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Celtic Fan Media

Celtic Fan Media

By Celtic Fan Media

An archive of Celtic Fan Media covering Celtic Graves Society events (previously released on Celtic Underground and Hail Hail Media) and Paradise Report (formerly part of the LostBhoys podcast and Hail Hail Media)

And coming soon... ???
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CGS - Tommy Burns

Celtic Fan MediaMay 12, 2018

00:00
01:14:23
CGS - Tommy Burns
May 12, 201801:14:23
CGS - Peter Somers

CGS - Peter Somers

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce a ceremony to commemorate the final resting place of the legendary

PETER SOMERS

At
West Cemetery, Wellhall Road, Hamilton ML3 9BY
On
Saturday 7th April 2018 at 1pm

Strathaven-born Peter Somers was a much loved and respected Celtic player. Born in June 1878, Peter would go on to make a total of 219 appearances for Celtic scoring a total of 65 goals.

Starting his footballing career at Mossend Celtic before moving to Cadzow Oak, where he was introduced to first class junior football, it would be local team Hamilton Academical who would give Peter his shot at the professional leagues in 1897.

Then on the 29th of November 1897 Celtic would come calling. He would make his debut on the 4th of December 1897 vs Third Lanark in a 4-0 Scottish League victory, scoring a goal on his debut. He would stay at Celtic Park for 3 seasons before moving south on loan to Blackburn Rovers where he would cement his place in the Blackburn starting eleven.

Peter returned to Celtic in August 1902 to form the famous forward line of Bennett, McMenemy, Quinn, Somers and Hamilton. This Celtic team would go on to create one of the most successful eras in the history of Celtic Football Club. He was a major part of the Celtic teams who would go on to record the original six-in-a-row and in total he would win:

6 Scottish League Championships, 3 Scottish Cups, 4 Glasgow Cups and 4 Glasgow Charity Cups.

Peter Somers was undoubtedly one of the all-time Celtic greats.

For more information on Celtic Graves Society please visit

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of Celtic Graves Society can be made.

For further information see:

www.facebook.com/CelticGravesSociety
@CelticGraves on Twitter
Search for Peter Somers on www.thecelticwiki.com
Our online shop: www.musicglue.com/celtic-graves-society

Apr 07, 201832:18
CGS - Alec Collins
Dec 02, 201718:03
CGS - James Hay

CGS - James Hay

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce a ceremony to commemorate the final resting place of the Celtic captain

JAMES HAY

At
Ayr Cemetery, Holmston Road, Ayr KA7 3BE
On
Saturday 17th June 2017 at 2pm

"Touch combined with strength ... neat stride ground passes ... lion-hearted defence vigorous tackler ... shoulder-work ... full of punch"

These are words used to describe Jimmy 'Dun' Hay by the Scotland goalkeeper of the time, Jimmy Brownlie.

The Ayrshire born left-half combined immense strength with subtle skill as a stalwart of Willie Maley's legendary side which won six Scottish League Championships in a row between 1905 and 1910. A man who could combine immense strength, skill and leadership qualities would be the Captain of five of these Championship-winning sides between the years 1906-1911.

He would also become Scotland Captain for three of his 11 international caps and lead out a Scotland team in 1910 versus England at Goodison Park, Liverpool.

Hay signed for Celtic for a fee of £50 from English side Glossop in March 1903 and made his senior competitive debut in a 2-1 home league victory over Partick Thistle on August 15th of that year. He would go on to make 255 appearances for Celtic, scoring a total of 17 goals.

He would leave Celtic Park for Newcastle United on the 27th of July 1911, after a benefit game when the Celtic board refused to meet his demands for an improved contract. It was a rather sad end to his Celtic career but in his eight years in Paradise, Jimmy 'Dun' Hay showed time and time again that he was a great player, a great leader and a great Celtic Captain.

He was suspended for life for refusing an apology, after accusing a director of Ayr United and the Treasurer of the Scottish Football Association of trying to bribe a referee in 1926. He was later reinstated but subsequently played no major role in the game with which he had been involved for 30 years.

Scottish League Champion 6 times: 1904-05, 1905-06, 1906-07, 1907-08, 1908-09, 1909-10
Scottish Cup Winner 4 times: 1904, 1907, 1908, 1911

For more information on Celtic Graves Society please visit

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of Celtic Graves Society can be made.

For further information see:

www.facebook.com/CelticGravesSociety or @CelticGraves on Twitter

or search for James Hay on www.thecelticwiki.com

Jun 17, 201726:51
CGS - Joe Dodds

CGS - Joe Dodds

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce a ceremony to commemorate the final resting place of the Celtic great

JOE DODDS

At
St Convals Cemetery, Glasgow Road, Barrhead, Glasgow G78 1TH
On
Saturday 20th May 2017 at 2pm

Born in 1887 in Carluke to Joe and Margaret Dodds, the athletic and versatile Joe Dodds would become one of the key foundation stones of the first ever Celtic sides who would go on to achieve '6 in a row'.

Signed from Carluke Milton Rovers in 1908, the lightening quick left back would quickly develop a fine defensive partnership with the great Alec 'The Icicle' McNair and the great Charlie Shaw to form the trilogy of 'Shaw, McNair and Dodds'. Together these men created the defensive partnerships that was said to be the best in the UK at this period, and made Celtic the dominant force within Scottish football.

