CCFC Old (Birthday) Boy News: Scottish Sky Blue Duo Born On This Day

It is important we mark the birthday of a pair of Scottish international former Sky Blues today – though neither became CCFPA members and, sadly, the older former Sky Blue has fairly recently passed away so we remember him here.

Ian in the Sky Blue

Ian St John, born in Motherwell on 7th June 1938, who played for the Sky Blues in the early seventies would have celebrated his 86th birthday today. ‘The Saint’ died on 1st March 2021  and will be deeply missed. Also we must record the birthday of Stranraer born (on 7th June 1981) former Sky Blue striker Kevin Kyle, who was at the Ricoh from 2006-09, who is celebrating his 43rd birthday today! Congrats KK!

Ian St John & Noel Cantwell

A Noel Cantwell acquisition, the former Liverpool star aka the ‘Saint’ (actually signed from South African club Hellenic), made his Sky Blue debut aged 33 in September 1971 and played 22 times (three goals) before Cantwell’s successors Joe Mercer and (now CCFPA member) Gordon Milne transferred him to Tranmere Rovers for his swansong the following season.

After starting out with Scottish outfit Motherwell in 1956, the Scottish international forward (21 Full Caps; nine goals 1959-65), found fame and glory as a key player for Bill Shankly‘s mighty Reds between 1961–71. That squad emerged from the second tier of English football to win two League titles and one FA Cup (scoring the winner in the 1965 final). After his brief spell with Tranmere Rovers the Saint retired from playing football in 1973 and a spell in management (including back at Motherwell in 1973 and Portsmouth 1974-77) he soon became famous/ notorious as a sports media pundit. He formed a world famous, longtime, ITV football commentary double act with former Tottenham star Jimmy Greaves (‘Saint & Greavsie’) from 1985 to 1992 and in 2008, he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

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Kevin in the Sky Blue

Our other Scottish Birthday Boy Kevin Kyle was signed by Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ (former player and now CCFPA member) Micky Adams from Sunderland in August 2006 for £600k. In seven seasons (2000-07) with the Black Cats KK knocked in 19 goals in 109 appearances plus another two goals in eighteen games out on loan during 2000-01 (with successively Huddersfield Town, Darlington and Rochdale). Kevin ended his career with ten full Scotland Caps between 2002-10 scoring once.

Kevin in Sky Blue action

Encouragingly Kevin scored on his Sky Blue debut in a 1-0 win at Hull City on 28th August 2006. However, in the end, the strong, tall and bustling international did not fulfill his hoped-for potential and finished up with only five goals in his 47 first team CCFC appearances.  He was loaned out to Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 2008 (one goal in thirteen games) and Hartlepool United in October 2008 (one goal in fifteen appearances) before moving back north of the border with, in turn, Kilmarnock (2008 -eighteen goals in 48 games), Hearts (2012 -netting ten times in 22 outings), Rangers (2012 -three goals in eleven appearances). He finished his career in Scotland at Ayr United where he hung up his boots in 2014 having netted five times in 27 outings.

Happy Birthday today, Kevin!