| George Cummings |
 George Wilfred Cummings was born on Thursday, 5th June, 1913, in Thornbridge, Stirlingshire. The defender signed for Donald Turner's Thistle on Monday, 6th June, 1932, having most recently been with Grange Rovers. Aged 19, he made his debut appearance on Monday, 26th September, 1932, in a 1-0 win at home to Celtic in the Glasgow Cup. George scored his only goal for Thistle on Saturday, 11th November, 1933, in a 1-0 win at home to Airdrieonians in the SFL First Division. He played his last game for the club on Saturday, 9th November, 1935, in a 0-0 draw at home to Third Lanark in the SFL First Division, having clocked up 140 appearances as a Jag. His club-list included Thornbridge Welfare, Grange Rovers, Partick Thistle, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Solihull Town, Nottingham Forest, Northampton Town and Falkirk. George died on Thursday, 9th April, 1987, in Birmingham, aged 73. |
 George had a successful career in Junior football, became a junior international, and attracted the attention of scouts from senior clubs. In 1932 he was due to attend an appointment with Willie Maley, manager of Celtic, in the Bank Restaurant in Glasgow. He was expected to sign for the Parkhead club. The morning before that appointment, George had a visitor at his home. It was Donald Turner, the Thistle manager. Turner talked the nineteen year old into signing for the Jags instead. He stayed with Thistle for almost three seasons, and gained four international caps during that period. He was awarded nine Scotland caps during his career. In November 1935 George left the Jags and signed for Aston Villa for a fee of £9,350. He played 237 times for Villa. Their fans nicknamed him “The Icicle” because of his ability to stay calm under pressure. After retiring, he took up a coaching role at Villa, with the club’s youngsters. He then became manager of Hednesford Town. George then became a scout for Wolves, while working for the Dunlop Rubber Company. George’s three brothers also signed for Villa, and his father was a goalkeeper for Stockport County. |
| (DMAC) |
