Preston North End are saddened to learn of the death of Ernie Hannigan in Perth, Australia, he was 72.
Hannigan had been battling cancer and sadly succumbed to the illness recently.
Born in Glasgow, Hannigan joined Preston North End from Dumfries Club Queen of the South in 1964.
After a season as Dave Wilson’s understudy, Hannigan began to feature more regularly over the course of the 1965/66 season, scoring vital goals for the Lilywhites in league and cup action.
The winger scored twice as PNE beat Charlton Athletic 3-2 in the FA Cup third round that season before shining in the fourth round victory over Bolton Wanderers.
He then netted against a terrific Tottenham Hotspur side in the fifth round as Preston stunned the Londoners by winning 2-1.
To add to his cup exploits, Hannigan scored a hat-trick on the final day of the season as PNE crushed Cardiff City 9-0 to maintain their Second Division status.
Hannigan was an ever present in the Preston line-up the following season and finished as the club’s top goalscorer with 11 league goals before departing for top flight football with Coventry City early in the 1967/68 campaign.
Following his time with the Sky Blues, Hannigan joined Torquay United and then Greenock Morton before heading stateside to feature for both the New York Cosmos and the New Jersey Brewers.
Everyone at Preston North End would like to pass on their thoughts and condolences to Ernie’s family and friends at this sad time.
Born in Glasgow, Hannigan joined Preston North End from Dumfries Club Queen of the South in 1964.
After a season as Dave Wilson’s understudy, Hannigan began to feature more regularly over the course of the 1965/66 season, scoring vital goals for the Lilywhites in league and cup action.
The winger scored twice as PNE beat Charlton Athletic 3-2 in the FA Cup third round that season before shining in the fourth round victory over Bolton Wanderers.
He then netted against a terrific Tottenham Hotspur side in the fifth round as Preston stunned the Londoners by winning 2-1.
To add to his cup exploits, Hannigan scored a hat-trick on the final day of the season as PNE crushed Cardiff City 9-0 to maintain their Second Division status.
Hannigan was an ever present in the Preston line-up the following season and finished as the club’s top goalscorer with 11 league goals before departing for top flight football with Coventry City early in the 1967/68 campaign.
Following his time with the Sky Blues, Hannigan joined Torquay United and then Greenock Morton before heading stateside to feature for both the New York Cosmos and the New Jersey Brewers.
Everyone at Preston North End would like to pass on their thoughts and condolences to Ernie’s family and friends at this sad time.