John Cumming (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Cumming | ||
| Date of birth | 17 March 1930 | ||
| Place of birth | Carluke, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 6 December 2008 (aged 78) | ||
| Place of death | Carluke, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Wing half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Carluke Rovers | |||
| 1948–1950 | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1950–1967 | Heart of Midlothian | 359 | (36) |
| National team | |||
| 1954–1957 | Scotland B | 2 | (1) |
| 1955–1960 | Scottish League XI | 7 | (1) |
| 1954–1960 | Scotland | 9 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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John Cumming (17 March 1930 – 6 December 2008) was a Scottish footballer, who spent his whole club career with Heart of Midlothian. He made 612 appearances and scored 58 goals for Hearts, and helped them win every major honour in Scottish football. Cumming also represented Scotland and the Scottish League.
Cumming signed for Hearts on provisional forms by the then manager, Dave McLean. At the time Cumming was employed as a pit worker and playing junior league football for Carluke Rovers. Cumming signed fully for Hearts in January 1950. He was quickly dubbed the "Iron Man" for his fearless and resolute tackling. His versatility seen him play at either wing-half or left-back. He even appeared as a goalkeeper for one reserve match.
Dave Mackay had previously been on schoolboy terms at Hearts. Mackay joined the club's pro ranks in 1951. Cumming and Mackay became the duo who made that team tick for the remainder of the 1950s. "He never had a bad game. It was either a fairly good game or an excellent game," said Mackay of Cumming.
Cumming is the most decorated player in Hearts' history, having played throughout the club's most successful era. In nine seasons from 1954 to 1963 Hearts won seven trophies. He won two league championship medals, one Scottish Cup medal and four Scottish League Cup medals.
His commitment to the team is typified by his quote now displayed above the entrance to the players tunnel at Tynecastle: "Blood doesn't show on a maroon jersey". This was said after Cumming had blood streaming from a head injury in a clash with Willie Fernie in the 1956 Scottish Cup Final. He returned to the playing field in the 3-1 win against Celtic. Cumming was man of the match. Despite his commitment he retained control of his temper and was never booked in his career. He was the only player to collect medals for all seven of the trophies Hearts won in this period.
Cumming retired from playing in 1967. He was a trainer at Hearts for a decade after ending his playing days and later returned to work in the steel industry. Cumming remained a regular at Hearts games until illness confined him to a nursing home.
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