Benny Cairney

Bernard "Benny" Cairney (16 October 1945 – January 2023) was a Scottish professional footballer who played for Motherwell and Wigan Athletic.

Biography Cairney began his football career with junior club Thorniewood United. At the age of 17, he was signed by English First Division club Leicester City in October 1963, but was released at his own request two years later without making a first team appearance. He returned to Scotland and signed a three-month contract with Celtic, where he made several reserve team appearance before joining Motherwell. He made his first team breakthrough at Motherwell, and went on to make 54 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals.

Cairney began a second spell in England in 1968 after joining Northern Premier League club Wigan Athletic, scoring 26 goals in 95 appearances. and went on to score over 50 goals during his two seasons with the club.

After retiring from football, Cairney worked as a chiropodist and physiotherapist.