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Sixties Midfielder Hegan Dies
Thursday, 6th Aug 2015 23:18

Former Town midfielder Danny Hegan, a member of Bill McGarry’s 1967/68 Second Division championship side, died earlier today at a Birmingham hospice after a battle with cancer, aged 72.

Coatbridge-born Hegan started his career in his native Scotland with Bellshill Athletic and Albion Rovers, joining the Blues from his first English club Sunderland in September 1963.

The fans’ favourite went on to make 230 appearances and score 38 goals for the Blues before moving on to West Brom in May 1969.

He made 41 league appearances and scored six goals in Town's 1967/68 Second Division championship title campaign.

He went on to follow McGarry to Wolves in May 1970 - appearing in both legs of the 1972 UEFA Cup final as the Midlanders lost to Spurs - Sunderland for a second spell, South African side Highlands Park, Partick Thistle (loan), Coleshill Town and Clacton Town. He won seven caps with Northern Ireland after leaving the Blues.

Having retired, he coached children at Butlins at Clacton and Minehead, before working in industrial cleaning in Corby and then cleaning and labouring back in the West Midlands.


Photo: Action Images



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jabberjackson added 23:25 - Aug 6
RIP Mr Hegan
5

51blue added 23:32 - Aug 6
Very sad to hear this news, was one of my and many others favourite players from the last fifty years, RIP Danny you will long live in the memory of those lucky enough to have seen you.
6

raycrawfordswig added 00:08 - Aug 7
RIP Danny thanks for the memories.
5

floridablue added 01:47 - Aug 7
One of my favourites players from following Town home and away through the sixties. Anyone else there for Towns away game at Leicester in the late 60s which i think we won 3-1. Our first season back in the "premier league" Brilliant goal from Danny in monsoon weather.

6

kiwiblue added 03:07 - Aug 7
RIP Danny. one of the legends from the 60's. sad to hear the labouring and cleaning jobs in later life , should be a sobering reminder to the stars of today and tomoro over how lucky they are with the excessive wages.
5

Sporall added 05:18 - Aug 7
Before my time, but seems i missed a quality player and big contributor to our history. RIP.
2

therein61 added 06:01 - Aug 7
R.I.P Danny, very skilful and a joy to watch.
5

bigdan added 06:10 - Aug 7
Never saw him play for us, but he so impressed my mum that she named me after him. RIP Danny.
2

TrueBlueFerret added 06:15 - Aug 7
R.I.P DANNY HEGAN a pleasure to watch in my early days RESPECT #ITFC
2

bayblue added 07:34 - Aug 7
Walked passed him in a Birmingham shopping centre 2009ish but didn't realise it till a few minutes later. Once saw his name in a newspaper team list as Gehan and thought we had signed a new player! Mercurial player. RIP.
2

PJH added 07:45 - Aug 7
A sad loss,my favorite player at that time.
Really brilliant when on form.
floridablue-I was at Leicester at that game you mention in 1968.

RIP Danny
2

bracknell_blue added 07:59 - Aug 7
RIP. Scored in my first ever Town match, so always a hero.
1

budgieplucker added 08:20 - Aug 7
A real favourite of mine as well, very skillful but tigerish as well, always thought of him as our version of Allan Ball. Really gutted when he left us. I am not sure if I was dreaming this but does any one recall was it Danny who tried a shot from the halfway line for Wolves in the eufa cup final and hit the bar?
2

WeWereZombies added 08:24 - Aug 7
My first thought when I saw the headline for this news was 'Well, he was a fan's favourite', spot on Phil. And, Bayblue, mercurial - yes. I don't know how he would compare with the well trained players of today but back then he seemed the fastest player on the pitch by a country mile. RIP and remembered with a smile for those zippy interceptions and darting runs.
2

Millsey added 08:48 - Aug 7
A great player of the age RIP Danny
2

Hegansheroes added 09:09 - Aug 7
Great player. Almost as skilful as Fras Thiejsen but had a bit of a wayward shot sometimes getting closer to the corner flag than the goal. Remember leaving the ground one Saturday after a match & he was already at the Station hotel by the time we had walked from PR to the station. Invited us lads probably about 13 years old then for a drink. Heard later he did have a bit of a problem with booze but so did many players at the time. I'll remember him as a part of McGarry's champions of 68
2

Hegansheroes added 09:09 - Aug 7
Great player. Almost as skilful as Fras Thiejsen but had a bit of a wayward shot sometimes getting closer to the corner flag than the goal. Remember leaving the ground one Saturday after a match & he was already at the Station hotel by the time we had walked from PR to the station. Invited us lads probably about 13 years old then for a drink. Heard later he did have a bit of a problem with booze but so did many players at the time. I'll remember him as a part of McGarry's champions of 68
1

GREYBLUE added 09:12 - Aug 7
RIP Danny, have great memories of him playing for us in the 1960's
2

OldClactonBlue added 09:20 - Aug 7
RIP
One of my favourite players in the early days
2

Casbo added 09:52 - Aug 7
Great player and scored for Town on my first ever visit to Portman Road in 1966. I remember being really disappointed when he left for Wolves and he certainly left a gap in our midfield when he joined McGarry in the Midlands. I can recall one fan saying "Hegan is a game changer".
1

sir_george_burley added 09:58 - Aug 7
I started watching in the promotion season 67/68 and Danny was certainly one of my favourites. I wonder whether others recall his habitual long sleeves pulled down over his hands as he would weave in and out (on a good day) of the opposition midfield and defenders. I can picture it now ... I'd forgotten the dodgy shooting but I recall it now people mention it.

It is sad to hear of his passing away at no age at all.
2

itsonlyme added 10:23 - Aug 7
Saw him score a stunner at carrot road when his thunderbolt shot came down off the bar and into the net. What a player! R.I.P Danny!
1

dalinghooblue added 10:31 - Aug 7
Sad News. A feisty little midfielder. RIP
1

ZurichBlue added 10:43 - Aug 7
I have very fond memories of Danny playing for Town in the late 60s; a great player on his day but a bit inconsistent it has to be said. RiP
1

Hegansheroes added 11:13 - Aug 7
Sir George burley-I'd forgotten about the shirt sleeves now you mention it, he was quite a character with a sense of mischief I think. Great side in 1968 along with Jungle Boy, Frank Brogan , Viljoen etc.
1


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