How Wiggy become a Cork soccer legend

Turn back time: Dave Wigginton heads goalwards against Shelbourne in a 1973 FAI Cup match.

A DIFFERENCE of opinion between Derby County manager Brian Clough and one of the club’s young apprentices, Dave Wigginton, helped to provide Cork Hibs with the most prolific goal scorer in their history.

In 1968, Wiggy, who was just 17, returned to his native Nottingham after a row with Clough who refused to offer him a professional contract.

Hibs manager Amby Fogarty was looking to strengthen his team and made contact with Clough who informed him of Wiggy’s availability.

Amby persuaded Wiggy to sign for Hibs and in August 1968 the youngster made his debut at centre forward against Waterford in the shield.

Dave’s first season was full of promise and his partnership with Carl Davenport yielded 25 league goals, which helped Hibs to a third place finish in the table.

Dave netted 16 times (nine in the league) in that debut season.

The following term he helped Hibs to qualify for Europe, which was achieved after they defeated Waterford in the shield decider and he ended the season as the league’s second highest scorer with 17 goals, just one behind Brendan Bradley.

Dave’s 100th goal (all competitions) for Hibs arrived on January 28th, 1973, when they beat Home Farm in the league at the Lodge.

There is no doubt that Wiggy could have returned to England and played at a decent level but he just didn’t bother.

With Hibs he won a league championship, two FAI Cups, Blaxnit All-Ireland, Shield, Dublin City and Munster Cup medals and he represented the League of Ireland in matches against the English, Irish and Lega Nazionale.

Dave’s overall tally of 130 goals with Hibs was remarkable considering that he spent lengthy periods on the sideline with cartilage injuries and, in fact, announced his retirement on more than one occasion.

When Hibs folded in 1976 Dave quit the game for a few years before making a comeback with Cork Celtic in 1978. Cork Celtic were expelled at the end of that season and he joined Cork Utd. In 1982 the well-known soccer ace brought the curtain down on a glorious career when he retired from the game after assisting the John Herrick-managed Galway Utd.

Courtsey of Plunket Carter