Tommy Hutchison
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Tommy Hutchison (born 22 September 1947 in Cardenden, Fife) is a Scottish former professional footballer widely considered among the most skilful of his generation.
Beginning his career with Alloa Athletic, he joined Stan Mortensen's Blackpool in February 1968 for just over £10,000. Almost immediately, he took the place of Graham Oates at outside-left, making his debut against Plymouth on March 30.
The Scot was brought in to bolster the Seasiders' flagging promotion drive, and out of the final nine games of the 1967-68 season, they won eight. Promotion was missed on the final day, but 'Hutch' had been impressive throughout.[1]
When Bob Stokoe took over as manager from Mortensen, he worked on Hutchison's crossing ability, believing it to be his only weak spot.
In 1972, Coventry City offered £140,000 cash plus Billy Rafferty for Hutchison's services. He signed for the Midlands club, and remained at Highfield Road for eight years, playing 355 games and scoring 30 goals.
Hutchison joined Manchester City for a fee of £47,000 in 1980. In May 1981, he scored for both sides in the FA Cup Final, as Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 with Manchester City. He was not the first to do this — Bert Turner had done so in the 1946 final for Charlton and Derby.
Hutchison later played for Bulova of Hong Kong and Seattle Sounders (US) before returning to the UK, joining Burnley in 1983 and moving to Swansea City in 1985, serving as manager for six months after the club went into liquidation. He is in the record books as the oldest player to have played for Swansea, playing against Southend United in March 1991 at the age of 43 years, five months and 19 days. In 1987, during his time in Swansea, Hutchison returned to Blackpool on loan, making six appearances.
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Capped 17 times for Scotland, Hutchison appeared at the 1974 World Cup.
On retiring from league football at the age of 43, he joined non-league Merthyr Tydfil. He still lives in south Wales and now works as a football development officer for Bristol City. A poll by the Coventry Evening Telegraph voted him the most popular Coventry player of the club's First Division era.
Blackpool
- Anglo-Italian Cup winner: 1971
- ^ Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992, p. 98. Breedon Books Sport.
- Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.
| Scotland squad - 1974 FIFA World Cup | ||
|---|---|---|
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1 Harvey | 2 Jardine | 3 McGrain | 4 Bremner | 5 Holton | 6 Blackley | 7 Johnstone | 8 Dalglish | 9 Jordan | 10 Hay | 11 Lorimer | 12 Allan | 13 Stewart | 14 Buchan | 15 Cormack | 16 Donachie | 17 Ford | 18 Hutchison | 19 Law | 20 Morgan | 21 McQueen | 22 Schaedler | Coach: Ormond |
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Categories: 1947 births | Living people | Scottish footballers | Blackpool F.C. players | Coventry City F.C. players | Manchester City F.C. players | NASL players | Bulova (Hong Kong) F.C. players | Burnley F.C. players | Swansea City A.F.C. players | Scotland international footballers | FIFA World Cup 1974 players | Seattle Sounders (NASL) players | Hong Kong First Division League players