Cumming Laurie Image 1 Oldham Athletic 1929

Description

Londonderry born inside left Laurie Cumming played junior football for St George’s Church in 1924 and Dunoon United in 1925 before signing for Scottish League club Alloa Athletic in August 1926, where his talent was soon spotted by recent First Division triple League Champions Huddersfield Town, who signed him in March 1928, his Football League debut coming the same month in a 3-2 win at Bury, his only appearance in the run in as Huddersfield finished runners up for the second season in succession. Cumming got a run in the team from November 1928, scoring 8 goals in 19 appearances through to the following April as The Terriers finished a disappointing 16th in the League. Meantime Cumming was selected for his Ireland international debut which came in a 2-2 draw with Wales at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham in February 1929, and he also played three weeks later in a heavy 7-3 defeat to Scotland at Windsor Park, Belfast.

However after only one further appearance for Huddersfield, he was sold to Second Division Oldham Athletic for £900 in October 1929. His third and final cap for Ireland came a week after his Oldham debut in a 3-0 defeat to England at Windsor Park. His form at Boundary Park was described as “quite outstanding”, his “neat and clever footwork” and knack of scoring “spectacular goals, often from long range” helped push the Latics towards promotion from Division Two. To quote one newspaper report: “His pirouetting, Charlie Chaplin swagger and complete control of the ball…. left us longing to see ten of his kind.” His 11 goals for The Latics included a hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion on New Year’s Day. Sadly he was sidelined by injury towards the season’s end and Oldham faded, eventually finishing third, missing out on promotion.

He was sold to Southampton for £500 in June 1930 making his Saints debut in a 5-0 defeat by Preston North End on the opening day of the season, which he followed with a spell of four goals in nine games, including a brace in an away win over Plymouth Argyle. As winter set in and the pitches grew heavier his form dried up, and he never again found the net in the Football League. He was dropped in February 1931, losing his place to Peter Dougall. At the end of the season, Cumming was placed on the transfer list at his own request, returning to Scotland and to Alloa Athletic on a non-contract basis in the close season of 1931.

Signed by Queen of the South for £100 in September 1933, Cumming played a big part in their first season in the Scottish top flight, scoring 24 times as the club finished in an impressive fourth place. In May 1936, when Queens embarked on their first foreign tour competing in the Grand Tournoi International. The Doonhamers beat Racing Universitaire d`Alger 2-1 in the semi final, and Cumming played as Queens then beat Racing de Santander 1-0 in the Final, the trophy still being on display in the Club museum. Cumming scored 47 goals in 96 appearances before joining St Mirren in 1937, and he finished his career with Hamilton Academical, joining them a year later.