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Topic Originator: Jock Par36
Date: Sun 20 Sep 19:56
Willie Callaghan was a great player for the Pars, probably
the best defender that ever put on the Black and White
Jersey. RIP,
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Topic Originator: wee eck
Date: Sun 20 Sep 20:22
Sad news indeed. There`s a great interview on the DAFC Heritage Trust website involving John Sweeney, Harry Melrose, Alex Smith and Willie talking about their time at the Pars. Some good banter. I recall Willie didn`t have much time for George Farm. In fact I think he refused to mention him by name!
Post Edited (Sun 20 Sep 20:25)
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Topic Originator: Big Ginge
Date: Sun 20 Sep 20:50
How sad, an outstanding player. If I remember correctly he played for a Scottish league select but never got a thoroughly deserved full international cap?
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Topic Originator: veteraneastender
Date: Sun 20 Sep 21:12
I was having a good night out in Jersey until seeing this.
Legend is a grossly overused term - but absolutely not in this case.
A no brainer in the best ever Pars team.
He certainly did get a full international appearance, two perhaps ?
R.I.P.
Post Edited (Sun 20 Sep 21:15)
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Topic Originator: Steviethepar2
Date: Sun 20 Sep 21:19
Aye RIP Willie - one of loveliest guys and pars legends there’s been - just remembering first meeting him as a bairn back in the 80s — just as the pars were rising again — COYP🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁
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Topic Originator: Townsvillepar
Date: Sun 20 Sep 21:36
Very sad news. Willie Callaghan was a fantastic player for the Pars and very much part of the great sixties team. He should have received a lot more Scotland caps. RIP Willie
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Topic Originator: Big Ginge
Date: Sun 20 Sep 21:48
Quote:
veteraneastender, Sun 20 Sept 21:12
I was having a good night out in Jersey until seeing this.
Legend is a grossly overused term - but absolutely not in this case.
A no brainer in the best ever Pars team.
He certainly did get a full international appearance, two perhaps ?
R.I.P.
Yes, just found this that confirms 2 caps. Dunfermline Athletic Heritage Trust | Willie_Callaghan https://share.google/OUd3DzIbK2vANHE6R
Post Edited (Sun 20 Sep 21:49)
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Topic Originator: twin par
Date: Sun 20 Sep 22:09
When I was a youngster in the sixties,Willie was a regular in the team .A reliable,hard working player,who matched up with John Lunn,and roy Barry magnificently.Was part of a hard fantastic team .One player who deserved far more caps,the west coast bias,denied him that honour,as did the bias west coast press.
Post Edited (Sun 20 Sep 22:23)
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Topic Originator: veteraneastender
Date: Sun 20 Sep 22:19
Jim Fraser was also a key player in that defence, often overlooked.
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Topic Originator: twin par
Date: Sun 20 Sep 22:20
Absolutely correct,Jim was also a fantastic addition! Never forget,his goal against,slovan Bratislava,imprinted on my mind!
Post Edited (Sun 20 Sep 22:52)
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Mon 21 Sep 07:15
Willie Callaghan John Lunn were often touted as the best fullback pairing in the country during the halcyon days in the 60s but Lunn was never capped and Willie played a game and a half for Scotland, thanks to the obsession with OF players.
They weren`t the only ones. Alex Edwards, Alex Smith and Roy Barry should also have been capped. Others were only capped after they left the Pars. Eddie Connachan, Jim Herriot and Jackie Sinclair spring to mind.
R. I. P. Willie. You`d always be first choice for the No. 2 jersey in my all time Pars selection.
Not your average Sunday League player.
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Topic Originator: veteraneastender
Date: Mon 21 Sep 07:57
GG - Eddie Connachan was capped during his Pars career.
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Topic Originator: parfection
Date: Mon 21 Sep 08:21
I share everyone’s sense of sadness on waking up to this news today. Willie, and the team in which he played, formed an integral part of my childhood. I was at Hampden to see us lift our only national silverware in my living memory.
Willie was such a great fullback, and he was consistently good in a team of good players. Rest well Willie and thank you.
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Topic Originator: SeasonedPar
Date: Mon 21 Sep 08:24
Like GG, Willie is my first pick for right back.
A tremendous player, hard in the tackle and always keen to get forward and yes, he should’ve had more Scotland caps.
Didn’t he score a rocket from the half way line when he was playing for Berwick Rangers against the Pars at EEP? He really enjoyed that one!
Condolences to his family.
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Topic Originator: ipswichpar
Date: Mon 21 Sep 09:15
Condolences to the family.
Thanks for everything Willie.
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Topic Originator: Parahandy
Date: Mon 21 Sep 10:54
6 caps - awarded 4 more for 1967 Scotland tour
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Topic Originator: Angus_W
Date: Mon 21 Sep 11:27
I didnt see Willie in the B&W of the Pars. However I did see him play for Berwick Rangers when they played at EEP in 1972, they won 1-2 and I think Willie scored one of the Berwick goals!
