Players Who Never Played a Game M – Z
Details
Fullname: Thomas McCann
aka: Tommy McCann
Born: 1926
Died: 5 October 1979, Blackpool.
Birthplace: Dundee
Biog
Tom McCann.
Born 1926, Dundee.
Died 5 October 1979, Blackpool.
Joined Dundee North End from Craigmore Amateurs in June 1944.
On 16 December 1944 he appeared at right-half for Dundee United against Rangers at Ibrox, in a North Eastern League game, but went off injured after, about, ten minutes.
He then joined the Royal Navy in June 1945.
On his demob in August 1946 he appeared for Stobswell before joining Lochee Harp in October.
By January 1947 he is being watched by a number of clubs with Celtic being successful in getting him to appear in a trial for the ‘A’ side on 18 January at Parkhead.
The following are newspaper reports for the following week and a half…
Sunday 19 January 1947Sunday Post
Twenty-year-old Tom McCann, left-half of Lochee Harp, after a successful trial for Celtic at Parkhead, was offered terms by manager Jimmy McGrory. McCann’s father said “Tom has decided to sleep on the offer.” (Can you imagine!)
Mungo Hutton, representing Chelsea, was also at Parkhead watching McCann. Middlesbrough, Hearts, and Hibs are also interested.
McCann, an electrician, has still a year’s apprenticeship to serve.
Manager Jimmy McGrory did not see Celtic draw with Third Lanark. He was much more interested in the ‘A’ team try-out at Parkhead.
Mr McGrory also expressed satisfaction at the showings of 16-year-old six-foot Finlayson, Vale of Leven junior, in goal ; and left-half McCann, Lochee Harp.
*Celtic A 5, Third Lanark 0
Tuesday, 21 January 1947Reveille
“The boy with the perfect feet,” young Tommy McCann, left-half of junior Lochee Harp, has been seen out with Celtic Reserves lately. McCann may be a big name of the future.
Thursday, 23 January 1947Evening Telegraph
There’s quite a hunt for the signature of left-half Tommy McCann, of Harp, following his successful trial at Parkhead for Celtic ‘A’. Hibs, Grimsby, and Portsmouth have all tried to come to terms.
McCann promised to meet manager McGrory after the Dens Park tie on Saturday.
Friday, 24 January 1947The Courier
Manager Willie McCartney, of Hibs, was in Dundee yesterday with an offer for McCann, Harp wing-half. He was unsuccessful. Celtic are expected to get this player’s signature. The deal may go through to-morrow.
Saturday, 25 January 1947The Courier
In the Station Hotel, Perth, last night manager Jimmy McGrory signed Tom McCann, left-half of Dundee Harp. Rangers made a last-minute bid, but the player preferred Parkhead.
McCann was accompanied by his father and two Harp officials. He is being allowed to continue his apprenticeship as an electrician while playing for Celtic. McCann is 5ft 10in and weighs 11½ stone.
Monday, 27 January 1947The Courier
By signing for Celtic, Tom McCann, Harp’s left-half, disappointed Rangers, Hibs, Chelsea, Grimsby, and Portsmouth. He will make his debut for Celtic ‘A’ at Paisley on Saturday.
Wednesday, 29 January 1947The Courier
Tommy McCann, ex-Harp, who signed for Celtic, will do his training at Dens Park.
Despite the apparent haste to get his signature, it appears that in the three and half years at Celtic he only played for the ‘A’ side – I can’t even find him playing in any friendlies!?
On the 1st of August 1950 he became Willie Macfadyen’s first new signing of the season for Dundee United. On Saturday 5 August he played alongside Frank Quinn for the “black & white” side in the Dundee United trial match. Again he only appears to have played in the reserve side before being released in May 1951.
In August 1951 he is reinstated to the junior ranks & rejoins the Harp, playing in the side that reached the Junior Scottish Cup final in 1954.
Strangely the newspaper reports of his death don’t mention football until the Sporting Post a week later.
Tuesday, 9 October 1979The Courier
A Dundee man has died while on holiday in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.
Thomas McCann (53), of 72 Whitfield Avenue, had been to the resort with his wife Cissie and had intended to see relatives in the area over the weekend.
Mr McCann, however, suffered a heart attack at his hotel in the early hours of Friday. He was rushed to hospital in Blackpool by ambulance but was dead on arrival.
A native of Dundee, Mr McCann worked for most of his life with Bonar Long & Co Ltd, in Dundee.
He was a foreman electrician with the firm.
Mr McCann is survived by his wife and son Thomas of 9 Lochinver Crescent.
Saturday, 13 October 1979Sporting Post
The death on holiday at Lytham St Annes last week-end of Tom McCann recalls the story of the player who signed for Celtic but might have become a Rangers player.
Tom McCann started out as a left-half with North End then moved to Harp.
He played in a Scottish Cup tie against Armadale – George Farm was their ‘keeper – and although Harp were beaten 4-3 McCann was outstanding.
A Rangers scout recommended him to the Ibrox Club but when they heard “Tom McCann of Lochee Harp” they had to do some checking about his background.
Meantime Celtic had got on the job and manager Jimmy McGrory had arranged a meeting with McCann in Perth to sign him.
Rangers discovered McCann was not a Catholic and sent a representative to his house to see him. By this time McCann was on the way to Perth.
The Rangers party set out in hot pursuit, but too late, McCann had signed for Celtic and spent four years at Parkhead. He also had a spell with Dundee United.
He was later reinstated to Harp and was a member of their Scottish Junior Cup final team in 1954, when they fell to Sunnybank at Hampden.