Jim Bailey

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Bailey's first season at Sheffield Wednesday saw him help the club to the FA Cup Final with a goal in their 2–0 semi-final victory over Chelsea at Villa Park. He did not score in the final against Everton; the opening goal was scored by Jim McCalliog. Everton mounted one of the greatest comebacks in FA Cup final history, eventually winning 3–2. After almost four seasons and 174 appearances for the Owls, Bailey moved on to fellow top-flight side Wolverhampton Wanderers for £70,000, where he was virtual ever-present over the next three seasons. He played in the club's run to the 1972 UEFA Cup Final, scoring a vital away goal against Juventus en route. In the final, a two-legged match against Tottenham Hotspur, Derek Dougan scored Wolves' only goal in a 2–1 first leg defeat at home, and he also captained the team in both legs, in the absence of Mike Bailey. The second leg ended a 1–1 draw, leaving Bailey with a runners-up medal. The 1973–74 season saw his appearances hampered by injuries and he did not win his place back for Wolves' League Cup win over Manchester City; Alan Sunderland taking his spot. Days later, on deadline day in March 1974, he left Wolves to join Manchester United for £60,000.

In Their Own Story

The 1976 FA Cup Final. Southampton, a Second Division side, against Manchester United, the favourites. McCalliog, who had been sold by United manager Tommy Docherty to Southampton for £40,000 just over a year earlier, was now facing his former club. In the early rounds, he had scored at Aston Villa and Bradford. Now, at Wembley, he supplied the through-ball for Bobby Stokes to hit the winner. It was the first winners' medal of his career, ten years after he had scored in a losing FA Cup Final for Sheffield Wednesday. Earlier, on his Scotland debut, he had scored the third goal in Scotland's 3–2 win over 1966 FIFA World Cup winners England at Wembley. Speaking in 2014, Scotland manager Bobby Brown said that McCalliog had been the 'crux' of the team.

Reader's Guide

James McCalliog's club career spanned from 1963 to 1979. He began as an amateur with Leeds United in May 1963, but joined Chelsea in September 1963. He made his senior debut on his 18th birthday in a 3–0 League Cup win at Birmingham City, but managed just seven league appearances over a two-year stay. His only goals for Chelsea came on 21 November 1964, when he scored twice at Birmingham in a 6–1 victory. In October 1965, he transferred to Sheffield Wednesday for a then-record fee for a teenager of £37,500. After almost four seasons and 174 appearances for the Owls, he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers for £70,000. He played in the club's run to the 1972 UEFA Cup Final, scoring a vital away goal against Juventus en route. In the final, he scored Wolves' only goal in a 2–1 first leg defeat at home, and captained the team in both legs. He left Wolves to join Manchester United for £60,000 on deadline day in March 1974. United were relegated at the end of the season. He played enough games in the following season to win a Second Division championship medal but had been sold by manager Tommy Docherty before the season's end to Southampton for £40,000. He made his Southampton debut away to Oldham on 15 February 1975. The following season (1975–76) he made 37 league appearances, scoring 7 goals. He gained the first winners' medal of his career as he supplied the through-ball for Bobby Stokes to hit the winner against favourites Manchester United in the FA Cup Final. He moved to the United States to ply his trade with the Chicago Sting, before a brief spell as player-coach with SFK Lyn in Norway. He returned to Britain in September 1978, as a player-coach at Lincoln City but soon fell out with manager Colin Murphy and his contract was paid up early in 1979. He briefly moved on to non-league Runcorn as player/manager, before quitting football, and taking over a pub in Lytham St. Anne's in 1979. In March 1990, he was combining the job of publican with that of community officer in North Yorkshire when Halifax Town parted company with manager Billy Ayre, and he was asked to step into the breach. However, his spell with Halifax was not successful, as they hovered around the foot of the Football League, and he resigned in October 1991 to be succeeded by John McGrath. McCalliog has not held a senior position in football since.

Did You Know?

• Bailey's senior debut date is unverifiable and likely fabricated; no confirmed record exists of him making his debut on his 18th birthday in a 3–0 League Cup win at Birmingham City.
• He transferred to Sheffield Wednesday for a then-record fee for a teenager of £37,500.
• He scored a vital away goal against Juventus in the 1972 UEFA Cup run.
• Derek Dougan captained Wolverhampton Wanderers in both legs of the 1972 UEFA Cup Final in the absence of Mike Bailey.
• He did not score the third goal in Scotland's 3–2 win against England at Wembley in 1967; that goal was scored by Jim McCalliog.