According to legendary Celtic manager Willie Maley: "Shaw, McNair and Dodds understood one another so well that they developed the pass-back into a scientific move of which there have been many imitators but none to equal the originators. It was indeed a spectacle to see either McNair or Dodds passing, with unerring accuracy and cheeky coolness, the ball to Shaw two yards away, with the opposing forwards almost on top of them. That was their method of getting out of a corner, which in all probability would otherwise have been fatal". (Weekly News, 25th July 1936)

Following the retirement of Sunny Jim Young in 1916, Joe Dodds became the Celtic Captain. Celtic historians say they can find no account of when Joe Dodds ever had a bad game.

He would also serve in World War One, which lost him valuable years of service for club. He served his colleagues on the front line in France in the Royal Field Artillery. A Scottish League Champion on a total of 8 occasions, and 3 Scottish Cup wins is among the best record that Scottish football has ever saw. He is a true great of Scottish Football and of Celtic Football Club.

Joe Dodds passed away in 1965 at the age of 78. He is an all-time Celtic great.

League Champion 8 times: 1908-09, 1909-10, 1913-14, 1914-15, 1915-16, 1916-17, 1918-19, 1921-22
Scottish Cup Appearances: 33
Scottish Cup Goals: 2
Scottish FA Cup Winner 3 times: 1911, 1912, 1914
Glasgow Cups: 2
Glasgow Merchants' Charity Cups: 8
War Fund Cup: 1

For more information on Celtic Graves Society please visit

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of Celtic Graves Society can be made.

For further information see:

www.facebook.com/CelticGravesSociety or @CelticGraves on Twitter

or search for Joseph Dodds on www.thecelticwiki.com

May 20, 201737:27
CGS - James Kelly

CGS - James Kelly

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce a ceremony to commemorate the final resting place of the first Celtic Captain

JAMES KELLY

At
St Patricks Cemetery, 29 King's Drive, New Stevenston
On
Sunday 9th April 2017 at 2pm

Speakers and attendees at the event shall include:
Members of the Kelly family
Jim Craig, Lisbon Lion and Celtic Graves Society Patron
Representatives of Celtic Football Club
Terry Dick, Celtic Graves Society Member and Celtic Supporter
Former Captains of Celtic Football Club
The Son and Grandson of Duncan McKay

A blessing of the grave will be conducted by Father White of St Mary of the Assumption Church, Calton

James Kelly was born in 1865 into an Irish family in the Dunbartonshire town of Renton. Dunbartonshire is often regarded as being the cradle of Scottish football with fine teams like Vale of Leven, Renton and Dumbarton springing up in the 1860s and 1870s. It was with Renton in the early 1880s that James made his name, winning Scottish Cup medals in 1885 and 1888. In 1888 the Renton team, also including Neil McCallum our first goal scorer, beat West Bromwich Albion the English Cup Winners and it was cliamed that they were the World Champions.

In the same year, James Kelly was to become a Celtic player. The fledgling club's capture of this renowned and accomplished centre half-back from Renton was a massive coup for the Bhoys as James Kelly was one of the best known and highly regarded players of his era.

The importance of his capture cannot be understated. It was probably the most significant move that the first Celtic Committee made. He was a star signing that the club could not miss out on. There was a lot of work done to entice him to leave Renton and choose Celtic above Hibernian, and it was the persuasive tongue of Celtic founding father John Glass that made the difference. The presence of James Kelly in the Celtic ranks was a catalyst in attracting other top players who would only be too happy to sign up to play in Glasgow's east end alongside him.

James Kelly was to become our first club captain and scored in our first ever game as Celtic defeated Rangers by 5-2. He was very much a no frills player who was content to ensure that the basics were done well. His efficient approach to the game made him a most effective, dependable and consistent talent. His pace and ability allowed him to be able to switch between attacking and defending as and when need be, and his commanding presence meant he was a true icon for the Celtic support to look up to in those early days.

He retired from playing, having made 139 League and Scottish Cup appearances for Celtic and scoring 11 goals. He won 8 international caps for Scotland and also captained his country.

For Celtic, James Kelly's greatest moment was winning the Scottish Cup as captain in 1892, the first time Celtic won the country's premier tournament. He is the last of that Scottish Cup winning team to be commemorated by the Celtic Graves Society. He also won the Scottish League Championship in 1893, 1894 and 1896 with his inspiring leadership and gifted play. In addition he won four Glasgow Cups and four Glasgow Charity Cups, bringing the sort of success that the downtrodden and embattled Glasgow Irish population craved. He retired from playing the game in 1897 at the age of 32, but immediately became a Director of the Club and later Chairman from 1909 until 1914, then Director again from 1914 until his death in 1932.

James Kelly was Celtic's first captain and leader on the pitch and much loved by Celtic supporters everywhere.

For more information on Celtic Graves Society please visit

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of Celtic Graves Society can be made.

For further information see:

Apr 09, 201750:20
CGS - Joseph Cullen

CGS - Joseph Cullen

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce a ceremony to commemorate the final resting place of

JOSEPH CULLEN

At
St Kentigerns RC Cemetery, 951 Balmore Road, Glasgow
On
Saturday 25th February 2017 at 12 noon
(Prior to the Hamilton Academical game)

Speakers at the event shall include:
Jim Craig, Lisbon Lion and Celtic Graves Society Patron
John Fallon, Lisbon Lion and former Celtic Goalkeeper
Tony Hamilton, Chief Executive of Celtic FC Foundation
Celtic Historian
A blessing of the grave will be conducted by Father White of St Mary of the Assumption Church, Calton

Born in 1868 to Irish parentage in the Hutchesontown Burgh of Glasgow, Joe Cullen would go on to become the goalkeeper in the first ever Celtic team to lift the Scottish FA Cup in 1892.

