Mr. Danny McKerrell was the Blantyre man who scored twice in the football Scottish Cup final for lower teir team East Fife in 1938 that went on to win the title.
Danny lived at 49 Auchinraith Road, along with Hugh McKerrell, a miner at Auchinraith Colliery. In 1930, according to the valuation roll, they paid £14 rent for their leased house.
Born in Blantyre, Danny McKerrell signed senior forms with Hamilton Accies and made his debut in the 1936/37 seasons. He only made two appearances but scored two goals.
He was soon transferred to Falkirk and it was for the Bairns that he established himself as a regular first team player in the 1937/38 seasons, turning in many fine performances on the left wing.
It was these performances that caught East Fife manager David McLean’s eye when he was in desperate need for a talented left-winger. East Fife signed him on loan on Monday 11th April 1938 and he made his debut for us two days later at Tynecastle in the second replay against St Bernards. And what a debut! Danny scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win and secured East Fife’s place in that historic final.
With the first game against Kilmarnock being drawn 1-1, the replay four days later saw Danny McKerrell have his best game in a Fife jersey in the most important game of his life, having a hand in all four of East Fife goals: he opened the scoring at Hampden, made the equaliser to take the game into extra time, started the move that led to them to retake the lead at 3-2, and rounded off a great day by scoring his second, and fourth, in the famous 4-2 triumph. The Cup was on its way back to East Fife thanks to the Blantyre boy. Twenty-two days later, Danny rejoined Falkirk, his loan period over, his job done, and now the proud possessor of a Scottish Cup Winners medal.
Seven months later though, Danny McKerrell returned to Methil, but this time on a permanent basis, just in time to take part in the Fife’s attempt to retain the Cup. He couldn’t work any magic this time however, as East Fife lost their first match as Scottish Cup holders 2-1 at home to Montrose.
A very healthy league goals per game record for Danny for the rest of the 39/40 season followed this defeat and continued briefly into the next season, before the Second World War disrupted Danny’s East Fife career just as it was beginning.
He returned to Bayview briefly for the 1946/47 seasons, but only made one appearance, leaving Danny with 13 goals in only 22 appearances during his Bayview career. The McKerrell family later lived at 130 Auchinraith Road.
Thanks to East Fife website and to Blantyre man Gary Doonin, for bringing Danny to my attention.