Although football was of limited importance during the conflict, it provided some distraction from those suffering the effects of war. Although perhaps this is not so much the case for those that followed Celtic, given the team’s poor showing in this era.
Following numerous operations and other treatment, Delaney eventually recovered from his broken arm. In fact, the injury had a wartime impact on him. With conscription existing in Britain, he could have been called up to fight, but his ailment stopped this happening.
Jimmy would not play football again until the latter half of 1941. By the time he did this, there had been a major change at Celtic. The club’s first manager Willie Maley – in post since 1897 – finally left the club, to be replaced by former Celtic player, Jimmy McStay. Leaving aside the problems of war, McStay had an unsuccessful spell in his five years in charge.
During Delaney’s remaining time as a Celt, there would only be two more pieces of silverware won and displayed at Celtic Park. In May 1943, Celtic and Jimmy beat Third Lanark 3-0. Delaney got goals in the quarter-finals and semi-final but not the final itself.
Jimmy Delaney in action. Photo The Celtic Wiki
In May 1945, the war in Europe finally came to an end following the surrender of Germany. To celebrate, a special Victory in Europe Cup Final was held at Hampden, and the Celts lined up against Queen’s Park for the trophy. The match ended 1-1 but Celtic claimed victory having had more corner kicks.
However, Jimmy was not part of this. He was in the midst of arguments with Celtic. He had been rejected in his request for a benefit game, and then asked for a transfer. To punish him, it is believed that the club’s directors instructed Celtic manager McStay to drop Delaney. It was the beginning of the end of his relationship with the club.
