Tommy Cassidy

[Luppy]

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]

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

[Buxtonclaret]

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

[Luppy]

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]

One of my favourite Clarets RIP Tommy

[ClaretTony]

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]

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

[beddie]

Sad to hear. RIP Tommy.

[Clive 1960]

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

[billyhamilton82]

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.

[Quicknick]

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

[Herts Clarets]

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

[randomclaret2]

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

[edison]

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

[IanMcL]

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]

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

[bfcjg]

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]

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

[Wokingclaret]

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.

[FCBurnley]

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

[Doyt]

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.

[Holtyclaret]

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

RIP Tommy

[ClaretTony]

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.

[Andingle]

RIP Tommy

[Pikehillclaret]

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

[ClaretTony]

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.

[Culmclaret]

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.

[Middle-agedClaret]

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]

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.

[Wo Didi]

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

[HankinsHeader]

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

[HahaYeah]

RIP Tommy Cassidy.

[ecc]

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

[billyhamilton82]

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

[Suratclaret]

Great player… RIP

[ClaretTony]

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.

[martin_p]

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.