Great Celtic Sides Named and Rated – Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Fife Celtic

Gerald Downey’s Ayrshire Celtic Eleven

Gerald had a go at picking an Ayrshire team for us, to keep the ball rolling. Here’s what he had to about his second team of Celts and about his controversial omission of the McStays from his Lanarkshire side.

“I’ve had a crack at picking my “Ayrshire” team so here goes. My goalkeeping choice is debatable but I couldn’t think of any prominent “No 1” who hailed from that region. I’ve had feedback (understandable) from a few readers questioning my wisdom in omitting “The Maestro” from my “Lanarkshire 11” but the fact that I was a school buddy of John Doyle and played Boys Guild football with him, gave him the nod. With hindsight I should have picked Paul in some role that hindsight is a wonderful gift,” Gerald stated, which is fair enough. Here is his Ayrshire Celtic team…

Bobby Wraith (Largs)
Sunny Jim Young (Kilmarnock)
Mark Reid (Kilwinning)
Roy Aitken (West Kilbride)
Jimmy Hay (Tarbolton)
Billy Price (Tarbolton)
James Forrest (Prestwick)
Lou Macari (Largs)
Alan McInally (Ayr)
Dougie Mc Guire ((Stevenston)
Bobby Lennox (Saltcoats)

This was sent to the two Fifers for their consideration. Jerry Woods was reasonably impressed. “My Reply Ayrshire 11 – No bad , but they might require the help of RABBIE BURNS.

“NAE, JOHN THOMSON – Willie Fernie – Scot Brown – or my Son in Law , Dominic Schiavone who played in the BP cup final,” Jerry noted. Hard to please these Fife Bhoys.

David Potter was next to give his thoughts on Gerald’s Ayrshire Celtic side.

“Mmm, not the worst football team in the world! Ayrshire would also have the advantage of having the world’s best poet to write a few songs for the Ayrshire Green Brigade, “Auld Ayr wha hae wi Aitken bred, Auld Ayr whom Young has often led” etc. but my view would have to be that Lanarkshire would definitely beat the Honest Men (as long as Paul McStay got a game and Jock Stein was their Manager) but that Fife and Ayrshire would probably draw – a high scoring draw, I think, because Bobby Lennox would score a few but, at the other end, Aitken and Reid were always capable of leaking a few goals, and with all due respect to Bobby Wraith, he is not Celtic’s most famous goalkeeper.

“On the other hand, three absolutely inspiring midfield leaders in Aitken, Young and Hay, and if Sunny Jim and Broonie were direct opponents in the Ayrshire v Fife game, there would be a few meaty clashes, I feel.

“The referee would have to be good – maybe Jack Mowat from neutral Rutherglen, who was notorious for “no nonsense”. Jamesie might be a handful on the Ayr wing, and Lou Macari is a great player – but don’t make him Manager! – and I feel that John Thomson would have to be at his best in the Fife goal.

“Billy Price was not a bad left half, but suffered from the times in which he played when Celtic were not at their best, and I would love to see him at this level.

“Big Rambo is strong and powerful but maybe lacks subtlety and Dougie Maguire suffers from inexperience, and might be well sussed out by Charlie Geatons of Fife.

“And do Ayrshire have anyone that could stop Willie Fernie?

“So my prediction would be Ayrshire 3 (Bobby Lennox 2, Lou Macari) Fife 3 (Willie Fernie with a penalty awarded when Sunny Jim brought down Hugh O’Donnell) Alec Thomson and Scott Brown (who annoyed Ayrshire supporters by a gesture called the “Fifie” after he scored the late equaliser).

“Fife Celtic supporters could not understand why Peter Wilson from Beith was left sitting on the Ayrshire bench. Was there some confusion here with Beath which is certainly in Fife? Could the Ayrshire Manager not spell?” David Potter concluded.

So bet you are all wondering who will be selected from the huge pool of players available to Matt Corr who is picking the Glasgow Celtic Eleven?

“Depending on Matt’s selecting skills, I think Glasgow would appear to have all the advantages. But I look forward to reading it!” David Potter stated.

Turn the page to find out who made Matt’s Glasgow Celtic team where he”ll have to selected players from Celtic’s home city and not his mates from France…

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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