Former Halifax Town winger Frank Brogan has died, aged 79

Former Haliax Town winger Frank Brogan has died in Falkirk, aged 79.
Frank BroganFrank Brogan
Frank Brogan

Born in Stepps, Glasgow, in August 1942, his career saw him play top flight football in both Scotland and England, having joined Celtic straight from school.

He was handed his debut by manager Jim McGrory in the Charity Cup Final on 9 May 1961, which Celtic drew 1-1 with Clyde.

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Blessed with lightning pace – it was reported that he could run one hundred yards in just over ten seconds – Brogan, however, never managed to hold down a regular place in the side and made 48 league appearances in four seasons with the Bhoys.

Yet, he netted an impressive seventeen goals for the club, amongst which was Celtic’s 5,000th goal in the Scottish League in the match with Partick Thistle at Firhill on 4 April 1962.

Whilst younger brother Jim followed him into the Celtic side and had a longer association with the club, in June 1964 Frank Brogan joined Second Division Ipswich Town, then managed by Bill McGarry, and became a real crowd favourite.

He made his league debut at outside-left in a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on 7 October 1964, and his 13 league goals he scored that term included the first of three hat-tricks he scored for the club in a 7-0 victory a month later.

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Brogan became the regular penalty taker and in 1967-68 he made 36 league appearances and was top scorer with 17 goals as Ipswich won the Second Division championship.

He went on to make 203 league appearances and score 58 goals for the club but was sidelined throughout 1970-71 with a broken ankle.

Brogan went on loan to Scottish First Division side Morton at the beginning of the following season, scoring a penalty in a 4-1 friendly with the mighty Leeds United and making two appearances, both in the Scottish League Cup, before leaving the club.

He then moved to The Shay in November 1971, signed by manager Ray Henderson, and made an impressive start, scoring the game’s opening goal with a shot from outside the box on his debut in the match with Rotherham United, then notching Town’s goal in his second game in the 2-1 defeat at Brighton.

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Sadly, however, Brogan had the misfortune to break his ankle for a second time in the 13th minute of his third match with Plymouth Argyle, an injury that ruled him out of the rest of the season.

He reappeared in time for the start of the following campaign, but lost his place in the side under George Mulhall and was released upon the season’s close, having made a total of 32 senior appearances for the club, scoring six goals.

Brogan gave up the professional game an moved back to Scotland where he had a spell coaching Blantyre Celtic whilst managing several public houses.

He latterly owned a fleet of taxis whilst living in Falkirk.

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