Chris Conway played in both the Scottish and the English League before recieving an offer to play in the NSL with Toronto Sparta in 1958.
Christopher Conway was born on July 23, 1928 in Dundee, Scotland. He only took up soccer when he was in the army in the early 1950’s. Playing as a goalkeeper.
Chris made his debut in senior soccer for Ayr United in December 1952 in the Scottish second division. He played in three league games for Ayr.
The 6ft 3in goalkeeper signed for Bury in September 1954. After a few reserve games he made his debut for the senior team on September 25, 1954, against Rotherham in the English second division. Chris played in a total 44 league games for Bury.
He spent the 1956-57 season with Poole Town. The club won the Western League championship that season. Chris signed as a professional player for Sittingbourne in July 1957. Sittingbourne were the champions of the 1957-58 Kent League.
In the beginning of April 1958 Chris signed for Montrose of the Scottish second division. Later that month he recieved an offer from Toronto club Sparta. The offer was that air travel would be paid by Sparta, also a job was lined up for him. He was guaranteed $100 a week, with Sparta paying the difference of the income from the job.
Chris left Scotland by air on Wednesday May 7, 1958, to join Toronto Sparta. In his two seasons with Sparta the team finished in mid-table positions. This was at a time that the National Soccer League probably was at its highest level through all its years. In the 1959 season former Scottish international Sam Cox was the coach of the team.
In the 1960 and in the 1961 NSL seasons Chris played for Ulster United. The formerly great Redhanders were at this time struggling. In the 1960 season they used four different goalkeepers, Chris being one of them.
Chris played for Queen’s City in the National Soccer League in the 1962 season. He was still rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the league.
Sources: Photo from the J.F. Sporting Collectibles football cards newspapers.com
Great Chris Conway review.Grew up in dads dressing room filled with muddy cleats and muscle rub vapour at old football parks long gone .Thanks for preserving my dads memory to me on Remembrance Day
Hi Daniel. I loved writing about your dad. Such a great career!
Sorry to hear about your loss Daniel. He was from the same neck of the woods as me. I wasn’t aware that your father had passed on. Can I ask when this happened?
Hi Daniel,
Your wording seems to suggest your father is no longer with us? Is that the case? If so, sorry to hear this. Christian, great article and thanks for remembering the players from yesteryear.