Benny Rooney
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bernard Rooney | ||
| Date of birth | 3 May 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 28 July 2023 (aged 80) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1959–1963 | Celtic | 0 | (0) |
| 1959–1960[1] | → Cambuslang Rangers (loan) | ||
| 1960–1961[2] | → Petershill (loan) | ||
| 1961–1962[3] | → Dumbarton (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 1963–1966 | Dundee United | 22 | (4) |
| 1966–1973 | St Johnstone | 222 | (12) |
| 1973–1976 | Partick Thistle | 62 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1976–1983 | Greenock Morton | ||
| 1983–1986 | Partick Thistle | ||
| 1986 | Albion Rovers | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Bernard Rooney (3 May 1943 – 28 July 2023)[4] was a Scottish football player and manager.
Playing career
Rooney played for
free transfer in 1963.[5] He was frequently relegated to United's reserve team, however, and he was eventually sold to St Johnstone in 1966 for £3,500.[5]
Rooney served the
1969
. As a key member of the Ormond era, Rooney has a place in St Johnstone history and will always be well remembered by the fans.
Managerial career
Rooney was appointed manager of
Scottish Premier Division. In the 1979–80 season Morton famously topped the Premier Division in the middle of the season, and ultimately finished in 6th place, quite an achievement for a part-time club.[7]
Rooney is also revered by Morton fans for assembling a memorable squad, including fan favourite Andy Ritchie, who was brought to Cappielow from Celtic in 1976.[8][1]
Rooney left Morton in 1983, and went on to manage Partick Thistle and Albion Rovers, before returning to his first club Celtic briefly as a coach.[9]
Personal life
Benny Rooney had two children with wife Marion. His son Kevin is an actor,
Rooney’s great-nephew
2021 Scottish Cup Final three months later.[13]
Rooney died in July 2023, at the age of 80.[14]
References
- ^ a b c d e Golden Years: Benny was never far away from the Lisbon Lions, David Walker, Sunday Post, 21 December 2019
- ^ "History". Petershill F.C. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ McAllister, Jim (2002). The Sons of the Rock - The Official History of Dumbarton Football Club. Dumbarton: J&J Robertson Printers.
- ^ Bernard Rooney
- ^ a b Extract from Section 2 of The Rise of the Terrors Archived 19 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Arabest Publishing.
- ^ History - The European campaigns Archived 6 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine, St Johnstone official website
- ^ "Chick Young's view". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
- ^ "Andy Ritchie". MortonOnline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
- ^ "Season 93-94 Part 1". The View. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "A striking role is nothing new for this guy". The Herald. 4 July 1997. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ "Ibrox Disaster: Survivors and former players remember stadium horror". Dailly Record. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ St Johnstone hero Shaun Rooney on his family ties to Saints and Celtic sides who squared off in 1969 League Cup final, Eric Nicholson, The Courier, 28 February 2021
- ^ Lindsay, Clive (22 May 2021). "Perth side complete domestic cup double". BBBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "Benny Rooney Tribute". perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk. St Johnstone FC. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
External links
- Benny Rooney at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- Profile at Sons Archive