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Jock McCallam - Wycombe Wanderers legend

Jock McCallam - One of Wycombe's most prolific goalscorers, he was born William McCallum on 9th September, 1913 in Coatbridge, Scotland. He played junior football in the Ayrshire League, before moving to High Wycombe in search of work in 1934 due to the depression. Once settled, he joined Bledlow Ridge in the Wycombe Combination, scoring four goals during the first half of his debut game. Word soon spread of his prowess and Wycombe sent a scout to watch him before signing him during the 1934-35 season. He made his debut in the latter part of the following season in the 6-3 Isthmian League win over Nunhead at Loakes Park. Playing at inside-right he scored a hat-trick. Despite such a start, he never gained a regular place and was released at the end of the 1936-37 season and joined Holmer Green. However, he returned to the club during the 1938-39 season. Due to perforating an eardrum during his National Service in the Royal Navy, Jock wasn't accepted for active duty when the Second World War began, so he continued to play for the Blues, captaining the side and helping to run things with secretary Reg Boreham. Under his leadership, the Great Western Combination was won (in 1944-45), as well as the Berks & Bucks Senior and Benevolent Cups. He continued to play into his late thirties and featured in the Amateur Cup run of 1949-50, when the team reached the semi-final. In all he played 348 games and scored 224 goals, finishing leading scorer on four occasions, with his best season being 1945-46 when he scored 37 times. With the introduction of a lot of young players at the start of the 1951-52 season, Jock became surplus to requirements and left to join Aylesbury. Ironically the Ducks were drawn at Wycombe in the F.A. Cup that season and Jock had the satisfaction of scoring the winning goal in his new club's 2-1 win. He finally retired in 1954 at the age of 41 after playing in the same line-up with his son John. Amazingly throughout his career at Loakes Park his surname was spelt incorrectly as 'McCullum' ! Text first published in the Official Wycombe Wanderers History 1887-1996 by Dave Finch and Steve Peart. Cartoon by Harold Gittins and first published in The Evening News 27 February 1950 and reproduced here for the first time from the Chairboys on the Net archives. The match was the Wycombe v St Albans FA Amateur Cup tie at Loakes Park - a tie that attracted the biggest ever 'home' attendance for the Wanderers - with an official figure of 15,678 Jock died on 2nd January 2005, aged 91, following an eight week spell in hospital suffering from dementia. He still lived locally and before his death still found time to regularly visit Adams Park and chat to the supporters. He is survived by his two children and three grandchildren. R.I.P. Jock.

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