When the Bhoys held the Scottish Cup aloft to an ecstatic support at Hampden in 1925, the name Jimmy McGrory was on every-one’s lips. The Scottish League Championship was duly delivered in 1926 and the Celtic fans knew they were watching someone very, very special. McGrory continued on an upward spiral at Parkhead and the goals flowed like the Vatican fountain. A voracious workrate, the strength of an Aberdeen Angus and a desire to prove himself to the Celtic faithful lends weight to the question, “Why did he only get 7 caps for Scotland-including 6 goals?” He refused to take the Highbury pay hike as expected when Arsenal came calling and this endeared him even further to the fans. In the 1931 Scottish Cup Final, Celtic were 0-2 down to Motherwell when McGrory typically turned the game on it’s head. Celtic pulled one back and Jimmy was instrumental in the equaliser when he famously bullied the Motherwell backline into conceding an O.G- with his backside on the Hampden turf! His two goal salvo in the replay again proved to be the catalyst for a night of raucous celebration in the green half of Glasgow-not least in the Garngad where street parties are now the norm after a Title or Cup comes home to Paradise. When McGrory stepped down from the striking plate in 1937, he was elevated to the managerial chair at Kilmarnock FC. He bossed Killie during 5 of the 7 war years but eventually succumbed to the lure of his first love when the Parkhead ‘sirens’ wooed him back. Management, it seems, proves to be a different proposition to even the greatest players and success depends on others as much as the ex-player concerned. Despite this, Jimmy McGrory led Celtic to a Scottish League Title, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups. Of those, One of the most memorable League Cup Finals remains a thing of legend and great pride to his day in the hearts of all Celtic supporters. McGrory sent out his team to face Rangers at Hampden with a simple mandate-“Beat them!” By the time they arrived back into the dressing room at full time, they were as stunned as the Celtic (and Rangers) fans who had just witnessed them hammer seven goals into the Rangers net. Another unbeaten British record had been delivered by Magical McGrory but this time, he was the orchestrator, rather than the slayer himself. Naturally, the Celtic choirmasters translated this feat into song: “Oh Hampden in the sun, the Celtic seven and the Rangers one, that was the score when time was up, the Timalloys had won the Cup”. Jimmy McGrory’s death in 1982 saddened football fans everywhere. He will be remembered for his incredible goal haul which is unlikely ever to be beaten. He will be remembered fondly by fellow Celts for the 7-1 demolition of Rangers in 1957. But mostly, I hope he will be remembered for his humility and the manner in which he served Celtic, Kilmarnock and Scotland with such dignity and quiet pride. Jimmy loved Celtic Football Club and he is revered in return by supporters of this great institution-even posthumously. Hail Hail Jimmy McGrory-the original King of Kings.
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Sang to ‘Hail Glorious St Patrick’.
In the war against rang*ers in the fight for the Cup,
When Jimmy McGrory put Celtic one up.
We’ve done it before and we’ll do it again,
On Erins green valley, look down in thy love.
ON ERINS GREEN VALLEY!
ON ERINS GREEN VALLEY!
ON ERINS GREEN VALLEY LOOK DOWN IN THY LOVE!
(repeat chorus ad infinitum)