Tribute to Willie Cunningham

The funeral of former Pars player, captain and Manager took place on Friday 7th September. Family tribute and Jim Leishman's appreciation.

The Reverend Alastair Jessamine, Minister of Dunfermline Abbey read the family tribute:-

"William Edward Cunningham, born Mallusk, Northern Ireland on 20 February 1930, son of William and Margaret Cunningham. He came over to Paisley as a young boy and started his football career at Camphill Secondary School, progressing to juvenile and junior sides before turning professional at 18, signing for St Mirren.

"Away from football Willie served his apprenticeship as an engineer, again in Paisley and it was there at Thomas White, he met his future wife Maureen who worked in the offices of the firm. They married in April 1954 and soon after Willie transferred to Leicester City.

"Whilst at Leicester their son Graham was born. The family moved back to Paisley when Graham was four years old and daughter Alison was born. Soon Jock Stein signed him for Dunfermline Athletic, this was when his long association with the Pars began, an association that continued throughout his life.

"During his football career Willie was capped 30 times for his home country of Northern Ireland, with the highlight being a member of the team that reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Sweden in 1958. Willie was proud of and never forgot his Irish roots.He was a family man and loved nothing more than spending time with Maureen and his children and their families - Graham and his wife Tricia and children Sarah, Stewart and Stephanie, Alison and her husband Grierson and their daughter Sophie.

"His interest in sport remained with him during retirement and living so close to McKane Park, Willie also followed the fortunes of Dunfermline Rugby Club and in particular Dunfermline Cricket Club.

"The family concludes that Willie was always modest about his sporting career and achievements but remained a well kent and well liked member of the Dunfermline community.He will be sadly missed by his many friends here in the town and by sport in general."

Attending with Chairman John Yorkston and Manager Stephen Kenny, Jim Leishman added an appreciation on behalf of Dunfermline Athletic Football Club.

"When people talk about Dunfermline Athletic Football Club, the halcyon days in the sixties, Willie Cunningham's name comes up on a regular basis not only as a player but as a manager of course.I have been speaking to some of his colleagues since hearing the sad news, we have had some laughs and stories that I cannot tell you not about Willie, but about the players.

"He was involved in some of the greatest games our Club has ever played in, Valencia, Everton, Ujpest Dozsa and of course the 1961 Cup Final.Who can forget the great pass when we beat Everton two nil, a thirty yard pass to Harry Melrose.Willie always maintained that Harry was never off-side, I think Harry you were ten yards off-side because you got to the goal before the defender.

"There is a game I would like to talk about against Ujpest Dozsa when Mr Stein was the manager and they had a really fast winger called Solymosi who was causing a lot of bother at the time.Mr Stein shouted nail him, nail him.Willie duly obliged.Willie called it a wee Irish dunt onto the gravel round the park.

"You can remember Willie as a player with a wee flick of the hair and dip of the shoulder with a big smile on his face looking at Mr Stein saying well you asked me to do it and I did it, thinking he was going to get a game next week.He played in some of the biggest games in the Club's history.

"As the Manager he came so close in 1965 to winning the double, losing 3 - 2 to Celtic in the Cup Final and finishing third in the league.To be up there it was the best season in the Club's history and Willie was the man who was the manager at the time.

"Willie was a giant alongside the likes of Stein and Farm. He was also a gentleman."

Jim's tribute ended there as emotion overcame him.