The centre of a major Leicester City controversy when chosen in Ken Leek’s No.9 shirt for the 1961 FA Cup Final, after having played only seven League games, Hugh was in no way overawed by the Wembley ocasion, assuming an intelligent deep lying role and looking City’s most dangerous forward.
Nonetheless, he was then subjected to perhaps over intense scrutiny from a septical crowd as he struggled to maintain a first team striker’s role the following season. The sense of too much responsibility being heaped upon the stender youngster too soon was borne out by his future development into a fine and versatile servant for a host of other clubs.
His first of three spells at Brunton Park saw Hugh McIlmoyle top the Football League scoring charts with 39 goals in Carlisle’s 1964 rise from the Fourth Divison, and he helpded them into the Second Division a year later. Subsequent moved attracted some hefty transfer fees, with Hugh’s heading abilities in particular being much in demand, and he matured eventually into a perceptive attacking midfielder, bowing out of the senior game with a career aggregate of 161 League goals.
In his third spell with Carlisle United he was one of those players that experienced the thrill of being in the top flight with The Cumbrians. Playing 18 games and scoring 2 goals in that memorable 1974-75 season.
Playing both north and south of the border, the Scot represented a number of clubs besides Leicester City and Carlisle United including stops at Preston North End, Middlesbrough, Bristol City, Greenock Morton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Rotherham United.
The statue raised of Hugh McIlmoyle outside Brunton Park, is a sign of his popularity and said to be “the best player” in the clubs history, scoring a total of 91 goals in 189 games.
FACTFILE:
- Full Name: Hugh McIlmoyle
- Position: Forward
- Date of Birth: 29.01.1940
- Birthplace: Glasgow
- Nation: Scotland
- Caps / Goals: –
- Major League Career:
- 1960-62, Leicester City (20/5)
- 1962, Rotherham United (12/4)
- 1962-1964, Carlisle United (77/44)
- 1964-1967, Wolves (90/35)
- 1967, Bristol City (79/30)
- 1967-1969, Carlisle United (79/30)
- 1969-1971, Middlesbrough (70/19)
- 1971-1973, Preston North End (60/10)
- 1973-1974, Greenock Morton (28/8)
- 1974-1975, Carlisle United (18/2)
- 1975-1976, Greenock Morton (7/1)
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- Category
TCF - FILBERT WAY 
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