Tommy Cassidy

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Luppy
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Tommy Cassidy

Post by Luppy » Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:11 am

Sad news coming out of Geordie land that Tommy Cassidy has passed away. Rarely left the centre circle but could put a ball on a sixpence. RIP

ClaretTony
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:16 am

He’s been suffering with dementia for a number of years now - sad news if indeed he has passed away.

Buxtonclaret
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Buxtonclaret » Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:16 am

That's very sad news.
Remember playing both for and against us.
R.I.P Tommy.

Luppy
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Luppy » Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:20 am

ClaretTony wrote:
Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:16 am
He’s been suffering with dementia for a number of years now - sad news if indeed he has passed away.
Indeed Tony his health has deteriorated gradually over the past few years. His daughters confirmed it this morning sadly, an ex team mate of his messaged me not long ago to confirm

Steve1956
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Steve1956 » Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:24 am

One of my favourite Clarets RIP Tommy

ClaretTony
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:51 am

I won't start another thread but I've now got a few words on site about him

https://www.uptheclarets.com/former-cla ... asses-away

Buxtonclaret
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Buxtonclaret » Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:59 am

That's incredible sad that his wife passed away so recently too.
Thoughts very much with his family/friends.

beddie
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by beddie » Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:00 pm

Sad to hear. RIP Tommy.

Clive 1960
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Clive 1960 » Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:19 pm

RIP Tommy always remember that brave diving header he scored on Turf against Wednesday in the FA CUP..
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by billyhamilton82 » Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:24 pm

RIP Tommy

I remember one game in particular against Huddersfield away in his first season with us, he literally ran the game without moving from the centre circle and they couldn't deal with him.

Very intelligent footballer who was in the Northern Ireland team along with Billy Hamilton that beat Spain on their own patch in the World Cup in 1982.

Great player and a definite coup when Brian Miller signed him after being relegated to Division Three for the first time.
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Quicknick » Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:28 pm

RIP, Tommy. I remember seeing him have some great games for us. As billyhamilton82 says: what a coup when Miller signed him.
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Herts Clarets
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Herts Clarets » Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:32 pm

Quality player and as mentioned above, well remember that diving header at the BH End v Wednesday in the FA Cup QF 1983. Sad to hear of the passing of a Claret from the start of my era. RIP Tommy Cassidy

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by randomclaret2 » Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:40 pm

Very sad news, a properly talented footballer and, as has been mentioned, a nice fella with it.

edison
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by edison » Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:41 pm

Terribly sad news. Hugely popular in east Belfast, was manager of the Glentoran team that won the `Glen Little final' in 96

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by IanMcL » Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:48 pm

A real shame. Dementia at a relatively young age and wife nursing until her own death. Dreadful.

I too have a lasting memory of Tommy Cassidy.

We had gone one down to Exeter in the pouring rain and the pitch was a muddy quagmire.

From the restart Tommy was talking to Dobbo (from memory) and the attackers. They kicked off and Tommy shielded the ball as they went down the field, in a small huddle, keeping the ball going forward, one way or another, as it stuck on the mud. Exeter couldn't get to them and at the last they opened up and we scored.

Anyone else remember that?

Woodleyclaret
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Woodleyclaret » Fri Aug 02, 2024 1:07 pm

A true Burnley legend.I remember him inspiring us to a rare win away at Swindon RIP

bfcjg
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by bfcjg » Fri Aug 02, 2024 1:25 pm

Really sad, great player for us, the Longside used to sing his name to that " Kumbayah" song if I recall correctly , excellent first touch and fantastic range of passing.
RIP.

Spike
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Spike » Fri Aug 02, 2024 1:45 pm

He didn’t need to run with all the young legs around him that Promotion side. A wonderful passer of a ball
RIP Tommy

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Wokingclaret » Fri Aug 02, 2024 1:49 pm

Great player,

Saw him in a reserve game at Boro that last season and he was very vocal on the pitch encouraging the young players around him.

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by FCBurnley » Fri Aug 02, 2024 2:27 pm

RIP Tommy
A great signing for us and a great player. Also RIP to his wife Rosemary who nursed him throughout his illness. Such a sad story
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Doyt » Fri Aug 02, 2024 2:40 pm

Represented Northern Ireland while a Burnley player along with Billy Hamilton in the 1982 World Cup.
I loved a story that Billy told about him at a dinner he was speaking at for my local NI supporters club. A couple of days before we were due to play the hosts Spain in the final game of the group stages our manager told the lads to relax by the pool and have a few drinks. Tommy had a few too many and fell asleep by the pool so the rest of the players surrounded him with empties with a few resting on his unathletic pot belly. A picture of this got into the Spanish papers and they were confidently predicting an easy victory. Didn't work out well for them though.

Rest easy Tommy.
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Holtyclaret » Fri Aug 02, 2024 3:14 pm

Always sad when an ex Claret passes but any from that team hits harder.

RIP Tommy
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ClaretTony
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Aug 02, 2024 3:18 pm

Holtyclaret wrote:
Fri Aug 02, 2024 3:14 pm
Always sad when an ex Claret passes but any from that team hits harder.

