On this day in 1982 Paul McStay made his competitive debut for Celtic Football Club. It would be the birth of a legend.
Celtic faced Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup and won 4-0. A rare goal was scored by Danny McGrain who added to an early strike by Frank McGarvey. George McCluskey scored a penalty on 39 minutes and then another young debutant John Halpin scored in the 85th minute to cap a comfortable win.
The old traditional Rangers end of the stadium was closed due to burst pipes which had caused flooding, and the cold weather then caused the water to freeze over.
Only 12,000 fans were in attendance, but many didn’t realise that they were watching history unfold before their eyes as Paul McStay graced Paradise for the first time. Few could have imagined what he would go on to become.
⏪ Paul McStay made his competitive #CelticFC debut #OnThisDay in 1982.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨 🍀🟢 pic.twitter.com/SXRqhCLeQT
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 23, 2021
McStay went on to make 678 appearances in a Celtic shirt, scoring 72 goals. Sadly, due to having the misfortune of playing in a turbulent era at the club, he only won three league titles in 16 years, though two of those league championships were among the best in our history (1986 at Love Street and the Centenary season). In addition to those triumphs, he won four Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup.
Paul mc stay mr majestic what a player a true celyic man like Tommy burns never wanted to use Celtic as a stepping stone then come out years later and swear ur dying love for team Celtic need u on the park not on the terraces we have 10 of 1, 000 for that it’s the talented fans who are so lucky to have the talent to play I can understand going for big bucks but dont start saying how unloved the club and tell people how to run it your sold for big bucks you kid yourself you done it for the club I was so sorry top talents coming through the ranks like kieron Tierney leaving before 10 in a row know if Celtic pushed you fine if they didnt I think you let us fans that adored you down and I dont see you welcome on the terrace somebody going to ignore you stayed till ten you would have been welcomed back sorry but we deserved that at least
ignore present at ur peril.