Tommy Cumming Death – Tommy Cumming, a groundsman at Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC passed away in the excellent care of the Highland Hospice at the age of 77. He was announced dead on Thursday, April 20th, 2023, by Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC. “Inverness Caledonian Thistle is deeply saddened to announce the death of its long-serving and highly respected groundsman, Tommy Cumming after a long illness bravely borne.”
Who was Tommy Cumming?
Tommy is from Geddes, which is near Nairn. In the early 1970s, he was hired as the groundskeeper at Grant Street Park in Inverness, which is where Clachnacuddin FC plays. Soon after, he moved to Telford Street in Inverness, which was the home of Caledonian FC. For 20 years, he worked there as the groundsman and kitman for the team. Tommy joined the new club when Caledonian and Inverness Thistle united in 1994.
Tommy has been there ever since, taking care of the field at Caledonian Stadium and, more recently, the training fields at Fort George. He also worked as a milkman for Highland Omnibuses, MacRae, and Dick and Stratton Dairy during his time. He has been a part of the Inverness game for 43 years and has seen ICT go from the bottom of the Scottish League to where they are now. Tommy was a part of the Inverness game for 43 years as a groundsman, kitman, friend, and grump.
He has always been a Caley man, and in 1972, after he finished his milk round, he started doing the ground and the kit. Since the clubs’ tense marriage, there has always been cumming in the inner circle. He’s never been one to keep his thoughts to himself, so he’s had his problems with each of his seven bosses. However, he has a lot of good memories with all of them. Tommy was married to Margaret and had two sons, Thomas and Gary. He also leaves 8 grandchildren, Thomas, Adam, Maisie, Mhairi, Caitlin, Lewis, Melanie, and Seb.
Tribute to Tommy Cumming
Jim Falconer, former secretary of ICT and a close friend, said: “Tommy was a good friend and I will miss him. He was an award-winning groundsman. There are so many stories about Tommy and the lengths he went to provide the best pitch and kit possible. It was his pride and joy and he took it personally if a match had to be postponed because of the weather.”
“Right up until the last few weeks when Tommy was gravely ill, he still made incredible efforts to make our home games along with one of his oldest friends, our former Club Secretary Jim Falconer. He was always positive about the team and the club no matter how the game went. He will be sorely missed by all of us at Caledonian Stadium, particularly Groundsman Dale Stephen, and our deepest condolences go to his family and friends. Tommy was such a character and in terms of service to football in Inverness, we won’t see his like again.” Club CEO Scot Gardiner said.
Tommy Cumming’s obituary and funeral arrangements will be released by the family at a later date.
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