Benny Cairney - Player Profile

Benny was born in Salsburgh, North Lanarkshire on Tuesday, 16 October 1945 and started his football career with junior side Thorniewood United, based in Viewpark, Uddingston. After impressing First Division side Leicester City, the forward moved south of the border to join them in October 1963. Benny spent two years at Filbert Street without breaking into the first team before returning to Scotland, where he was given a short-term contract with Jock Stein's Celtic. He was to play eight games for the reserve side, scoring once on his debut. He was then given a trial by Motherwell and their manager Bobby Howitt was impressed enough to give the strong, imposing unit who had good pace a contract. Benny went on to make 54 (43 league) appearances for the Steelmen, scoring 11 (seven league) goals before the 22-year-old was snapped up by Ian McNeill's Wigan Athletic in 1968 for the start of the newly formed Northern Premier League. He made his Northern Premier League debut in the opening day 2-0 win at Scarborough on Saturday10 August 1968, scoring his first goal a week later in a 3-1 victory over Runcorn with 5,055 present. Latics finished runners-up to Macclesfield Town in the league and runners-up to Southport in the Northern Floodlit League Cup. After his first season with Latics, the Club went part-time again and Benny got a job at the local Heinz food factory. That season saw him play in the three epic FA Cup games against Port Vale and in the prestigious friendly against Metallist of Kharkov. After Benny had played 95 (59 league) games for Latics and scored 26 (eight league) goals, he joined Northwich Victoria, scoring over 50 goals in his two seasons with them. He later returned to Scotland, and played for Ross County, before calling time on his professional career. He later developed a career as a chiropodist and a physiotherapist.