Club gifted Renfrewshire Cup winners’ medals

We were very grateful to recently receive the donation of two Renfrewshire Cup medals won by late former player John Evans Whigham.

John, known as Johnny, played for the Ton between 1947 and 1952, making 155 appearances in all competitions, including the 1948 Scottish Cup final against Rangers as well as the subsequent replay.

A former mechanical engineer, lecturer, and vice principal, he was born and raised in Rutherglen and passed away on 21 September 1999.

The medals, gifted to us by the left-back’s daughter Susan Berry, were won following Renfrewshire Cup final victories over local rivals St Mirren in seasons 1948/49 and 1950/51.

Ton beat the Saints 3-1 on 24 August 1949 having eased past Moorpark in the final four, and 1-0 on 22 August 1951 following a victory over India of Inchinnan at the semi-final stage.

We asked programme editor and keen club historian Niall McGilp to shed further light on the career of John Whigham and the finals in question.

He said: “Johnny Whigham signed from Queen’s Park in May 1947 and played 155 games for the club, 112 of which came in the league. He played mainly at left back, but from time to time also turned out at centre-half.

“He was a member of the 1948 Scottish Cup final team and played in both games. As far as I can see, he was on Morton’s books until the mid 1950s, but in dispute over his contract and playing in the Highland League.

“His last appearances for the club were in 1951/52. By that time he had experienced relegation in 1949, promotion in 1950, and relegation again in 1952, losing 2-0 to Motherwell in what was his farewell game.

“In terms of the finals, both games were at Cappielow. In 1949 Morton lined up: Cowan, Connell, Mitchell, Divers, Whigham, Whyte, Farquhar, Boyd, Miller, McGarrity, and Alexander.

“Over 8,000 fans saw Morton lead 1-0 at half-time, and they went on to win 3-1 with McGarrity scoring a hat-trick. Wilson scored for St Mirren.

“The 1951 line-up was: Cowan, Mitchell, Whigham, Little, Thom, Hunter, Gibson, Gourlay, Linwood, McGarrity, and Garth. Morton’s goal was scored by Scottish international Alex Linwood in front of a crowd of 5,000.”

Image (main and bottom): Jonathan Mitchell