Frank Connor

Cowdenbeath FC have sadly learned of the passing of the club’s former manager Frank Connor today after a short illness. We send condolences on behalf of Cowdenbeath FC and all our fans to Frank’s family and friends. Frank recently celebrated his 86th birthday and was residing in Croftbank House Nursing Home, Uddingston.

Blantyre born Frank Connor joined Celtic as a goalkeeper in 1960 but only ever made 8 appearances for them. He then appeared for Portadown, Derry City, St Mirren, and Albion Rovers. Brought from Alloa to Cowden as coach along with manager Dan McLindon, Frank succeeded him as manager at Central Park in late 1975. It was Frank’s first managerial post and it was at Central Park that he first showed the qualities which marked him out as a born football manager. Frank was one of the game’s great characters and enthusiasts and was a popular figure at Central Park. He however left Cowden for his first love Celtic in 1977 when he was appointed coach. Subsequently he managed Berwick and Raith Rovers where he enjoyed success, and then was assistant manager of Hearts, Motherwell, Morton and Celtic. Many favoured him to succeed Liam Brady at Celtic when he was acting manager for a spell before the appointment of Lou Macari. Later his stentorian tones were heard at Ayr United and even on the sidelines of the East of Scotland League.

Ex-Cowden manager Paddy Wilson recalled Frank as follows - ‘My last season as a player was 1975/76 and Frank Connor had signed me for Cowdenbeath by then. Frank was different class and an in your face sort of guy. Sometimes I would say to him, ‘Frank you’re gein me a sair heid’. He was really a gem of a guy. I played in one match for Cowden when Frank turned out in an emergency in goal aged 40. It was at Alloa and his shoulder popped out the first time he went to get the ball and he had to go off. Then I became his assistant. His pal was Billy Simpson and I remember when big Billy blasted a 30 yard equaliser into the net at East End Park in the very last minute. Frank ran onto the pitch to celebrate and fell all his length in the mud in his new raincoat’.

And Sir Alex Ferguson still remembers when he brought his St Mirren side to Central Park for a Scottish Cup tie and saw them lose to Cowden – ‘The Cowdenbeath manager, Frank Connor, used to sit on a bench on the side of the track. He didn't like a decision by the referee, and he threw the bench onto the pitch! I said to him, 'Jesus Christ, Frank, you're three goals up and you're throwing a bench onto the pitch!'