The Dalhousie Tigers - Dalhousie University

Football fans in the early 1950’s watched with anticipation to see what Reg Cluney would do next on the field. A talented athlete, Reg attributes his success to a little bit of luck and lots of hard work.

Born and raised in Halifax, Reg was interested in football from a very young age. He attended St. Patricks High School and came to Dalhousie on his father’s advice with the hopes of getting into law school. Enrolling in Dalhousie’s arts program in 1949, Reg joined the Tigers football team and despite not playing in a single game that first season his determination to succeed on the field kept him going.

Reg’s patience and hard work paid off with a starting role the following season. A versatile athlete, Reg played many positions for the football team over the years. His career began as a flying wing, now called a flanker, before he became a running back and then the team quarter back. A two-way player, Reg also played defensive halfback and was the team’s go-to kicker. Although this was not uncommon at the time, it was rare that an athlete played a full 60-minute game as Reg did.

A two-year captain, Reg’s talent and leadership steered the Tigers to the Halifax City Canadian Football League Purdy Cup Championship in both 1951 and 1954. In 1951 he was awarded the Duffus trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player and in 1954 he was named the Purdy Cup Championship MVP. He was also named the team’s Most Valuable Player twice.

One of Reg’s best memories of the football team was beating StFX in the 1954 Purdy Cup championship game. The Tigers were the underdogs and had previously lost 35-7, but Dalhousie put everything on the line to best the X-Men on home turf in Antigonish. The 1954-55 season Dalhousie honoured Reg as the Male Athlete of the Year.

While at Dalhousie Reg served one year as the Dalhousie Ameature Athletic Club president in 1953. He also played junior varsity and varsity basketball for two seasons each. Despite his general interest in sports, Reg’s love was for football and it was apartent to everyone who watched him play. The Dalhousie Gazette student newspaper reported that ‘Reg played inspired football.’ The leading kicker for his team, Reg still remains third overall in the Dalhousie football record books, despite playing during a time when touchdowns were only worth five points.

After graduating from Dalhousie’s law program in 1955 and working for McInnis Cooper for over 50 years, Reg retired in 2007.  He remained involved with the Tigers football program as a coach until 1960 and recently assisted in bringing football back to Dalhousie as a club sport.