Jimmy McCabe

Name: James Joseph McCabe
Born: 17 September 1918, Draperstown
Died: July 1989, Cleveland, Teesside (England)
Height: 5.09½ ft
Weight: 11.09 st
Position: Wing-Half

Representative Honours: Ireland: 6 Full Caps (1948-1953).

Club Career:
Club................. --Seasons-- Signed --Fee-- League FACup
Billingham Synthonia Juniors ............. Youth
South Bank St Peter’s .....................Youth (Teesside League)
Middlesbrough ....... 46/47-47/48 May-37 ...Free .34/ 0 .8/ 0
Leeds United ........ 48/49-53/54 Mar-48 £10,000 152/ 0 .9/ 0
Peterborough United ............. May-54 ...Free (Midland League)
TOTALS ................................. £10,000 186/ 0 17/ 0

Biography:
Born in Draperstown, Jimmy McCabe moved to the South Bank area of Middlesbrough as a youth. He played football with local side South Bank St Peter’s, a team based round the local catholic church, which also gave the the game Wilf Mannion.

In May 1937 McCabe signed with Middlesbrough, but he had to wait until after the Second World War to make his debut. During the War years he served with the Green Howards with distinction, notably in the Middle East, and attained the rank of sergeant.

After the War ended McCabe became noted as a gifted no-nonsense wing-half with real footballing quality, and able to perform with ease on either the left or right. Transferred to Leeds in March 1948 for a fee of £10,000 plus John Hodgson. In just over six seasons at Elland Road McCabe was part of a side which consistently finished in the top-half of Division Two, without being able to make that push to promotion.

Capped by Northern Ireland on six occasions, from 1948 to 1953, it would surely have been many more had it not been for the War. He was employed variously at right-half, left-half, centre-half and right-back, he was unfortunate that each match ended in defeat.

McCabe left Leeds in 1954, joining non-League Peterborough. Later he returned to Teeside where he worked in the chemical industry for ICI. Regarded as a great character by those who knew him, McCabe was best man at old-pal Mannion’s wedding. He passed away in 1989.

Ireland Cap Details:
17/11/1948 Scotland A L 2-3 BC
09/03/1949 Wales... H L 0-2 BC
06/11/1949 England. A L 2-9 WCQ
07/03/1951 Wales... H L 1-2 BC
15/04/1953 Wales... H L 2-3 BC
03/10/1953 Scotland H L 1-3 WCQ

Summary: 6/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 6.