Tommy Cairns

Who was Tommy Cairns?

Tommy Cairns was a Scottish footballer who played for Bristol City, Peebles Rovers, St. Johnstone, Rangers, Bradford City and Scotland.

Born in Merryton, Lanarkshire, Cairns' made his name in Junior football, helping Burnbank Athletic to the Scottish Junior Cup in 1911. He also appeared for Larkhall Thistle before earning an opportunity in the senior leagues. His first professional club was Bristol City where he played for two seasons from 1911. He joined Peebles Rovers in 1913 and had a short spell with St. Johnstone before joining Rangers in November 1913. He made his debut against Hamilton Academical on 27 December 1913 and played a total of nine games in his first season as Rangers finished second to rivals Celtic in Division One.

Cairns was a regular in the Rangers team the following season, missing just one league game. Cairns continued to be a regular in the team for the next two seasons but it was in season 1917–18 that he won his first League title. Cairns was an ever present in Rangers' first League title for five years, and scored 11 goals.