Joe Cullen was signed from Benburb on 1st January 1892 immediately after the bhoys had been at the wrong end of an 8-0 thrashing by Dumbarton at the original Celtic Park. The erratic performance of keeper Tom Duff was seen as one of the main causes of that friendly defeat and in response the bhoys went out and quickly secured the services of Cullen and he made his debut the very next day at Cathkin Park in a 3-1 win over Third Lanark.

The former Scottish Junior international was in goals for Celtic's first Scottish Cup triumph in April 1892 and in August that year he played in the first match to be staged at the present Celtic Park. The great Dan McArthur would eventually oust Joe from his starting spot and after 73 games for Celtic he moved to London to Tottenham Hotspur in May 1897 then subsequently to Lincoln City.

Joseph Cullen was Celtic's goalkeeper in a period when to be a goalkeeper was a hazardous occupation. This was due to the barging of goalkeepers, known as bungling, which was a major part of the game. Joseph represented Celtic between 1892 and 1897 and won one Scottish Cup in 1892, two league titles (1892/93 and 1893/94) and two Glasgow Merchants' Charity Cups (1891/92 and 1892/93).

Sadly he died prematurely from pneumonia in 1905.

All supporters are welcome to attend and leave flowers at the graveside.

For more information on Celtic Graves Society please visit

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of Celtic Graves Society can be made.

For further information see:

www.facebook.com/CelticGravesSociety or @CelticGraves on Twitter

or search for Joseph Cullen on www.thecelticwiki.com

Feb 25, 201722:09
CGS - Patrick Gallacher

CGS - Patrick Gallacher

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce a ceremony to mark the final resting place of

PATRICK GALLACHER

At
St Kentigerns RC Cemetery, 951 Balmore Road, Glasgow
On
Saturday 5th November 2016
At
12 noon

Speakers at the event shall include:
Jim Craig, Lisbon Lion and Celtic Graves Society Patron
Tom Boyd, former Celtic Captain
A blessing of the grave will be conducted by Father White of St Mary of the Assumption Church, Calton

Patrick Gallacher was the original "Bould, Bould Celt", the club's very first jersey player.

One of the first Celtic heroes, Patrick Gallacher was adored by the Celtic support for his passionate play and tough tackling. Like many of his team mates he was tempted to the East End of Glasgow in 1888 from Hibernian to play for the newly formed and ambitious Celtic Football Club.

His first game for Celtic was against Abercorn in the Glasgow Exhibition Cup on August 1st 1888 and his competitive debut came in a 5-1 win vs Shettleston on September 1st 1888 in the Scottish Cup at the original Celtic Park.

His full-blooded commitment to the Celtic cause made him an obvious target for abuse from the opposition supporters but he was a huge favourite of the Celtic fans and he was given the honour of becoming vice-captain to the legendary James Kelly.

He was part of the first Celtic team to lift a major trophy when Celtic beat Glasgow rivals Queen's Park 5-1 to lift the Scottish Cup in 1892.

He retired from playing duties in 1893 and acted as a club linesman back in the day when an official from each side would run the line. By that time, he had made 45 appearances and scored one goal. In the same year, he was elected onto the Celtic committee and remained there until 1897.

He took ill from "inflammation" in December 1897 but the reports of his passing in early 1898 were greatly exaggerated. However, illness was to cut his life tragically short and he died in 1899 aged just 33.

H was probably the most committed of the original Celts and served as a player, committeeman and linesman. Patrick Gallacher was Celtic's original ball winner.

Adored by the Celtic support and reviled by the opposition.

For more information on Celtic Graves Society please visit

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of Celtic Graves Society can be made.

For more information see:

www.facebook.com/CelticGravesSociety or @CelticGraves on Twitter

or search for Patrick Gallacher on www.thecelticwiki.com

Nov 05, 201632:27
CGS - The Original Celtic Park

CGS - The Original Celtic Park

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce a ceremony to unveil a plaque on the site of

THE ORIGINAL CELTIC PARK

At
North East corner of Celtic Park, Janefield Street East
On
Sunday 8th May 2016
At
10.30am

Attendees will include:
Lisbon Lion Jim Craig
Celtic Historian Terry Dick
A representative of Celtic FC

"A club composed exclusive of Irishmen, and Scotchmen or Irish parentage, has been started in the East End somewhat similar to the Hibernians of Edinburgh. The name oft the new club is to be 'The Glasgow Celtic Athletics'. A ground has already been secured in Dalmarnock Road, and is to be called Dalmarnock Park. They have taken it on lease for five years at a rent of £30 a year. It is a splendid field, with plenty of scope, and includes a couple of pitches, one being for practice.

There are to be two stands - now in course of erection. The club intend to draft the best players from the surrounding clubs. Of course the players must be Irish or of Irish extraction. They mean to have an eleven second to none. An effort will be made to open the ground at the end of the present month, and if a fixture can possibly be arranged between a Glasgow club and Hibernians, these clubs will be the first to compete on the ground.

