Name Willie Callaghan Years Team Role Footballer | 1961–1972 Dunfermline Athletic 1972–1974 Berwick Rangers | |
Full name William Thomas Callaghan Date of birth (1943-02-12) 12 February 1943 (age 72) | ||
Place of birth Cowdenbeath, Scotland | ||
William Thomas Callaghan (born 12 February 1943 in Cowdenbeath) is a Scottish former professional footballer, who played for Dunfermline Athletic, Berwick Rangers, Cowdenbeath and Scotland. Callaghan played for Dunfermline for most of his club career, playing in two Scottish Cup Finals, losing 3–2 to Celtic in 1965 and winning 3–1 against Hearts in 1968. In all he made 426 appearances for the Pars, including 34 in European competition, a club record. Willie's brother Tommy Callaghan also played for Dunfermline, and they are the last pair of brothers to have played the full 90 minutes together in the same Scottish Cup-winning side as of 2009,- In 2008, Callaghan was inducted into Dunfermline Athletic's hall of fame.
Callaghan represented the full Scotland national team twice, in a friendly match against the Republic of Ireland in 1969 and a 1970 British Home Championship match against Wales. He had also earlier represented Scotland in a late-season tour in 1967, when several players were unavailable due to their clubs being involved in European competition. Callaghan's appearance against Wales in 1970 was the last time that a Dunfermline Athletic player represented Scotland until Barry Nicholson and Stevie Crawford were selected for a match against Poland in 2001.
Willie's son, also named Willie, was a footballer who played for several league clubs in the 1980s and 1990s. His brother, Tommy Callaghan, played for Dunfermline and Celtic. His grandson, Liam Callaghan, had a trial spell with Birmingham City in November 2011.