John Cushley

Infobox Football biography
playername = John Cushley


fullname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1943|1|21|df=y
cityofbirth = Hamilton
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath = death date and age|2008|3|24|1943|1|21|df=y
cityofdeath = Bothwell
countryofdeath = Scotland
height =
position = Centre half
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1963–1967
1967–1970
1970–1972
1972–1976
clubs = Celtic
West Ham United
Dunfermline Athletic
Dumbarton
caps(goals) = 41 (0)
38 (0)
49 (0)
85 (0)

nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =

John Cushley (21 January 1943 – 24 March 2008) was a Scottish football player who played for Celtic, West Ham United, Dunfermline Athletic and Dumbarton

He was born in 1943 in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, and joined Celtic in July 1960 as a centre-half in the team's reserves. He made his first team debut for Celtic in March 1963, in a match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Cushley found himself in the shadow of his teammate and former schoolmate, Billy McNeill, and many of his appearances for Celtic were dependent on McNeill's absence due to injury or international appearances. Nonetheless, Cushley played 41 games for Celtic, until he left the club in 1967 in a £10,000 transfer to West Ham United. [http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/obituaries/display.var.2145851.0.John_Cushley.php Obituary: John Cushley] , "The Herald", March 26 2008.]

In addition to his football career, Cushley was a teacher and a graduate in modern languages from the University of Glasgow. In 1964, he had acted as a Spanish translator when he and team manager Jimmy McGrory travelled to Spain in an unsuccessful attempt to sign Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stéfano to Celtic. [http://www.sundayherald.com/sport/shfootball/display.var.2142167.0.former_celtic_player_john_cushley_has_died_aged_65.php Former Celtic player John Cushley has died aged 65] , "Sunday Herald", March 31 2008.] During his two years in London with West Ham, Cushley also worked as a teacher.

In 1970, he returned to Scotland, playing for Dunfermline Athletic and Dumbarton before retiring in 1976, although he continued teaching, and joined Celtic's coaching staff as an education officer. [ [http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2154988.0.lisbon_lions_pay_tribute_to_excelt.php Lisbon Lions pay tribute to ex-Celt] , "Glasgow Evening Times", March 28 2008.]

In 2007, Cushley was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, the same illness that had claimed his Celtic teammate Jimmy Johnstone in 2006. He died at his home in Bothwell on March 24 2008, aged 65.

References