- Tommy Traynor
Football player infobox
playername = Tommy Traynor
fullname = Thomas Joseph Traynor
nickname =
height = height|ft=5|in=8
weight =
dateofbirth = birth date|1933|7|22
cityofbirth =Dundalk
countryofbirth =Ireland
dateofdeath = death date and age|2006|9|20|1933|7|22
cityofdeath =Southampton
countryofdeath =England
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Left back
years =
1952-1966
clubs = Dundalk
Southampton
caps(goals) =
434 (7)
nationalyears = 1954-1964
nationalteam = Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 008 (0)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =Tommy Traynor (born
Dundalk 22 July 1933 , died20 September 2006 ) was a footballer who played his entire professional career for Southampton between 1952 and 1966.During his 14 years at The Dell he became virtually an institution, and by the end of his career he held the record for appearances for Southampton.
Playing career
He originally played for his local team Dundalk, and had represented the Republic of Ireland at Amateur level, when he came to the notice of several English clubs. He turned down offers from Chelsea and
Manchester City to join Southampton in June 1952; he made his debut on11 October 1952 away to Brentford making 10 appearances as Saints went on to be relegated from Division 2 at the end of that season.The following season, in Division 3, he became the club’s regular left-back and his merciless sliding tackles and deceptive turn of pace stood him in good stead as Saints began the long haul back to Division 2. Although he was not the most athletic player, he had a super football brain and a great left foot.
Tommy won 8
Republic of Ireland national football team caps between 1954 and 1964.By the time of Southampton’s promotion season in 1966, age was catching up with him and he only made 1 appearance in his final season, at home to Preston on
27 November 1965 .During his time at The Dell he amassed 487 appearances for the club, scoring 8 goals.
After football
He was also a founder member of the Southampton Tyro League in the late 1960s.
After finally retiring at the end of the 1965-66 season, he briefly ran an off-licence and worked in Southampton Docks.
He died in September 2006 at the age of 73 after a short illness.
References
*cite book
author=Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk
title=In That Number - A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC
publisher=Hagiology
year=2003
id=ISBN 0-9534474-3-X
*cite book
author=Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk
title=The Alphabet of the Saints
publisher= ACL & Polar Publishing
year=1992
id=ISBN 0-9514862-3-3External links
* [http://www.irishsaints.moonfruit.com/tommytraynor Irish Tribute to Tommy Traynor]
* [http://www.tyrosouthampton.co.uk/default.aspx?qShow=TommyTraynor&HPIndex=3 Tribute to Tommy Traynor]
* [http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/?page_id=7498 Tribute to Tommy Traynor on Southampton F.C. website]
* [http://soccerscene.ie/sssenior/player.php?id=481 Republic of Ireland profile]
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