The song 'Willie Maley' is a firm favourite of @CelticFC fans.
It tells the story of the club's history, from the very start until more recent times.
This thread looks at all of the verses, giving more detail for each of them.
1/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
The first verse is about Willie Maley.
A @CelticFC legend, in fact the club were trying to sign his brother Tom and he was asked to also come along.
He ended up playing for and managing the club for more than half a century.
2/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
The opening verse also mentions Patsy Gallagher.
The Irishman was a forward who became a huge fans' favourite, known for various tricks.
He played from 1911-25. His most famous goal was a somersault in the 1925 Scottish Cup Final.
3/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
Another player mentioned in the first verse is Jimmy Quinn.
Croy-born Quinn was a forward once described by Willie Maley as one of Celtic's greatest players.
Between 1901-15 he scored 216 goals in 331 games.
4/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
The song's chorus mentions numerous players:
James McGrory
Paul McStay
Jimmy Johnstone
Charlie Tully
Bobby Murdoch
Bertie Auld
David Hay
5/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
James McGrory is the first name mentioned in the chorus.
A legendary forward from 1921-37, he is @CelticFC's all-time record scorer with 472 goals in 445 games.
After his playing career ended he was Celtic manager from 1945-65.
6/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
The next player in the chorus is @CelticFC's Paul McStay.
A standout midfielder for the club he won numerous trophies and also captained the side.
McStay played from 1981-97, scoring 72 goals in 678 games.
7/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
The 'Willie Maley' chorus also names Jimmy Johnstone.
@CelticFC's star winger needs no introduction - he was once voted Greatest Ever Celtic Player.
Between 1963 and 1965 he won 22 trophies, including the 1967 European Cup.
8/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
The chorus also names Charlie Tully.
Belfast-born Tully was an entertaining forward and a big fans' favourite.
Between 1948 and 1959 he played 319 times for @CelticFC, scoring 47 goals (including famously from a corner kick).
9/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysomg
The 'Willie Maley' chorus also names Bobby Murdoch.
A battling and talented midfielder, he was described by Inter Milan manager as his "complete footballer".
From 1959-73 he played for @CelticFC 484 times, scoring 105 goals.
10/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
The next player named is Bertie Auld.
Another outstanding midfielder, he twice played for @CelticFC, from 1955-61 and 1965-71.
He played 279 times, scoring 85 goals. In retirement he was a popular sight at Celtic events.
11/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
The final player named in the chorus is David Hay.
The 'Quiet Assassin' played 230 times in defence/midfield for @CelticFC from 1966-74.
He also later managed the club from 1983-87, most famously winning the League at Love Street.
12/21
#celticfc #celticsongs #williemaleysong
The second verse tells the story of the 1938 Empire Exhibition trophy.
A tournament with English and Scottish teams was held to mark the Exhibition.
@CelticFC beat Sunderland (3-1), Hearts (1-0) and Everton (1-0) to win the cup.
13/21
#CelticFC #celticsongs #williemaleysong
The third verse describes the 1953 Coronation Cup.
A UK-wide tournament took place in Glasgow to make the Queen's coronation.
Celtic defied expectations to beat Arsenal (1-0), Man Utd (2-1) and Hibernian (2-0) to win the cup.
14/21
#celticfc #celticsongs #williemaleysong
The song's fourth verse describes Celtic's biggest ever cup final win.
@CelticFC trounced Rangers 7-1 in the 1957 League Cup Final.
The Hoops' goals came from Sammy Wilson, Neilly Mochan (2), Billy McPhail (3) and Willie Fernie.
15/21
#celticfc #celticsongs #williemaleysong
The 5th verse describes @CelticFC's greatest day.
In May 1967, a team of players from in and around Glasgow won the European Cup.
Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers helped Celtic beat Inter Milan 2-1.
The Lisbon Lions were born.
16/21
#celticfc #celticsongs #williemaleysong
The 6th verse is about @CelticFC's centenary season in 1987-88.
Celtic overcame newly rich Rangers to win the league and cup double.
The Hoops won the league in April before beating Dundee Utd 2-1 in the Scottish Cup Final.
17/21
#celticfc #celticsongs #williemaleysong
The 7th verse of the song describes the 1995 Scottish Cup Final.
In May 1995 a Pierre van Hooijdonk goal gave @CelticFC a 1-0 win over Airdrie to end a 6-year trophyless run.
The Dutch striker scored 56 goals between 1995-97.
18/21
#celticfc #celticsongs #williemaleysong
The 8th verse tells the tale of @CelticFC winning the league and stopping Rangers getting ten-in-a-row.
In May 1998 the Hoops ended ten years of hurt and won the title. Key players included Larsson, Brattbakk, Boyd and Donnelly.
19/21
#celticfc #celticsongs #williemaleysong
The 9th and final verse (so far) looks at @CelticFC in the 21st century.
It names Henrik Larsson, easily Celtic's top player in the last 40 years (and maybe ever).
Between 1997-2004, the star Swede scored 242 goals in 313 games.
20/21
#celticfc #celticsongs #williemaleysong
The statistics and facts in this book come from:
* the ever excellent @TheCelticWiki
* the fantastic 'An Alphabet of the Celts' by McBride, O'Connor and Sheridan.
21/21
#celticsongs #celticfc #williemaleysong
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.