The Grant Stand at Celtic Park – the ‘Wonder of the Age’
Celtic would unveil their own new Grant Stand just two months later, on Saturday, 28 October 1899, the unique two-tier structure described as the ‘Wonder of the Age.’ (It was named the Grant Stand after Director James Grant who privately funded it).
So how does it all relate to Will Quinn?
In the series of articles published in The Celtic Star last spring there was no suggestion that Will worked for Kilmarnock, and it transpires that the club didn’t know he was there either.
But that’s all changed now, thanks to this letter.
I contacted the official club historian at Kilmarnock, who recalled his late father talking about ‘a man from Riccarton called Quinn who was a great trainer with Celtic in the pre-Second World War era.’ But his dad had never mentioned he had been with Kilmarnock before that, as presumably he didn’t know that.
After digging out some old income/expenditure books, the club historian confirmed that ‘W. Quinn appears on a few occasions on it from 1904 to 1906,’ which ties in perfectly.
The letter can be transcribed as follows…
“During the time Mr Quinn was in the employment of Kilmarnock Football Club, he proved to be a most energetic and capable trainer, a strict disciplinarian, and a faithful worker.
He has a splendid knowledge of the proper treatment of injuries, and is well qualified to take up an important position in the training of athletes and football players.
Wishing him further success in his profession.
Frank Frew
Secretary
Kilmarnock Football Club Ltd”
Letter from Kilmarnock FC
Continues on the next page…
