Jimmy Delaney - One of Celtic's most notable legends

His experience helped the club to third place in the Highland League. But the ravages of age and travel caused Jimmy problems. Despite playing for Elgin, he continued to live in Cleland in Lanarkshire. He made the long journey as needed for games but could not sustain this.

Adam McLean with Jimmy McGrory, Jimmy Delaney and Bobby Murdoch. Photo The Celtic Wiki

After his 1957 retirement, Delaney ceased to have any formal role in football, although he remained an avid fan, including watching Celtic games or cheering on his son Pat, who played for Motherwell and Dunfermline. Delaney senior worked for some of his life as a labourer.

Jimmy lived out his remaining years in private, spending time with family before dying from cancer in September 1989, aged 75. His funeral was very much a Celtic affair with numerous important Celts, past or present, attending, including manager Billy McNeill.

Jimmy Delaney with his medals. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Long after he stopped playing for Celtic, Delaney retained numerous Celtic links. As well as watching the club, he was an honorary member of a supporters’ club. But he did not live to see the link that would perhaps have most pleased him. His grandson – John Kennedy – later played for the Celts and became assistant manager.

That the name ‘Jimmy Delaney’ remains a recognised and important part of the Celtic story even decades after he left Parkhead shows the impact he had. The Celtic author David Potter wrote a biography of Delaney titled simply ‘The stuff of legend’. There is nothing more to add to this fitting description of a great Celt.

Jimmy Delaney with his medals. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Matthew Marr

To find out the full story of Celtic’s first League title, you can buy Matthew Marr’s debut book, ‘The Bould Bhoys! Glory to their name’. It’s available now over on Celtic Star Books.