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James McGrory – The Garngad Lad

Daniel McDonagh

Tuesday, May 9th, 2006

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 When the name of Celtic mentioned
And of the players who played at Parkhead,
The history books will remember
The goals scored by Jimmy McGrory’s head.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 On April the 26th in 1904
In the Garngad, James McGrory was born,
And Glasgow’s east end would sing once again
For McGrory, a legendary Celtic son.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 The Garngad lad’s Celtic career
Started with a game against Third Lanark
As he played at Parkhead, the inside-right position,
Taking the role of an injured Patsy Gallagher.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 The 1925 Scottish Cup final
Was played against the blues of Dundee,
The only goal of the game was scored by McGrory
Who secured Celtic’s 11th Scottish Cup victory.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 In 1928, on January the 14th
Dunfermline passed through Parkhead’s old gates,
A world record was captured by Jimmy McGrory,
Out of Celtic’s nine goals, he scored eight.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 He was skillfully blessed with a brilliant striker’s instinct
As he played in the centre forward position,
When he scored the lone goal of the ’33 Final,
He suffered two broken teeth in an innocent collision.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Only seven caps he was awarded for playing for his country,
Maybe he should have been born under a Masonic star-sign,
His talents were ignored by the National team selectors,
Who showed their anti-Celtic bias of the time.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 Jimmy McGrory’s career at Parkhead lasted 15 years
As he played for the Hoops from his heart,
In his last game, he scored his last goal
In a 4-3 victory over Queens Park.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 He became the manager of Kilmarnock during the Second World War,
Where the lack of games were played,
In 1945, when the War had ended
He returned to his spiritual home of Parkhead.

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 For 20 years he served as Celtic’s manager
And brought success to the Hoops of green,
In 1965, he retired from management
To make way for the immortal, Jock Stein.

Notes

© Daniel McDonagh – Feb’17th 2005

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/james-mcgrory-the-garngad-lad/