Ted McMinn

Early years

Born in Castle Douglas and raised in nearby Dumfries, McMinn was reported by The Scotsman to be called 'Teddy' at school because he ran as if he had a teddy bear tucked under his arm. In his autobiography McMinn stated it was because as a toddler he and his teddy bear were inseparable. McMinn started his playing career at Scottish junior side Glenafton Athletic in 1981. McMinn joined Glenafton from Dumfries High School FPs along with teammate Stewart Cochrane.

Queen of the South

McMinn returned to south-west Scotland joining Dumfries club Queen of the South in 1982. At Queens he became a teammate of Cochrane's for the third time. The transfer fee was, "£325 so that Glenafton could buy a new carpet for their club house and 1,000 Queens lottery tickets." When McMinn debuted in 1982–83 it was for a Queens team who had just been relegated after one season in the middle of Scottish football's three divisions – a season where Willie Harkness and his fellow directors had decided to run the club without a manager and select the team themselves. McMinn's debut was in the 1–1 draw versus Meadowbank Thistle on 6 November. McMinn remained with Queens until October 1984. McMinn returned to Palmerston Park under the new regime of Norman Blount to play for a Queen of the South select on 23 April 1995. The opposition in the 2–2 draw was Rangers in a game to mark Queens' 75th anniversary and the opening of the new stand. Other guests for Queens included Andy…

As assistant to Mark Wright McMinn had a spell coaching at Southport. Wright left to manage his former club Oxford United in June 2001. McMinn went with him. Oxford had just been relegated to the fourth tier of English Football. After an unremarkable start to the season Wright parted with the club in December amid allegations of racial abuse against a match official. Again McMinn followed Wright out the door. McMinn appeared again on 17 January 2002 when Wright soon took over at Conference strugglers Chester City. The club avoided relegation as the pair set about turning the club's fortunes around. McMinn then parted company with both Wright and Chester when he departed in July 2002.

In 2004 McMinn became the match summariser for BBC Radio Derby, working alongside Ross Fletcher. In his three years with the station he attended all Derby County's matches. McMinn contracted a mystery infection that led to most of his right foot being amputated. McMinn then opted to have more of his leg removed in a bid to gain more mobility and independence with a prosthetic limb. As a tribute to McMinn, on 1 May 2006, former players of both Derby County and Rangers contested a match at Derby County's Pride Park Stadium in which a record 33,475 spectators attended – around 10,000 of them being Rangers fans. McMinn said to the Scottish press that he had also received well wishes from Queen of the South fans. Terry Butcher recalled after the benefit game, "Nigel Spackman said to the physio (at the match) he had a tight calf, Ted said 'So have I' and lifted his trouser leg up and there is just the metal stump there. It does make you think. You never know what can happen to you." To coincide with the benefit game McMinn embarked on a 300-mile sponsored bike ride from Glasgow to Derby to help raise money for the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary's limbs unit. He left Radio Derby after only the first game of the 2007–08 season, saying he felt "let down" and undervalued by the station following contract negotiations. It was announced in the Derby Evening Telegraph on 13 February 2007 that McMinn has started up a courier and taxi business. The Wisden Cricketer magazine reported that in…

Burnley

Football League Second Division play-offs: 1994