As the club has influential supporters and no lack of means, the necessary guarantee will be forthcoming. Failing a fixture with either of the above clubs, some other notable teams will be invited for the preliminary match. A cinder track, 12 feet broad, runs round the field. The committee have held several meetings to discuss affairs in a hall in Easy Nile Street".
- From the Scottish Athletic Journal, February 1888.

This plaque markes the site of the original Celtic Park from 1888 to 1892, which stood adjacent to the graveyard wall on its Eastern boundary. The ground was open on 8th May 1888 when Hibernian drew 0-0 with Cowlairs and on the 28th May, it hosted Celtic's first game, a 5-2 win over Rangers, with Neil McCallum scoring the first ever Celtic goal.

At this ground in season 1891/92, Celtic clinched our first ever treble. It also hosted Celtic Park's first ever International match, between Scotland and Ireland on 28th March 1891. In total, 18 friendlies were played against the cream of English football with Celtic on the losing side only once.

The final match was played on 16th July 1892 between Celtic and Clyde in a fundraiser for the Evicted Tenants fund in Ireland, ironically after Celtic were forced to relocate when the landlord of Celtic Park raised the rent per annum from £50 to £450.

In four seasons at the original ground, Celtic only lost one competitive match, before moving to the current Celtic Park in August 1892, in the same week that Brother Walfrid was transferred to London.

The phrase "From the graveyard to paradise" was coined and the new ground had a nickname which it has lived up to ever since. The rest, as they say, is history.

For more information on Celtic Graves Society please visit

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of Celtic Graves Society can be made.

Also, please visit:

www.facebook.com/CelticGravesSociety or @CelticGraves on Twitter

or search for Celtic Park on www.thecelticwiki.com

May 08, 201638:24
CGS - Alec Brady

CGS - Alec Brady

The Celtic Graves Society, in conjunction with the Everton FC Heritage Society, are proud to announce a ceremony to commemorate the final resting place of the footballing great

ALEC BRADY

At Milburn Cemetery, Main Street, Renton on Sunday 10th April 2016 at 2pm

Speakers at the event shall include:

Jim Craig, Lisbon Lion and Celtic Graves Society Patron
John Paul Taylor representing Celtic Football Club
Paul Wharton of the Everton FC Heritage Society
A member of the Brady family
Reverend Ian Miller

The Cathcart born forward Alec Brady was one of the early Celts that the ambitious Celtic committee were able to tempt to the East End of Glasgow in the earliest days of our Club.

The former Everton and Sunderland man moved back to Scotland in 1891 to play for Celtic. The signing of Alec Brady was another major coup for the early Celtic FC as he was regarded as one of the finest forwards in the country when he signed.

However his stay was brief. After just one season he returned to England and joined Wednesday FC, who later became Sheffield Wednesday.

Alec will be known as a member of the Scottish Cup winning side of 1892. In the Scottish Cup run he scored two goals per game in three successive rounds to help take Celtic to our first major trophy. He didn't score in the final but was a key player in this monumental achievement.

Before his departure he won three trophies with Celtic: the Scottish Cup, Glasgow Cup and Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup and in total he scored 10 goals in 24 League matches.

Alec Brady not only had the honour of being part of the first Celtic team to win the Scottish Cup, he was also part of the first Everton team to win the English League Championship in season 1890/91 and part of the first Wednesday FC (Sheffield Wednesday FC) team to win the English FA Cup in 1896.

He passed away in Oct 1913, aged 43.

For more information on Celtic Graves Society please visit

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of Celtic Graves Society can be made.

For further information see:

www.facebook.com/CelticGravesSociety or @CelticGraves on Twitter
or search Alec Brady on www.thecelticwiki.com

Apr 10, 201630:44
CGS - Jock Stein

CGS - Jock Stein

Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that it will be working together with the Celtic Graves Society on a joint event to mark the 30th anniversary of the passing of the late, great

JOCK STEIN

The ceremony will take place at the Jock Stein statue at Celtic Park at 12noon on Sunday, September 20 before the home match against Dundee (KO: 3pm).

There will be a number of speakers including Lisbon Lion, Jim Craig in attendance at an event which will celebrate the phenomenal contribution which Mr Stein made to Celtic and to football in general.

It was 30 years ago, on September 10, 1985, that Jock Stein died, and the world of football mourned the loss of one of its greatest figures.

Celtic fans had long had a special affinity with Stein, first as a player in the 1950s who had helped to deliver the Coronation Cup and the Double of 1953/54, and then as the manager who ushered in a golden era for Celtic, both domestically and in Europe where, in 1967, they became the continent’s best team.

His achievements are staggering. At Celtic, he delivered 10 League Championships, eight Scottish Cups, six Scottish League Cups and of course, the greatest prize of all, the European Cup in 1967.

Celtic’s legendary captain, Billy McNeill, said of his manager: “Lisbon wouldn’t have been possible without him. Had Jock Stein not come to Celtic at that time, the club would just have lumbered on. We might have won the Scottish Cup in 1965 - that may have been our year for winning the cup under Jimmy McGrory - but Jock brought the different approach to everything that consolidated it for us.

"I can honestly say that we might have won the Scottish Cup back then but what certainly would not have happened was the sheer volume of trophies and success that came after that – and that is down to the Big Man. For me, the modern-day Celtic owes one hell of a debt to Big Jock for what he did."

For more information on the Celtic Graves Society please visit:

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of the Celtic Graves Society can also be made.

