Life after Celtic
Walfrid was heavily involved with the club he played such a great role in founding. Celtic were a huge success, raising funds he could only dream of for his Penny Dinner Scheme and Poor Children’s Dinner and Breakfast Tables, among other Catholic charities. In sporting terms, the Bhoys were performing superbly for such a young club too.
Talks to change the financial status of club were soon underway. The old guard of Walfrid et al were very much against this. The concept of the club they created for charitable causes being taken away from its roots was unthinkable. However, Walfrid would leave the club before the shift in status came about when his Church superiors transferred him to London in August 1892.
In the English capital, Walfrid continued his work combining football with charity. He set up football matches for the barefoot children in Bethnal Green and Bow. Meanwhile, he also took charge of a school and worked to reduce crime in his very deprived area. Beyond those domains, Brother Walfrid immersed himself in community organisations and even set up a Marist Brother Sanctuary at Ferry Grove in Kent.
An attempt by the traditionalists to influence the committee took effect in 1893, when at the AGM, they read out a message from Brother Walfrid. In the letter, Walfrid assured the club members that he gave his continued support and had sincere interest in the club from afar. The thought of Brother Walfrid keeping an eye on the club he was the main founder of, was enough to halt the process of limited liability taking effect for the time being.
Walfrid’s support of Celtic never wavered whilst living in England, even after limited liability status was secured. Indeed, he met the Celtic team and delegation in London, on their return from a continental tour, after the club had gone down the limited company route.
Walfrid appears to have accepted the direction of the club, knowing that whilst it didn’t totally encompass the values he envisioned, it was a necessity for survival. He also understood that the charitable heritage would be carried forth by the supporters.
Tom Maley recorded Brother Walfrid’s words of the day: “Well, well. Time has brought changes. Outside of ourselves there are a few left of the old brigade. It’s good to see you all so well and I feel younger with the meeting. Goodbye, God bless you.”
Brother Walfrid passed away in Dumfries on 17 April 1915. He was buried in Mount St Michael Cemetery, where a commemoration was recently held by the club and Celtic Graves Society. Every Celtic fan owes the club’s ethos and values to him and has to be thankful for him leading the way in terms of founding the club.
Other founding fathers should not be forgotten, but Walfrid was the key man, more than deserving of his statue outside Celtic Park. It could only be argued that John Glass held the same level of importance in terms of bringing Celtic Football Club to fruition.
*Much of this article has been adapted from various chapters found within Take Me To Your Paradise: A History of Celtic-Related Incidents & Events
Click on the links below for articles on other Celtic Founding Fathers:
Patrick Welsh – William McKillop MP – John Glass – Hugh Darroch – Dr John Conway – Michael Cairns – John O’Hara – Daniel Molloy – Joseph Shaughnessy – James Curtis – Joseph Nelis – Francis McErlean – David Meikleham – Joseph McGroary – John Charles MacDonald – James McKay – James Quillan – John H McLaughlin – Brother Dorotheus
Liam Kelly
Matt Corr’s new book Majic, Stan and the King of Japan is out now and Neil Lennon, the Celtic captain that season, has written the foreword for us.
You can get a signed copy of the hardback version direct from Celtic Star Books by clicking on the image below. It’s also available an an e-book via Amazon Kindle and please note that all colour photographs that appear in the beautifully presented printed hardback book are also available in the Kindle version of Majic, Stan and the King of Japan…