RIP Willie Callaghan a true Par.
You’ve seen the Pars now please go home!
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Topic Originator: Fethiyespar
Date: Mon 21 Sep 14:30
Willie and John Lunn, what a pairing. RIP Willie.
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Topic Originator: bannerpar
Date: Mon 21 Sep 15:29
Thanks for the memories Willie. RIP.
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Mon 21 Sep 19:28
Quote:
SeasonedPar, Mon 21 Sept 08:24
Like GG, Willie is my first pick for right back.
A tremendous player, hard in the tackle and always keen to get forward and yes, he should’ve had more Scotland caps.
Didn’t he score a rocket from the half way line when he was playing for Berwick Rangers against the Pars at EEP? He really enjoyed that one!
Condolences to his family.
Not quite, SP. Just outside the box, a beautiful curling shot into the top right hand corner at the town end. I can only remhim scoring one for the Pars, v APOEL, if IIRC.
Not your average Sunday League player.
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Topic Originator: veteraneastender
Date: Mon 21 Sep 22:06
Willie scored a late goal at Tynecastle as I mind - came up field out of his comfort zone and blasted in the winner.
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Topic Originator: OzPar
Date: Tue 22 Sep 07:28
I had a terrific chat with Willie in Legends a few years ago. I told him that the last time I had spoken to him was sometime in the late sixties, outside Airdrie`s old ground, Broomfield. I reminded him that he and John Lunn had been puffing on cigarettes before boarding the team bus to head home!
Willie laughed, and we talked about that great late sixties team: Martin, Callaghan, Lunn, Fraser, Barry, Thompson...
I remarked that I felt the team had lost some of its solidity when Roy Barry was transferred to Coventry and Doug Bailie came in to replace him. At some length, Willie explained how the Pars defence reshaped itself to accommodate big Doug, who was tall, a tad overweight, and considerably slower than Roy.
He spoke too of the battles he`d had with George Farm and latterly with the Pars board—and didn`t hold back in his criticism of both. He also talked about some of the battles he`d faced after leaving the game. I came away mightily impressed with Willie not just as a footballer, but as a human being.
They say you should never meet your heroes, because they will inevitably disappoint. I cannot say that about Willie Callaghan, Roy Barry, Bert Paton, or any of the others from that great sixties Pars team. I`ve met a few of them over the years, and each man was every bit as worthy of admiration as the footballer had been.
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Topic Originator: veteraneastender
Date: Tue 22 Sep 08:19
I heard that one of the Pars players had whacked Barrie Mitchell in the dressing room after the relegation nightmare final game 1972 - he was destined for Aberdeen and didn’t give a toss about the result having not broken sweat for 90 minutes - Willie took a different view 👊to such an attitude.
Post Edited (Tue 22 Sep 08:19)
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Topic Originator: twin par
Date: Tue 22 Sep 10:01
Yes,that relegation game was against Dundee utd. Barrie Mitchell,never tried a leg,avoided any sort of contact,and never got involved in any tackles.The crowd were furious.Willie stuck one on him after the game! Kenny Cameron’s goal beat us,and we were relegated.Remember it well!
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Topic Originator: SeasonedPar
Date: Tue 22 Sep 10:50
Quote:
GG Riva, Mon 21 Sep 19:28
Quote:
SeasonedPar, Mon 21 Sept 08:24
Like GG, Willie is my first pick for right back.
A tremendous player, hard in the tackle and always keen to get forward and yes, he should’ve had more Scotland caps.
Didn’t he score a rocket from the half way line when he was playing for Berwick Rangers against the Pars at EEP? He really enjoyed that one!
Condolences to his family.
Not quite, SP. Just outside the box, a beautiful curling shot into the top right hand corner at the town end. I can only remhim scoring one for the Pars, v APOEL, if IIRC.
Memory playing tricks. Thanks GG.
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Topic Originator: Raymie the Legend
Date: Tue 22 Sep 14:58
Quote:
OzPar, Tue 22 Sep 07:28
I had a terrific chat with Willie in Legends a few years ago. I told him that the last time I had spoken to him was sometime in the late sixties, outside Airdrie`s old ground, Broomfield. I reminded him that he and John Lunn had been puffing on cigarettes before boarding the team bus to head home!
Willie laughed, and we talked about that great late sixties team: Martin, Callaghan, Lunn, Fraser, Barry, Thompson...
I remarked that I felt the team had lost some of its solidity when Roy Barry was transferred to Coventry and Doug Bailie came in to replace him. At some length, Willie explained how the Pars defence reshaped itself to accommodate big Doug, who was tall, a tad overweight, and considerably slower than Roy.