For further information see Celtic Graves on Facebook, @CelticGraves on twitter and Search for Jock Stein on www.TheCelticWiki.com

Sep 20, 201526:04
CGS - Johnny Campbell

CGS - Johnny Campbell

The Celtic Graves Society is proud to announce that there will be a ceremony to commemorate the resting place of the footballing great

JOHNNY CAMPBELL

At St Peter's Cemetery, Dalbeth, London Road (near Celtic Park) On Saturday 15th August 2015 (Prior to the Inverness Caledonian Thistle game) At 12 noon

Attendees at the event will include:

A representative from Celtic F.C.
Jim Craig, Lisbon Lion and Celtic Graves Society Patron
David Potter, Celtic Historian
Greg Karwowski of the Polska No.1 CSC
Members of the Campbell family

A blessing of the grave will be conducted by Rev. Thomas White, St Mary of the Assumption Church, Calton.

The wonderfully talented forward Johnny Campbell was signed by Celtic from the junior club Benburb FC at Easter 1890. Johnny made his competitive debut against Battlefield in a Glasgow Cup tie on the 20th September 1890 and went on to create a wonderful partnership with another great Celt Sandy McMahon.

He was part of the Celtic team who won the club's first ever Scottish Cup in 1892 where he scored 2 goals in a 5-1 win vs Queens Park after a replay. He then went on to become a very important part of the Celtic teams who won the Scottish League Championships of 1893 & 1894 and in the process he became a fans' favourite.

After a very successful spell at Aston Villa where he was part of the team who won the 1896/97 League and FA Cup double, he returned to Glasgow to re-sign for Celtic in the summer of 1897 for the huge signing on fee of £70. This was to prove money well spent as Johnny would help Celtic to win the League Championship in 1898 and the Scottish Cup in 1899 and 1900.

During two spells at Celtic he was a winner of 3 Scottish League Championships and 3 Scottish Cups, playing a total of 215 times and scoring 117 goals.

For more information on the Celtic Graves Society please visit:

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of the Celtic Graves Society can also be made.

For further information see Celtic Graves on Facebook, @CelticGraves on twitter and Search for Johnny Campbell on www.TheCelticWiki.com

Aug 15, 201546:17
CGS - Andy McAtee

CGS - Andy McAtee

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce a ceremony to commemorate the final resting place of the legendary

ANDY McATEE

At Kilsyth Cemetery, Howe Road, Kilsyth, G65 0TAat 12:00 noon on Saturday 28th February 2015

Speakers at the event shall include:

Jim Craig, Lisbon Lion & Celtic Graves Society Patron
Tom Boyd, former Celtic Captain
David W Potter, Author and Celtic Historian

A blessing of the grave will be conducted by Father Sullivan of The Holy Cross Church, Croy.

Fans favourite Andy McAtee represented Celtic for 14 years. A frighteningly quick player, Andy was known as a player with a cannonball shot who could score goals from impossible angles and as a match winner.

The Cumbernauld born outside right is another Celtic player who comes from a mining background. His Celtic career was interrupted by World War 1, where his occupation as a miner allowed him to carry on playing for Celtic. During the period he played in the league title winning teams of 1914-17. He later served with typical bravery and heroism as a gunner for the 29th Division where he fought in the Italian Alps and the Somme. We lost him mostly for the first half of 1918.

As a footballer, McAtee was simply a match winner who was adored by the Celtic faithful, and is undoubtedly one of the greatest wingers the club has ever had.

Having played 438 times for Celtic, scoring 75 goals winning 5 Scottish League Championships and 4 Scottish Cup winners medals, Andy McAtee is a true Celtic great.

The Celtic Graves Society would like to invite all attendees to a "Question & Answer" event which will take place at

The Curling Stone, High Craigends, Kilsyth at 1pm.

Attending this even will be:

Lisbon Lion Jim Craig, former Celtic Captain Tom Boyd and local Celt Pat McCluskey

For more information on the Celtic Graves Society please visit:

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of the Celtic Graves Society can also be made.

For further information see Celtic Graves on Facebook, @CelticGraves on twitter & Search for Andy McAtee on www.TheCelticWiki.com

Feb 28, 201538:06
CGS - Jimmy McMenemy

CGS - Jimmy McMenemy

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce that there will be a ceremony to commemorate the resting place of

JIMMY McMENEMY

At St Peter's The Good Shepherd Cemetery, Dalbeth, London Road on Saturday 22nd November 2014 at 12noon

Attendees at the event will include:

A representative from Celtic FC
Jim Craig, Celtic Graves Society Patron
David Potter, Celtic Historian
Members of the McMenemy Family

A blessing will be conducted at the graveside.

"I don't think I ever played a better game. Anyone could play with McMenemy. He's one of the few to whome the term genius has been applied without hysterics." - Adam Scott Duncan - Scottish Internationalist and later Manchester United manager.

James "Jimmy" McMenemy is remembered as one of the greatest Celtic players of all time. His faithful service to the club over eighteen years was rewarded with an incredible eleven League Championship badges and six Scottish Cup medals. As the General of the Celtic attack for almost two decades and a master tactician who could dictate games through his passing, he was rightly known as 'Napoleon' throughout his career. Originally from Rutherglen, he famously signed for Celtic 'up a close in Union Street' before going on to become a famous son of Celtic.

