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

backwaywhen added 11:22 - Aug 7 My favourite player when younger , always wanted to be Danny Hegan in our park games ... No photo to be found Phil !!
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fifeblue added 12:05 - Aug 7 My favourite player as a child and I was bereft when he left us to go to WBA and later on to Wolves. I met him at Clacton Butlins when he told me about the dodgy dealings of Don Revie and Leeds in the 70s to try to get games fixed to enable them to win things. Also remember a story of McGarry at Wolves having to haul Hegan out of bed with some woman on the morning of a match. A wasted talent in many respects who made George Best look like a tea-totaller. He took the corner for Northern Ireland from which Terry Neill scored the winner against England at Wembley in 1972.

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yorksblue added 12:44 - Aug 7 Never saw him play but he presented me with a winners medal at Butlins, Clacton in early 70s, so something and someone you never forget. RIP mate
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bozzly added 15:43 - Aug 7 I remember Danny playing for my local pub team, The Coach And Horses in the Clacton sunday league early 80,s. Great character and always first to the bar after the game! RIP Danny
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Ipswich24 added 16:45 - Aug 7 RIP Danny
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Seasider added 17:03 - Aug 7 Looks like there are a lot of us old uns still left,even though Danny has sadly left us at 72.Do I recall that he was a wideman and Frank Brogan the other? Oh memories!!!
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EatonBlue added 20:51 - Aug 7 Sad news about one of my favourite players. RIP. I remember an amusing incident in a home game v Bristol City when we were awarded a penalty, the ball was placed on the penalty spot but two other Town players were arguing as to which of them should take it. Danny was so frustrated by this that he ran up and blasted the ball high over Churchmans roof!
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wayway added 20:55 - Aug 7 R.I.P. Danny, one of my all time favourites. Well remember the forward line from the 1968 promotion side, Hegan, Viljoen, Crawford, O'Rourke, Brogan. I think I had as much pleasure watching this team than any since and definitely since Robson left,
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