Family of former Celtic star give gift to first club
THE family of Celtic great James McGrory have donated an award to the club where he started his career.
St Roch’s Junior Football Club were given a civic award which the football legend received from Glasgow City Council in the 1940s.
Three generations of the McGrory family attended St Roch’s West of Scotland cup game against Newmains United on Saturday, which the Candy won 6-0. After the game, the family handed over the award to the club’s captain John Carter in the pavilion of their ground, James McGrory Park, which is also named after the player.
His children Maria, Elizabeth and James were present at the game in Royston alongside their children, and grandchildren.
His son James, 62, said: “This is where my dad started his career. St Roch’s made him as well.”
St Roch’s manager Andy Cameron explained that he received a letter from one of the family’s youngest members and from that moment the club formed a special relationship with the McGrory clan.
He said: “It is great that the club can keep a relationship with the family. The youngest member of the family, Angus wrote a letter to us asking if he could become a St Roch’s supporter. We sent him a season ticket and since then they have been to three games which we have won!
“It is great that the family see St Roch’s as a memory of their grandfather and father, and it’s great for us.”
James McGrory signed for St Roch’s at the age of 16 and was part of the team who won the Scottish Junior Football League and Scottish Junior Cup in 1921/22.
He was signed for Celtic, who he later managed, and is considered one of the club’s greatest ever players.
Jim Friel, who is chairman of St Roch’s, said: “It was a tremendous pleasure to have the family of our most famous son to come to James McGrory Park.”