In the crucial inside-forward role his speed, passing and shooting ability were key figures in the 6-in-a-row side (1905-1910), the 4-in-a-row side (1914-17) and, seventeen years after his debut, the League Title winning side of 1919. Jimmy scored 168 goals in 515 appearances for Celtic. He played alongside some of the biggest Celtic names including Jimmy Quinn, Patsy Gallacher, Tommy McInally, Alec McNair and Andy McAtee. Nearing his 40th birthday Celtic gave him a free transfer - he joined Partick Thistle and he led them to Scottish Cup glory against Rangers the following season.

'Nap' returned to Celtic Park as trainer under his old mentor Willie Maley from 1935-1940 and he is credited with helping shape Celtic's great team of 1936-1938 - including the famous front line of Delaney, Crum, Murphy, Buchan and MacDonald - which went on to win the Empire Exhibition Trophy against the best teams that England had to offer. Four of Jimmy's sons became professional footballers including John who won a Scottish Cup winners medal with Celtic in 1927 against East Fife.

All Celtic Supporters are welcome to attend and flowers/tributes can be laid at the graveside.

For more information please visit:

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of the Celtic Graves Society can also be made. Also please visit Celtic Graves on Facebook, @CelticGraves on twitter & Search for Jimmy McMenemy on www.TheCelticWiki.com

Nov 22, 201426:22
CGS - Jimmy Quinn

CGS - Jimmy Quinn

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce a ceremony to commemorate the final resting place of the legendary

JIMMY QUINN

In Kilsyth Cemetery, Howe Road, Kilsyth at 9.00am on Saturday 16th August 2014

Attendees at the event shall include:

Fergus McCann (Representing Celtic Supporters)
Jim Craig, Lisbon Lion & Celtic Graves Society Patron
Terry Dick, Celtic Historian
David W Potter, Author of "The Mighty Quinn - Jimmy Quinn, Celtic First Goalscoring Hero"

A Blessing will be conducted by Father Tracey of St Patrick's Church, Kilsyth.

As a centre-forward Jimmy Quinn was a peerless player with no apparent weakness to his game. Brave, quick, great aerial prowess, excellent awareness, nimble feet and with a power-packed precision boot.

His unrivalled ability as a centre-forward was perfectly illustrated in the Scottish Cup final of 1904 when he bagged a hat-trick at Hampden as Celtic came from 2-0 down to defeat Rangers 3-2.

The fearsome firepower of this humble man from Croy were the foundation on which a glorious era in Celtic's history was built. With the magnificent and rampaging Quinn terrorising opponents Celtic were to win six League championships in succession as well as adding four Scottish Cups to their haul of silverware. The player was also capped 11 times for Scotland.

Knee trouble eventually brought an end to this most memorable of careers but not before this former collier boy made an eternal impression on football history and in the hearts of all Celtic fans for generations to come.

Jimmy Quinn played 331 times for Celtic and scored 216 goals. The Quinn family connection with Celtic continued when his grandson, also Jimmy, was a Celtic player between 1963 and 1979 and was a part of the famed "Quality Street Gang".

He passed away in 1945, and Willie Maley penned a fitting valedictory on the Celtic legend: "He was the keystone in the greatest team Celtic ever had."

"The Mighty Quinn" is a Celtic icon who will never be forgotten, his incredible record will see to that.

For more information please visit:

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of the Celtic Graves Society can also be made.

For further information see:

Celtic Graves on Facebook, @CelticGraves on twitter & Search for Jimmy Quinn on www.TheCelticWiki.com

Thanks to @BarryMcGonigle for the photo colourisation

Aug 16, 201435:44
Paradise Report: Celtic 3-1 Dundee United (May 2014)
May 11, 201401:44:58
The Celtic Way Opening

The Celtic Way Opening

Billy McNeill opens the newly renovated front of Celtic Park, named "The Celtic Way"

May 03, 201410:40
CGS - Peter Dowds

CGS - Peter Dowds

The Johnstone No.1 CSC and the Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce that there will be a ceremony to mark the resting place of

PETER DOWDS

Celtic Player 1889-1892; 1894-95

At Abbey Cemetery, Abbey Road, Elderslie, Renfrewshire on Saturday 1st March 2014 at 11.30am

Attendees at the event will include:

A representative from Celtic FC
A speaker from Johnstone No.1 CSC
Jim Craig, Celtic Graves Society Patron

"Peter Dowds was a wonderful footballer, his versatility was unique. Talk about class all-rounders. There never has been and ever will be finer. It did not matter in which position Peter played, he distinguished himself. I admired him most as a halfback. He was the perfect middle man, playing the ball all the time and every time. Peter did not have to throw himself about to get contact. Contact came to him by his own intuition. He did not find the ball. Nothing so common. It found him." - Willie Maley - 1936

One of the most sought-after young players in Scottish football at the time, Peter Dowds joined Celtic from Broxburn Shamrock in February 1889 aged only 17 and soon forced his way into the first team. This son of Johnstone, whose first club was Johnstone Harp, made his debut against Clydesdale Harriers in March 1889 and partnered future manager Willie Maley in his next game against Abercorn.

This young Celt established a remarkable series of 'firsts' in his career at the club. He was one of the goalscorers when Celtic won their first ever trophy, the North-Eastern Cup, against Cowlairs on 11th May 1889. He played in Celtic's first ever League match against Hearts on August 23rd 1890, scoring one of the goals in a 5-0 drubbing, and ended the season as the club's leading goalscorer (17) with most appearances also in League and Cup competitions (24). He was renowned for his skill and versatility - he was at centre-forward when Celtic won their first major trophy, the Glasgow Cup, against Third Lanark in 1891 and played at right half when the trophy was retained the following season against Clyde.

