Andy McCombie

Infobox Football biography
playername = Andy McCombie


fullname = Andrew McCombie
dateofbirth = birth date|1876|6|30|df=y
cityofbirth = Inverness
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath = 1952
height =
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Right back
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years =
1898–1904
1904–1910
clubs = Inverness Thistle
Sunderland
Newcastle United
caps(goals) =
157 0(6)
113 0(0)
manageryears =
managerclubs =
nationalyears = 1903–1905
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 004 0(0)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Andrew McCombie (30 June 1876 – 1952) was a Scottish international footballer who played at right back for North East England rival clubs Sunderland and Newcastle United. He won the Football League championship with both clubs, and was twice on the losing side in the FA Cup final. He went on to have a long career as a coach with Newcastle.

Career

underland

McCombie was born in Inverness and started his career at Inverness Thistle before moving south of the border to join Sunderland in December 1898. He made his first team debut away to Sheffield Wednesday on 18 February 1899, while regular right-back Philip Bach was playing for England at Roker Park, Sunderland. In Bach's absence on international duty, McCombie took over at right-back in a 1–0 victory. [ [http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Imatchdets/IMD4434.asp Sheffield Wednesday 0 Sunderland 1, 18 February 1899 (Match summary)] ] Bach was unable to regain his place, making only two further appearances before he was transferred to Middlesbrough.

McCombie was ever-present in his first full season, with Sunderland finishing third in the League table. The following season McCombie only missed one game as Sunderland finished runners-up, with McCombie and Jimmy Watson teaming up in front of goal-keeper Ned Doig. The three Scottish internationals appeared in a notable total of 109 league and cup games between February 1900 and February 1904 when McCombie was transferred to Newcastle United. [ [http://www.doigsden.co.uk/NedDoig.htm Article on Ned Doig] ]

In 1901–02 McCombie missed the final eight games, as Sunderland claimed the Championship by a three point margin over Everton.

His first international appearance for Scotland came in a 1–0 victory over Wales on 9 March 1903. In the next match, against England on 4 April, McCombie was teamed in defence with his Sunderland colleagues, Doig and Watson, resulting in a Scottish victory by 2 goals to 1. [ [http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/games/19030404.html England 1 Scotland 2, 4 April 1903 (Match summary)] ]

In 1903 Sunderland A.F.C. were rocked by a financial scandal involving McCombie. Sunderland's board of Directors gave the player £100 in order to start up in business, with the view that his benefit game would see him repay the money. McCombie however saw the money as a gift and refused to pay back the club. The Football Association launched an inquiry and agreed with McCombie, stating that it was a "resigning/win/draw bonus" and furthermore the books of Sunderland showed financial irregularities, and so violating the rules of the game. Sunderland were fined £250, with six directors being suspended for two and a half years, and manager Alex Mackie receiving a suspension.

Shortly afterwards, McCombie was transferred to arch-rivals Newcastle United signing for them in February 1904. His final appearance for Sunderland was in a 6–0 victory over Bury on 23 January 1904. [ [http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Imatchdets/IMD4225.asp Sunderland 6 Bury 0, 23 January 1904 (Match summary)] ] In his 5 years with Sunderland, he made a total of 164 appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals. His last goal came against his future employers, a penalty in a 1–1 draw at Roker Park on 1 January 1904. [ [http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Imatchdets/IMD4221.asp Sunderland 1 Bury 1, 1 January 1904 (Match summary)] ]

Newcastle United

He is reported to have joined Newcastle United for a fee of £700. [ [http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2006/10/18/toon-nostalgia-on-the-cards-for-fans-72703-17951995/ Toon nostalgia on the cards (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)] ] If correct this would have been a world record transfer fee, exceeding the fee of £520 paid by Sunderland in June 1904 for Alf Common. He was to remain at Newcastle until shortly before his death.

He made his Newcastle debut in a 4–1 victory over Notts County on 13 February 1904. [ [http://www.khscott.org.uk/nufc/includes/match_detail.php?id=248 Newcastle United 4 Notts Conty 1, 13 February 1904 (Match summary)] ] In his first match back at Roker Park for his new employers on 24 December 1904 he scored a first-minute own goal as Sunderland ran out 3–1 victors. [ [http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Imatchdets/IMD4183.asp Sunderland 3 Newcastle United 1, 24 December 1904 (Match summary)] ] In his first full season at St James' Park he missed only three games as Newcastle claimed the Football League title for the first time by a single point margin over Everton. He capped this with two further appearances for Scotland with a 3–1 victory over Wales on 6 March 1905 and a 1–0 defeat by England on 1 April. In the last match, played at Crystal Palace, he was joined by Newcastle colleagues Andy Aitken, Peter McWilliam and James Howie.

A fortnight after his final Scotland appearance, he was part of the Newcastle United team which was beaten at the Crystal Palace ground 2–0 in the cup final by Aston Villa. He was to return to Crystal Palace for the 1906 FA Cup Final, when he was again on the losing side as Newcastle went down 1–0 to Everton.

Newcastle claimed the title for a second time in 1907 with McCombie making 26 appearances. In Newcastle's third championship season, 1908–09, McCombie only made one appearance. He remained as a player at St James' Park until 1910, with his final game being a 4–0 defeat at Aston Villa on 27 April 1910. [ [http://www.khscott.org.uk/nufc/includes/match_detail.php?id=1796 Aston Villa 4 Newcastle United 0, 27 April 1910 (Match summary)] ]

In his six years at Newcastle, he made a total of 132 first team appearances, never scoring.

Later career

After hanging up his boots, he remained on Newcastle United's coaching staff, rising to become the first team trainer by the time he retired in 1950. He died in 1952.

Honours

;Sunderland
*Football League champions: 1901–02

;Newcastle United
*Football League champions: 1904–05 and 1906–07
*FA Cup finalists: 1905 and 1906

References

External links

* [http://www.a-love-supreme.com/100%20greatest/50-41.htm Sunderland profile]
* [http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Mplayers/MPG546.asp Complete Sunderland record]
* [http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/players/andrewmccombie.html Scotland profile]
* [http://www.khscott.org.uk/nufc/template_player.php?pid=495 Complete Newcastle United record]