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Wilbur Cush spent most of his career in his native Northern
Ireland with Glenavon and Portadown, picking up a variety of league
and cup winners' medals. He was a versatile player, who played at
half back and occasionally up front, and his skills were recognised
at international level, with his debut coming at the age of 23
against England. Having joined Leeds in 1957, he took over from
John Charles as club captain, and his international career reached
a peak with his participation in the 1958 World Cup Finals. He
returned to Northern Ireland in summer 1960, first with Portadown
and then returning to Glenavon as a coach. He died in summer
1981.
Colin Barber says: I have a recollection of Wilbur Cush being a
rather short man and playing at centre half while Jack Charlton a
rather tall man played centre forward. Can anyone confirm this
memory?
Bob Hanson says: Sorry, Colin Barber, you are wrong. Wilbur Cush
was indeed a short man, but always played at right-half and always
wearing number 4. I was at Elland Road a few years ago attending a
wedding reception in the Captains Lounge where I saw a photograph
of him displayed there. I am sorry to learn of his death from this
profile. I do remember also that he lived on Whitehall Road, almost
opposite Ringways Garage - the first house up the hill from the
parade of shops there. Furthermore he had a very attractive
dark-haired wife.(A young lad with raging hormones noticed these
things).
John Reilly says: Apparently Wilbur Cush has relatives in
Barrow-in-Furness ? I only learned of this since Peter Risdale's
close association with the Barrow chairman. I don't know if any of
this can be confirmed. It would be interesting to see if there is
another link between Leeds Utd and Barrow.
Tony Dolan says: No, I didn't see him play but, obviously I know
of him. I am originally from Barrow-in-Furness, now living in
Manchester. My mother's maiden name was Cush and her father,
Patrick Cush, was from Tyrone in Northern Ireland. There are still
many of the Cush family in Barrow. If you go to the Pathe News new
web site (pathenews.com) and key in Cush in the search, you will
get information about Wilbur playing for Northern Ireland, and My
uncle, Jimmy Cush from Barrow, escaping from a POW camp. Are we
related to Wilbur? I don't know.
R McCoy says: when Wilbur retired he became a butcher in his
native Lurgan. Perhaps his most famous match was for N Ireland
against Wales when he marked the giant John Charles out of the
game. That performance is a legend in N.Ireland
Oliver Burns says: Wilbur Cush from Lurgan, began his career
with Lurgan Glenavon in 1947, while a player with Glenavon he
represented N Ireland. Wilbur left it a bit late to go to England,
this was around 1958. I seen Cush play for Glenavon from 1947 until
I left for England in 1957,also see him play for Leeds. Cush died
after a long illness in 1981, regarded by many Lurganmen as the
best player to come out of the Town. Jackie Milburn described Cush
as the best half-back in Britain and this was during his time with
Glenavon.
Randie Cush says: Wilbur Cush is my uncle (Billy) as we called
him. My father, his brother, is called Bobby and was 4 years
younger. My dad is still alive and well and not connected to the
internet but I can contact him and answer any questions you may
have.
Tony Cally says: i remember a mid week game against man utd.both
charlton brothers were playing.it ended in a 2-2 draw.One of the
goals was quite freakish ,in as much big jack kicked the ball to
clear and it hit wilber cush causing the ball to curve up in the
air and into the leeds goal.Anyone else remember this?
Jonathan Gibson says: Wilbur (Billy) Cush is my mother's uncle.
my granny is Beattie (Cush) Benson. Sister to Billy and Bobby.
Unfortunately Wilbur died before i was born but i hear great things
about him. I have a couple of uncles living in England. Maybe the
Barrow-on-Furness relatives are Bensons?
Eileen Benson says: I am sitting here at home looking at a
photograph of my uncle Wilbur Cush. My mum (Beattie) and Wilbur
(Billy) were brother and sister. It is very unlikely that we have
any relatives in Barrow-on-Furness. However, I will confirm things
with my mum and let you know. I will also get answers to any
questions you may have.
Denis J Casey says: I knew Wilber when I was a boy and watched
him playing football for glenavon. He was a stocky player and was a
great kicker of the ball. I had the opportunity of working with him
in the early 70s when he was a butcher in Lurgan working for Joe
Hobbs a butchers shop in the centre of Lurgan.
Tom King says: Re: what Tony Cally writes. I remember the
incident he describes very well. In fact, until now I assumed that
I was the only one on the planet who did remember it. The ball
struck Cush on the back of the leg or on his backside (I was
standing in the boys' enclosure)and sailed backwards in an
extraordinary arc over Roy Wood's? head and into the Scratching
Shed goal. It was probably JC who hoofed it into WC but it might
equally have been Archie Gibson who was rather prone to that sort
of thing.
David Phillips says: I saw Wilbur Cush play many times for
Glenavon and Portadown. He was an outstanding player who was short
and stocky and tough as teak. He played for Portadown on returning
from Leeds. Wilbur's ability to jump early and 'hang' before
heading the ball seemed to defy the laws of gravity. I have not
seen any player - at any level - with his ability to do this. What
a player; what a man; what a loss!
David Phillips says: Wilbur Cush was one of the best players
ever to play for Northern Ireland of that there is no doubt. It is
surprising there are not more accolades above from older LUFC fans!
His style of play was what one would expect at Leeds. As the great
Sir Stanley Matthews says on this website; 'When he tackled you it
was like being hit by a tank'. Wilbur began his professionl career
with Glenavon and linked well wit Jackie Denver. He moved to Leeds
and after 3years returned to N Ireland to play some of the best
football of his career with Portadown FC. As said above 'Billy' was
ideally an 'old-fashioned' (largely defensive)right-half. Less than
average height, stocky and barrel-chested, he was tough as teak. He
had the uncanny ability to jump early and 'hang' when rising for
defensive headers. In fact he seemed to defy Newton's laws on
gravity. Never have seen a better aerial defender, at any level,
since. What a man, what a player, what a loss!
Harold Harvey says: Billy Cush played left half for Glenavon
before his transfer to Leeds. He played inside left for Glenavon
when they became the first club outside Belfast to win the Irish
League title. I remember as a teenager being very disturbed by his
transfer to Leeds. The day he was transferred Glenavon beat Derry
City (then an ILTeam) by 10 goals to 1. Yes ten. His best ever
performance In my opinion in a Northern Ireland shirt was against
Italy in the World Cup Qualifying round in 1957/58
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