RIP Cameron Duncan: Sixer remembers a former Sunderland ‘keeper

Malcolm Dawson writes…..we received reports today of one of our former players who sadly passed away recently. He may have only played a few games for the Lads but he was one of ours. Pete Sixsmith remembers…

Cameron Duncan

John Penman, oft of these pages, texted me last night as I watched the Cristiano Ronaldo show, to pass on the sad news of the death of former keeper Cameron Duncan, who had died at the age of 51 from cancer. His career had started at Roker Park and finished at Cliftonhill, home of Albion Rovers, having taken in spells at Motherwell, Partick Thistle and Ayr United.

Cammy made three appearances for the first team, his debut coming at Grimsby Town in March 1986 as we struggled to avoid the drop from what was then Football League Division Two. His penalty save at Blundell Park and a goal from a young Gordon Armstrong kept us just above the bottom three and played a significant part in allowing us to maintain our second level status for another 12 months.

his time at Roker. Cammy was earmarked for a role as Sunderland keeper but, next season, Lawrie McMenemy brought in Iain Hesford as first choice, using Duncan in two disastrous League Cup games against York City. Playing behind David Corner and Steve Hetzke, he conceded four in the home leg to Dennis Smith’s Minstermen, whose attack boasted Keith Walwyn and John Byrne.

Bobby Mimms came in as back up keeper and Cammy was allowed to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, joining Motherwell for two seasons and then going to Partick for £60,000, a Thistle record at that time.

When his former Sunderland colleague George Burley took over at Somerset Park, he signed Cammy up and allowed Sammy Johnstone, a hero at Ayr, to move the other way. He played 148 games for The Honest Men before dropping down to Albion Rovers for a season.

Our thoughts go out to his family at this sad time.