at the tail-end of the 1946-47 season. He lost in one league match (the aforementioned 2-0 loss to Hibs), drew one league match (0-0 Falkirk away) but won in his final league match appearance (3-2 at home to Motherwell).

His match in the Glasgow Charity Cup v Queen’s Park was curious as Celtic drew 0-0 but ‘won’ 6-1 on corner kicks.

Season 1947-48 was the nadir season for Celtic, as the First Team came perilously close to relegation. Thereafter major changes were supposed to happen, which looks to have included Barney’s move out, although he never played once that difficult season in the first team (his matches were at the tail-end of season 1946-47); Johnny Paton was preferred for Barney’s spot.

Barney returned across the Irish Sea in 1948 where he went on to enjoy a successful career with Derry City, helping them to their first Irish Cup trophy triumph by scoring in the final.

Possibly taking in his success at Derry City his loss for Celtic was likely another poor error on the part of the club’s board & team management, but that was not exactly a short list back in those days.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

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