RIP Tommy
Of course it does, arrived at Burnley in the same summer too.
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Andingle
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Andingle » Fri Aug 02, 2024 4:11 pm

😔 RIP Tommy 🙏

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Pikehillclaret » Fri Aug 02, 2024 4:44 pm

I Met him a few years ago , he was at the Newcastle v burnley game and was sat next to me in the Newcastle end , what a nice guy and mentioned when he scored and got cracked into the post so couldn't remember scoring RIP Tommy

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Aug 02, 2024 4:58 pm

Pikehillclaret wrote:
Fri Aug 02, 2024 4:44 pm
I Met him a few years ago , he was at the Newcastle v burnley game and was sat next to me in the Newcastle end , what a nice guy and mentioned when he scored and got cracked into the post so couldn't remember scoring RIP Tommy
I think it’s the FA Cup goal against Sheffield Wednesday. He clashed heads with one of their players but he’d headed the ball into the corner.

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Culmclaret » Fri Aug 02, 2024 5:14 pm

Can’t have scored many headers in his career but that was very brave. Used to love the shouts of ‘bottle of Guinness’ when he was on the ball. His goal at Swindon was a sublime chip on a day when the team was hit by illness and he was absolutely superb in the 4-1 win at Southend which clinched promotion. RIP Tommy: a great Claret.

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Middle-agedClaret » Fri Aug 02, 2024 5:21 pm

Sad news - doubly so for those of us who are from N.Ireland and are Claret supporters. RIP, Tommy.
I know he had a falling out with Danny Blanchflower when he (DB) was N. Ireland manager, but 24 international appearances seems a meagre total for such a good player.

Anonymous Claret
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Anonymous Claret » Fri Aug 02, 2024 6:48 pm

RIP Tommy. Thank you for being part of a team that I really enjoyed watching (in parts) when I was in my early to mid teens.

Along with several others who have already posted on here, I will never forget the bravery of the header against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup.

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Wo Didi » Fri Aug 02, 2024 7:00 pm

Really sad news life can be so cruel. What a great player and man. RIP Tommy

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by HankinsHeader » Fri Aug 02, 2024 7:35 pm

Really sad news, I think he lived on Singleton Avenue, Read (along with Alan Stevenson) I can remember when he came back from the World Cup he had a replica trophy in the window. RIP Tommy

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by HahaYeah » Fri Aug 02, 2024 7:39 pm

RIP Tommy Cassidy.

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by ecc » Fri Aug 02, 2024 9:34 pm

As has been mentioned, he didn't do much running but could spray the passes around.

Remember watching NI in 1982 with my Dad. My Dad had been brought up with Jimmy McIlroy and Alex Elder and the fact of two of our players in the NI side that did so well meant a great deal to him.

RIP Tommy

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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by billyhamilton82 » Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:59 pm

Holtyclaret wrote:
Fri Aug 02, 2024 3:14 pm
Always sad when an ex Claret passes but any from that team hits harder.

RIP Tommy
On a personal level this team was the first time I experienced promotion after several disappointing seasons including two relegations punctuated only by the Anglo Scottish Cup win, and as such will always hold a special place for me and I assume thousands of other 50 odd year olds.

With experienced pros like Martin Dobson, Tommy Cassidy, David Holt, Eric Potts, Alan Stevenson and Brian Flynn its probably unsurprising that two of the youngsters in that team went on to play for England, three if you include Lee Dixon from the following season.

That team was a genuine blend of youth and quality experience guided by the old school management and coaching team led by Brian Miller.

Great time to be a Claret.

Thanks for the memories Tommy
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Suratclaret
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by Suratclaret » Sat Aug 03, 2024 6:09 am

Great player… RIP

ClaretTony
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by ClaretTony » Sat Aug 03, 2024 8:24 am

billyhamilton82 wrote:
Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:59 pm
On a personal level this team was the first time I experienced promotion after several disappointing seasons including two relegations punctuated only by the Anglo Scottish Cup win, and as such will always hold a special place for me and I assume thousands of other 50 odd year olds.

With experienced pros like Martin Dobson, Tommy Cassidy, David Holt, Eric Potts, Alan Stevenson and Brian Flynn its probably unsurprising that two of the youngsters in that team went on to play for England, three if you include Lee Dixon from the following season.

That team was a genuine blend of youth and quality experience guided by the old school management and coaching team led by Brian Miller.

Great time to be a Claret.

Thanks for the memories Tommy
The importance of the experienced players such as Stevenson, Dobbo and Cassidy.

If all were fit and the strongest team was played, we had a teenage back four of Brian Laws, Micky Phelan, Vince Overson and Andy Wharton with Dobbo behind them as a sweeper and then two more teenagers in Trevor Steven and Kevin Young flanking Cassidy in the midfield.

Your first promotion is always special, that's why 1972/73 is so much so for me as 1981/92 was for you.
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Re: Tommy Cassidy

Post by martin_p » Sat Aug 03, 2024 10:16 am

billyhamilton82 wrote:
Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:59 pm
On a personal level this team was the first time I experienced promotion after several disappointing seasons including two relegations punctuated only by the Anglo Scottish Cup win, and as such will always hold a special place for me and I assume thousands of other 50 odd year olds.

With experienced pros like Martin Dobson, Tommy Cassidy, David Holt, Eric Potts, Alan Stevenson and Brian Flynn its probably unsurprising that two of the youngsters in that team went on to play for England, three if you include Lee Dixon from the following season.

That team was a genuine blend of youth and quality experience guided by the old school management and coaching team led by Brian Miller.

Great time to be a Claret.

Thanks for the memories Tommy
As another 50 something agree with this 100%. Great memories of that team and absolute pride in seeing Big Billy Hamilton and Tommy Cassidy play at the ‘82 World Cup.

RIP Tommy. In my memory you’ll always be diving for that header against Sheffield Wednesday.

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