He spoke too of the battles he`d had with George Farm and latterly with the Pars board—and didn`t hold back in his criticism of both. He also talked about some of the battles he`d faced after leaving the game. I came away mightily impressed with Willie not just as a footballer, but as a human being.
They say you should never meet your heroes, because they will inevitably disappoint. I cannot say that about Willie Callaghan, Roy Barry, Bert Paton, or any of the others from that great sixties Pars team. I`ve met a few of them over the years, and each man was every bit as worthy of admiration as the footballer had been.
Thanks, Oz
It`s bloody tough being a legend
Ron Atkinson - 1983
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Tue 22 Sep 15:04
Quote:
veteraneastender, Mon 21 Sept 22:06
Willie scored a late goal at Tynecastle as I mind - came up field out of his comfort zone and blasted in the winner.
I had forgotten that one, VEE, easily done as I wasn`t at the game. I think we had an all too rare win at Tynecastle, 2-1, even though we were a better team than Hearts for most of the 60s and inevitably gave them a proper doing at EEP. 😁
Not your average Sunday League player.
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Topic Originator: Jock Par36
Date: Tue 22 Sep 18:35
I was with my fellow Pars fans behind the goal when
Willie banged home the winning goal.
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Topic Originator: Buspasspar
Date: Tue 22 Sep 21:15
Just saw this guys and so so sad .. Willie and all the others mentioned on here were the best of the best .. was lucky to have seen them all .. thoughts and sympathy with all friends and Family .. RIP Willie (Legend)
We are forever shaped by the Children we once were
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Topic Originator: LochgellyAlbert
Date: Tue 22 Sep 23:50
RIP Willie Callaghan, a true legend and one that we right footers aspired to be!🥲🏁
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Topic Originator: veteraneastender
Date: Thu 24 Sep 09:43
Careful LA - the thought police might react to that observation !!!
The Pars had a few lefties in the 60`s - the Callaghans, Pat Gardner and Pat Delaney spring to mind.
Sir Fergie is likely to come up for the service, in his autobiography he mentioned the welcomes he had visiting the Callaghan home during his time at EEP.
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Topic Originator: Playup_Pompey
Date: Thu 24 Sep 10:33
family have confirmed funeral details for 6th Oct
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Topic Originator: LochgellyAlbert
Date: Sun 18 Oct 17:39
Surprised that there wasn`t a tribute to Willie yesterday, one of the Par`s finest!🤔🏁
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Topic Originator: AdamAntsParsStripe
Date: Sun 18 Oct 18:19
Quote:
LochgellyAlbert, Sun 18 Oct 17:39
Surprised that there wasn`t a tribute to Willie yesterday, one of the Par`s finest!🤔🏁
Yeah that was really surprising he wasn’t given a minutes applause.
Zwei Pints Bier und ein Päckchen Chips bitte
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Sun 18 Oct 18:36
Quote:
LochgellyAlbert, Sun 18 Oct 17:39
Surprised that there wasn`t a tribute to Willie yesterday, one of the Par`s finest!🤔🏁
A more likely explanation is that the club will remember Willie at a game when members of his family are able to attend.
Not your average Sunday League player.
Post Edited (Sun 18 Oct 18:52)
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Topic Originator: onandupthepars
Date: Mon 19 Oct 14:41
Talk about the memory playing tricks - in my nut I have a mental film of Willie Callaghan scoring direct from a free kick about thirty-five yards out, during our 2-0 win at Stark`s Park in the Scottish Cup, late 1960s.
I looked up the fixture on the Heritage site and it says our scorers that day were Gardner and Paton.
Well, nothing daunted, I dug out my scrap book from under a mountain of books and my memory isn`t so very far out. Here`s a quote from the Sunday Mail`s match report, Jan 26th, 1969:
`Pat Gardner...bulleted a diving header high into the roof of the net in the 67th minute. And 13 minutes later, as the holders piled on the pressure, a WILLIE CALLAGHAN free kick fooled Raith `keeper Willie Whiteside as it swung in the swirling wind. The `keeper could only palm the ball onto the bar, and as it dropped Bert Paton had a simple task to prod the ball home.`
I`ve hardly looked at my scrapbooks for donkeys years - it does the auld heart good!
Crowd that day 11,000.
The attendance figures in they days were astounding. There`s evidence that the Pars have serious potential once they get back in the top league.
Willie Callaghan was a true Pars great. He wasn`t just our preferred choice at right back. He was a rock in our defence. I don`t think he wore a shirt, I think he had black and white striped skin, wi` number 2 on his back! It`s no surprise the success we had in those years with the calibre of players we had.
Willie signed from Crossgates Primrose in 1960. He`d be about 17, so maybe that`s the model we`re working on now. Get them young, and with time and good coaching some are sure to come through.
Post Edited (Mon 19 Oct 15:20)
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