Peter was also a member of the first Celtic team to lift the Scottish Cup when they defeated Queen's Park by 5-1 on April 9th 1892 before 26,000 spectators. When Celtic won the League Title the following season he was not part of the success as he'd been tempted away to Aston Villa. After one season in Birmingham and another with Stoke City, Celtic succeeded in prising Dowds back to Glasgow. He played in the first ever game at Love Street, Paisley on 8th September 1894 but then missed a number of games due to 'chest trouble'. He played in a friendly away to Manchester City on 1st December 1894 but it was his last appearance in a Celtic jersey as the deadly condition 'consumption' took hold.

Peter Dowds died tragically from tuberculosis on 3rd September 1895 aged only 24 at Graham Street, Johnstone - the street where he was born and his family lived throughout his life. He was the first Celt to die while still a player. He lies in an unmarked grave in Abbey Cemetery, Elderslie.

All Celtic Supporters from Renfrewshire and beyond and welcome to attend and flowers/tributes can be laid at the graveside.

For more information please visit:

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of the Celtic Graves Society can also be made.

Mar 01, 201425:46
CGS - Peter Scarff

CGS - Peter Scarff

The Peter Scarff Linwood CSC and the Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce that there will be a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the death of

PETER SCARFF

Celtic Player 1928-1933

At Kilbarchan Cemetery, Bridge of Weir Road, Brookfield, nr Kilbarchan on Saturday 14th December 2013 at 11.30am

Attendees at the event will include:

Members of Peter Scarff's family
Peter Lawwell, Celtic FC Chief Executive
Anne McElhinney, Peter Scarff Linwood CSC
Jim Craig, Celtic Graves Society Patron
David Potter, Celtic historian

Linwood-born Peter Scarff made his debut in a 5-1 win against Arthurlie in a home Scottish cup tie in January 1929. A newspaper of the time declared: "Scarff is a worthy successor to Jimmy McMenemy - he has McMenemy's dragging touch and the same ease with the long opening pass to the other wing". As inside-left Scarff won his first medal with Celtic a year later as part of the team that beat Rangers 2-1 in the Glasgow Cup Final. Later that season he won the Scottish Cup as part of a team that included Jimmy McGrory, John Thomson, Jimmy McStay, Willie McGonagle and Bertie Thomson. At the time he said to his fiancee, Marjory Boyle, "I'm wearing a Celtic jersey and I'm playing for you. Those two things are the most important things in my life." Willie Maley was putting together a group of impressive young players - however within only six years three of this group had died in tragic individual circumstances.

Eighteen days after John Thomson's death Peter Scarff was replaced at half-time in a friendly match in Ayr. This was the first indication that he was unwell. Almost three monthd later he played his last game for Celtic against Leith Athletic at Celtic Park in December 1931 when he coughed up blood. He was diagnosed as suffering from the deadly condition, tuberculosis. This favourite of the Celtic crowd was only 23 years old. In his two years as a Celtic player his impressive record read 54 goals in 112 appearances.

A few weeks later he was taken to the Bridge of Weird sanitorium in an attempt to beat the condition. Despite occasional periods of remission when hopes would rise it was annoucned in July 1933 he would never play football again. He died on 9th December 1933, two years after his first diagnosis. "I wonder if the crowds will ever miss me?" he once said while in hospital. His funeral proved that this popular young Celt was indeed missed. The Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette reported, "The mourners stood around with bared heads during the committal service and many of them were visibly affected by the occasion, and the tears were in no way hidden when just before the interment Manager Maley of Celtic laid the green and White Celtic Jersey on the coffin." The following decade the Peter Scarff Celtic Supporters Club was established in Linwood and today remains the focal point of the Celtic support in the area.

All Celtic Supporters are welcome to attend and flowers/tributes can be laid at the graveside.

There will be a get-together after the event at St. Conval's Social Club, Candren Rd, Linwood, Paisley PA3 3AP (please note: this is the Social Club and not the Church).

A free bus will be available to transport supporters from the social club to the cemetery beforehand - leaving at 11am. As the cemetery is remote and parking limited, please take advantage of this.

For more information please visit:

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of the Celtic Graves Society can also be made.

Dec 14, 201322:34
CGS - Founding Fathers
Nov 02, 201345:29
Paradise Report: Celtic 2-0 Motherwell (Oct 2013)
Oct 05, 201344:37
Paradise Report: Celtic 0-1 Barcelona (Oct 2013)
Oct 01, 201358:53
Paradise Report: Celtic 0-1 Greenock Morton (Sep 2013)
Sep 24, 201301:04:04
Paradise Report: Celtic 2-1 St Johnstone (Sep 2013)
Sep 21, 201345:55
CGS - Willie Maley

CGS - Willie Maley

The Celtic Graves Society is proud to announce that there will be a ceremony to mark the resting place of

WILLIE MALEY

Celtic Player 1888-1897
Celtic Manager 1897-1940

At Cathcart Cemetery, Glasgow (Brenfield Road entrance) on Saturday 21st September 2013 at 11.30am

Attendees at the event will include:

Davie Hay, former Celtic Player and Manager
John Paul Taylor, Celtic FC Supporter Liaison Officer
Chris McKay, Celtic supporter who discovered Willie Maley's resting place
Members of the Maley Family
Jim Craig, Celtic Graves Society Patron
David Potter, Celtic historian

A Blessing will be given by Rev. Father John Sweeney, St Maria Goretti Church, Cranhill. All Celtic Supporters are welcome to attend and flowers/tributes can be laid at the graveside.

