Jimmy McGrory

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James Edward "Jimmy" McGrory (b. 26 April 1904, Garngad, Glasgow - d. 20 October 1982) was a Scottish football player for Celtic, and widely regarded as one of the greatest Celtic players of all-time.^[1]

[edit] Background

McGrory was born at Millburn Street, Glasgow. He was the son of Henry McGrory and Catherine Coll, Irish Roman Catholics. They lived in Glasgow's East End on his father's wages as a gasworks labourer.

When McGrory was 16 he began playing for St. Roch's Juniors for £2 a week. The following year, in 1922, he joined Celtic from St. Roch's, before going on loan to Clydebank for the 1923 - 1924 season. Between 1922 and 1937, he scored 397 league goals for Celtic (as well as 13 while on loan at Clydebank).

He was the Scottish league's top goalscorer in 1926/27, 1927/28 and 1935/36.

Over the course of his career, he amassed 550 goals in first-class matches, including 410 goals in 408 league games, making him the most prolific scorer in British football history.

Despite McGrory's success, Celtic had to wait a decade after 1926 before again winning the Scottish league championship. In this period they lost their dominant position in Scottish football to Rangers. After leaving Celtic, he joined Kilmarnock as manager, before returning to manage Celtic in 1945. He held this position for nearly 20 years, before Jock Stein took over as manager in 1965.

Despite his outstanding goal scoring success, McGrory won a mere 7 caps for the Scotland national football team during his career and he managed to score 7 goals (one per game).

McGrory managed the Celtic side from the late 1940s to 1965, when he was replaced by Jock Stein. Although Stein's record as manager eclipsed that of McGrory, Jimmy is still remembered as a player in Celtic songs - Willie Maley Song- and also as a manager - Hampden in the Sun - after his team delivered the biggest ever victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers.

[edit] References

1. ^ John McManus. "Jimmy McGrory - LIVES AND TIMES". The Scotsman. Retrieved on 5 June 2007.

v • d • e Kilmarnock F.C. – Managers Spence (1919–37) • McGrory (1937–45) • Smith (1945–47) • Mather (1947–48) • Hastings (1948–50) • McDonald (1950–57) • Waddell (1957–69) • McCrae (1969–73) • Fernie (1973–77) • Sneddon (1977–81) • Clunie (1981–85) • Morrison (1985–89) • Fleeting (1989–90) • Burns (1990–94) • Totten (1994–96) • Williamson (1996–02) • Jefferies (2002–)

v • d • e Celtic F.C. – Managers Maley (1897–1940) • McStay (1940–1945) • McGrory (1945–1965) • Stein (1965–1978) • McNeill (1978–1983) • Hay (1983–1987) • McNeill (1987–1991) • Brady (1991–1993) • Macari (1993–1994) • Burns (1994–1997) • Jansen (1997–1998) • Vengloš (1998–1999) • Barnes (1999–2000) • Dalglish (2000) • O'Neill (2000–2005) • Strachan (2005–)

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