The Longside Reference

Name: Thomas 'Tommy' Cassidy

Date of Birth: 18th November 1950

Place of Birth: Belfast

Clubs: Glentoran, Newcastle United, Burnley, Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus)

Clubs Managed: Apoel Nicosia, Gateshead, Glentoran (Ireland), Ards (Ireland), Sligo Rovers (Ireland), Workington Town, Whitby Town.

Signed by Brian Miller

Burnley Fee: £30.000 from Newcastle United

Clarets Debut: 29th July 1980, Bury (Anglo-Scottish Cup) (A) L 1-2

Last Game for Burnley: 7th May 1983, Grimsby Town (H) D 1-1

Claret Stats: 93(5) Appearances, 8 goals

Claret Honours: Third Division Champions 1982.

Claret Stat: Tommy Cassidy burst onto the Irish scene in 1969, scoring a hat-trick in the City Cup final which saw Glentoran defeat Bangor 7-1. After just a hand full of senior appearances for the Irish side, Newcastle United came in and signed him for £25.000 in October 1970.

When only 20 years of age, Tommy made his International debut as substitute against the Soviet Union in the 1-1 draw in his home town of Belfast in October 1970 a month before his international bow, Tommy made his first team debut for the Geordie's against Southampton, Cassidy spent three seasons on the fringes before finally establishing himself in the first team at Newcastle, in his first season as a regular (1973/74) he helped Newcastle to a Texaco (British Isles) Cup Final victory over Burnley and an FA Cup Final appearance against Liverpool, after being in the side which defeated Burnley at Hillsborough 2-0 in the Semi-Final.

The following season (1974/75) Cassidy made just nine League appearances, due to injury, though he did play in the first leg of the Texaco Cup Final as Newcastle retained the trophy with a 3-1 aggregate win against Southampton.

Cassidy returned to Wembley the following season with Newcastle  this time losing out to Manchester City 1-2 in the League Cup final.

Tommy marked his first start (his fourth appearance) for Northern Ireland in 1973/74 against Scotland, in the game Cassidy scored his only Northern Ireland goal.

Injuries started to play a part in Cassidy's Club and International career, Groin, knee and ankle injuries would take their toll on Cassidy’s pace. Cassidy went from attacking midfielder to defensive midfielder in 1980 with Danny Blanchflower replaced by Billy Bingham. Bingham used Cassidy in this new defensive midfield roll in Northern Ireland’s 1980 Home Nation Championship success, helping bring the old trophy back to Belfast for the first time in 66 years.

Brian Miller signed a now 29-year-old for £30,000 in 1980, Burnley were relegated to Division Three for the first time in our history. Burnley went on to rebuild using Cassidy's experience and the young players coming through, the first season he was used 34 times in all competitions scoring three times, making his debut against Bury in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, a competition Burnley won two years previous. Cassidy made his league debut on the 16th August at home to Newport County scoring the opening goal of the campaign in a 1-0 draw.

The following year Burnley won the Second Division with Cassidy playing a pivotal role, scoring three goals in his 27 league games, all his goals that season came in games Burnley won by the odd goal Chester City (1-0), Oxford United (2-1) and Swindon Town (2-1).

On of the memories most Claret fans who saw Tommy play the following season, was the image of him being knocked out scoring Burnley's goal against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup 5th round where Burnley drew 1-1 (losing the replay at Hillsborough 0-5). Cassidy made 26 appearances that season, where Burnley's cup form could not be replicated in the league.

Burnley were relegated and with it Cassidy was released, he then moved to Cyprus to play for Apoel Nicosia a team he eventually managed in 1985, he stayed in Cyprus till 1989 before returning home to the north-east to manage Gateshead.

 In 1994 he returned to the Oval where he started his career this time as manager of a demoralised Glentoran, and helped them to an early success in the Gold Cup.

 In 1998 Cassidy was appointed manager of Ards, but was sacked, in October 1999  Cassidy took charge of League of Ireland Sligo Rovers, he left in 2001.

 After leaving Sligo Cassidy briefly scouted Irish League players for then Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy, before returning to management with Northern League Division One club, Workington. He guided the Reds to promotion to the Premier League in 2004, and runners-up spot the following season saw the club promoted to the Football Conference Northern Division.

After a spell as manager of Newcastle Blue Star, Cassidy is now a popular contributor to BBC Radio Cumbria's football coverage, acting as a match summariser on Carlisle United games and pundit on their weekly sport shows.