Pat Cuff

Pat Cuff

Personal information
Full name	Patrick Joseph Cuff [1]
Date of birth	(1952-03-19) 19 March 1952 (age 71) [2]
Place of birth	Middlesbrough, [2] England
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
–	Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1971–1978	Middlesbrough	31	(0)
1971–1972	→ Grimsby Town (loan)	2	(0)
1978–1980	Millwall	42	(0)
1980–1983	Darlington	110	(0)
Total		185	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Patrick Joseph Cuff (born 19 March 1952) is an English former footballer who made 185 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Middlesbrough, Grimsby Town, Millwall and Darlington. ^[2]

Life and career

Cuff was born in Middlesbrough, ^[2] and was an English schoolboy international. ^{[3] [4]} He began his football career as an apprentice with his hometown club, Middlesbrough F.C., in 1968. ^[5] He made his debut in the Football League while on loan at Grimsby Town in the 1971–72 season, ^[2] but had to wait until April 1974 for his Middlesbrough debut, by which time the club had already won the Second Division title. According to the Guardian's report of the goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers, "Pat Cuff, making his first appearance in the Middlesbrough goal after waiting six years for his chance, did well." ^[6] He continued as backup to regular goalkeeper Jim Platt until a dispute between Platt and manager Jack Charlton in late 1976 gave Cuff a run in the side. ^{[7] [8]}

He finished his Middlesbrough career with 31 League appearances, and moved to Millwall in the 1978 close season on a free transfer. ^[9] He spent two seasons with Millwall: in 1978–79, he was ever-present with 46 appearances in league and cups as the club were relegated to the Third Division, ^[10] but then lost his place to new signing John Jackson and never played for the first team again. ^[11] After three years in the Fourth Division with Darlington, which took his total league appearances to 185, Cuff retired. ^[2]

Cuff became a bookmaker after his retirement from football. ^[3] His son Phil played rugby union for West Hartlepool. ^[12]

References

1. "Miscellaneous documents – Darlington: Records of Darlington Football Club: Players' contracts with the club: Ref: D/XD 97/35/108". Darlington F.C. 16 June 1980. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014– via Durham County Records Office.
2. "Pat Cuff". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
3. "Cuff, Pat". Where Are They Now. Andy Pringle. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
4. "Sean keeps it in the Cuff family!". Evening Gazette. Middlesbrough. 28 January 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
5. Platt, Jim (27 January 2009). "Interview with Peter Brine". Middlesbrough Former Players Association. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
6. "Record spoiled". The Guardian. London. 10 April 1974. p. 23.
7. Diball, Colin (31 December 1976). "Platt in row with Boro". Daily Mirror. London. p. 31.
8. Corrigan, Peter (9 January 1977). "The Wombledon ploughing match". The Observer. London. p. 16.
9. Bradley, Ray (30 July 1978). "Sansom stays with Palace – for three years". Sunday Express. London. p. 31.
10. "Statistics 1978/79". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
11. "Statistics 1978/79". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
12. "Off the Cuff". Hartlepool Mail. 9 February 2001. Retrieved 27 March 2014.