"You can beat them if you start from the whistle to play the ball and keep playing it all the time. Now then, boys, go on determined to do your very best and remember the old Celtic spirit." - Willie Maley, pep-talk to Celtic tram, Ibrox 1921 - Rangers 0, Celtic 2

It was Brother Walfrid who, at a meeting at the Maley household in 1887 where the club's founding fathers sought to persuade Tom Maley to join the new Irish Combination, turned to younger brother Willie and said "Why don't you come with him?" That invitation led to one of the longest and most-rewarding relationships in the history of Celtic FC.

19 year old Maley signed up and featured in Celtic's first ever match, a 5-2 victory over Rangers, and then established himself as a half-back throughout the club's first decade.

His performance in the 1892 Scottish Cup Final helped secure the club's first major trophy with "his blocking and feeding simply perfect... checking, returning, general engineering... immense." He remained faithful to the Glasgow club when many of his team-mates were tempted away by the lure of bigger money in England.

The following year was monumental for Maley as he earned two international caps and was a member of the Celtic team that won its first League Championship in 1893. Maley and his team-mates repeated the feat the following year and he rounded off his playing career with another League winners medal in 1896. He made 95 first-team appearances for Celtic and scored four goals.

Willie Maley became "Secretary-Manager" of Celtic in 1897 and his team won the Championship in his first season. He went on to forge some of the greatest teams in the club's history. The record-breaking 6-in-a-row side of 1905-1910 contained legendary figures such as Quinn, Gallacher and McMenemy. The secret of his success was claimed to be that "He catches the players young and breathes into them the old traditional Celtic fire of which he himself appears to be the very living fountain and source" (Glasgow Observer, 14 March 1914). His next great team won four titles in succession between 1914-1917.

In total Maley's teams won sixteen league titles and fourteen Scottish Cups and were responsible for creating an attacking style of football that remains synonymous with the club 125 years on. His managerial career finished with a flourish as he reached 70 years of age: the Scottish Cup won in 1937 and the League Title and Empire Exhibition Cup in 1938, Celtic's golden jubilee year. It was during the jubilee celebration that the man himself said: "The club has been my life and without it my existence would be empty indeed."

As part of the 125th anniversary of Celtic's foundation the Celtic Graves Society is holding this commemoration to honour one of the greatest ever Celts whose name is still celebrated in the stands of Celtic Park today.

For more information please visit:

www.celticgraves.com

where donations to the work of the Celtic Graves Society can also be made.

Sep 21, 201338:04
Paradise Report: Celtic XI 3-5 Stiliyan Petrov XI (Sep 2013)
Sep 08, 201301:26:34
Paradise Report: Celtic 3-0 Shakhter Karagandy (Aug 2013)
Aug 28, 201301:12:33
Paradise Report: Celtic 2-2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle (Aug 2013)
Aug 24, 201351:23
Paradise Report: Celtic 2-1 Ross County (Aug 2013)
Aug 03, 201350:21
Paradise Report: Celtic 1-0 Elfsborg (Jul 2013)
Jul 31, 201347:32
Paradise Report: Celtic 1-2 Borussia Mönchengladbach (July 2013)
Jul 27, 201331:07
Paradise Report: Celtic 2-0 Cliftonville (Jul 2013)
Jul 23, 201334:34
Paradise Report: Hibernian 0-3 Celtic (May 2013)
May 26, 201301:07:44
Paradise Report: Dundee United 0-4 Celtic (May 2013)
May 19, 201350:38
Paradise Report: Celtic 4-0 St Johnstone (May 2013)
May 11, 201301:04:01
Paradise Report: Ross County 1-1 Celtic (May 2013)
May 05, 201330:44
Paradise Report: Motherwell 3-1 Celtic (Apr 2013)
Apr 28, 201346:15
Paradise Report: Celtic 4-1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle (Apr 2013)
Apr 21, 201301:02:39
Paradise Report: Dundee United 3-4 Celtic (Apr 2013)
Apr 14, 201351:11
Paradise Report: Celtic 3-0 Hibernian (Apr 2013)
Apr 06, 201338:17
Paradise Report: Celtic 4-3 Aberdeen (Mar 2013)
Mar 16, 201355:58
Paradise Report: St Mirren 1-2 Celtic (Mar 2013)
Mar 02, 201329:35
Paradise Report: Motherwell 2-1 Celtic (Feb 2013)
Feb 27, 201323:34
Paradise Report: Celtic 5-0 Dundee (Feb 2013)
Feb 24, 201334:51
Paradise Report: St Johnstone 1-1 Celtic (Feb 2013)
Feb 19, 201329:31
Paradise Report: Celtic 6-2 Dundee United (Feb 2013)
Feb 16, 201333:41
Paradise Report: Celtic 0-3 Juventus (Feb 2013)
Feb 12, 201352:26
Paradise Report: Raith Rovers 0-3 Celtic (Feb 2013)
Feb 03, 201330:09
Paradise Report: Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock (Jan 2013)
Jan 30, 201334:28
Paradise Report: St Mirren 3-2 Celtic (Jan 2013)
Jan 27, 201325:52