Writing on The Celtic Star to years ago today Lisbon Lion Jim Craig had this to say about Jock Stein…
On this day in 1965, Jimmy McGrory was relieved of his post as manager of Celtic.
He had assumed the role in July 1945, replacing Jimmy McStay and had led the club to Scottish Cup wins in 1951 and 1953, a league Championship in 1953/54, 2 League Cup victories in 1956 and 1957 plus 2 ‘one-off’ trophies, the St Mungo Cup in 1951 and the Coronation Cup in 1953.
Unfortunately, while Jimmy McGrory was idolized by the Celtic support for his goal-scoring feats as a player (550 goals in total), they – and the Board – were also well aware that the club had not won a major domestic trophy for 8 years! So, Jimmy McGrory was moved sideways to the post of Public Relations Officer and former player Jock Stein was brought in as manager.
Stein had started his non-playing career as a coach with the Celtic reserve team. To the dismay of the players at Parkhead, he moved to Dunfermline as manager in 1960 and it was not long before he made his mark there, leading them to a Scottish Cup triumph in 1961 plus some good nights in Europe.
Jock Stein made another move in 1964, this time to Hibs, guiding the side to a win in the Summer Cup, the Hibees’ first silverware for years. All this time, though, he was keeping an eye on how Celtic were doing and it would be reasonable to think that the Celtic Board was also checking his progress.
And, on this day in 1965, as Jimmy McGrory took up the post of PRO, Jock Stein became only Celtic’s 4th manager since 1897.
Jim Craig
More to follow on Jock Stein today on The Celtic Star, here are some of the tributes to the Celtic legend on social media this morning…
55 years ago today , Jock Stein was appointed the manager of our club .
However , Sir Robert Kelly at one point thought his religion had taken Jock as far as he could go at the club , until common sense prevailed 🍀 pic.twitter.com/0p0cVYc2sA— Highland__Paddy (@Highland__paddy) March 9, 2020
Great quote 💕 https://t.co/U770KqQ0JH
— Simon Donnelly (@SimonDonnelly13) March 9, 2020
“25% of our [Celtic’s] managers have been Protestant!”
Jock Stein on being appointed manager of Celtic, when pointed to headlines and by people that he was the first Protestant manager (he was only the 4th in clubs history (retold by Hugh McIlvaney))https://t.co/BEcpbbMeQ0 pic.twitter.com/k91cIzLDrN
— JoeBloggsCity (@joebloggscity) March 9, 2020
“25% of our [Celtic’s] managers have been Protestant!”
Jock Stein on being appointed manager of Celtic, when pointed to headlines and by people that he was the first Protestant manager (he was only the 4th in clubs history (retold by Hugh McIlvaney))https://t.co/BEcpbbMeQ0 pic.twitter.com/k91cIzLDrN
— JoeBloggsCity (@joebloggscity) March 9, 2020
“25% of our [Celtic’s] managers have been Protestant!”
Jock Stein on being appointed manager of Celtic, when pointed to headlines and by people that he was the first Protestant manager (he was only the 4th in clubs history (retold by Hugh McIlvaney))https://t.co/BEcpbbMeQ0 pic.twitter.com/k91cIzLDrN
— JoeBloggsCity (@joebloggscity) March 9, 2020
On this day in 1965, one of the most important days in Celtic's history when Jock Stein officaily took over as Celtic manager from Jimmy McGrory. pic.twitter.com/T8O7EY0aVg
— CelticLisboa (@CelticLisboaa) March 9, 2020
“We did it by playing football. Pure, beautiful, inventive football.” Jock Stein 🍀 pic.twitter.com/2hXmcKseyf
— 𝐉𝐉 (@jillj579) March 9, 2020
Bob Rooney , Jock Stein and Sean Fallon relaxing in Lisbon.
Love this picture of them together 👍 pic.twitter.com/shH94YBvNm— Highland__Paddy (@Highland__paddy) March 3, 2020
You may have missed this from Sunday evening, but it is well worth reading today. Malcolm Rodger, a survivor of child abuse abuse in Scottish football talks us through how he believes that all the survivors can get justice and how this sordid, disgraceful subject can be concluded once and for all. Please read and if you are minded to do so, please support him in trying to reach his target.
Malcolm Rodger’s Campaign to Bring Justice and Peace to Scottish Football’s Victims | The Celtic Star https://t.co/8ijRWJI74F
— The Celtic Star Editor (@CelticStarMag) March 8, 2020
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