Danny McGrain
Encyclopedia
For the former Clyde F.C.
footballer, see Danny McGrain (footballer born 1953)
Daniel Fergus "Danny" McGrain (born 1 May 1950 in Glasgow
) is a Scottish former professional football
er who played for Celtic F.C.
in defence. He made 657 appearances scoring 8 goals. He was also a Scotland
international.
, having won 62 caps. He played best as a right back.
He played for Scotland in the 1974 World Cup, missed the 1978 World Cup because of injury, and was captain of Scotland at the 1982 World Cup.
(Celtic's Glasgow
rivals) as a boy. He wrote two autobiographies, one when his career was at its peak and another shortly after he retired. In both, McGrain (a Protestant) told how he had been spotted by someone doing some scouting for Rangers when he was still a boy but the scout did not recommend him to Rangers, wrongly assuming from his name that he was a Catholic
and that Rangers would not sign him because of this. In the first, he made some comments on Scotland's erratic performance in the 1978 World Cup, but said it could not all be blamed on the controversial manager Ally MacLeod
.
Winner 1972–73
, 1973–74
, 1976–77
, 1978–79
, 1980–81
, 1981–82
, 1985–86
Scottish Cup
Winner 1973–74, 1974–75
, 1976–77
, 1979–80
, 1984–85
Scottish League Cup
Winner 1974
, 1983
Hamilton Scottish League First Division Winner 1987–88
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
footballer, see Danny McGrain (footballer born 1953)
Danny McGrain (footballer born 1953)
Daniel "Danny" McGrain was a Scottish footballer who spent his entire senior career with Clyde.McGrain began his career with junior side Blantyre Victoria, winning the Scottish Junior Cup with them in 1970....
Daniel Fergus "Danny" McGrain (born 1 May 1950 in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
) is a Scottish former professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er who played for Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in defence. He made 657 appearances scoring 8 goals. He was also a Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international.
Club career
McGrain, a talented fullback described as a "footballing legend", was selected for Celtic's all-time greatest XI. He was part of Jock Stein's 9-in-a-row glory days, winning 7 League Championships, 5 Scottish Cups and two League Cups. He spent his final season of his career with Hamilton Academical, where he won them promotion to the premier league.International career
McGrain is a member of the Scotland Football Hall of FameScotland Football Hall of Fame
The Scotland national football team roll of honour is a list set up by the Scottish Football Association which recognises players who have gained 50 or more international caps for Scotland. There are currently 26 players on the roll of honour, with Kenny Miller the most recent addition...
, having won 62 caps. He played best as a right back.
He played for Scotland in the 1974 World Cup, missed the 1978 World Cup because of injury, and was captain of Scotland at the 1982 World Cup.
Personal life
In 1974, McGrain was diagnosed as suffering from diabetes but was able to continue playing top-level football. McGrain supported RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
(Celtic's Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
rivals) as a boy. He wrote two autobiographies, one when his career was at its peak and another shortly after he retired. In both, McGrain (a Protestant) told how he had been spotted by someone doing some scouting for Rangers when he was still a boy but the scout did not recommend him to Rangers, wrongly assuming from his name that he was a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and that Rangers would not sign him because of this. In the first, he made some comments on Scotland's erratic performance in the 1978 World Cup, but said it could not all be blamed on the controversial manager Ally MacLeod
Ally MacLeod
Alistair Reid MacLeod was a Scottish professional football player. He is perhaps better known for his time as a football manager, which included being in charge of Scotland at the 1978 FIFA World Cup....
.
In popular culture
In 1996, Glasgow rock band Big Wednesday immortalised Danny in music in their single "Sliding in like McGrain". Danny appeared on television with the group as part of the promotional activities.Player Honours
Celtic Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
Winner 1972–73
1972-73 in Scottish football
The 1972–73 season was the 76th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Kilmarnock, Airdrieonians-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Clyde, Dunfermline Athletic...
, 1973–74
1973-74 in Scottish football
The 1973–74 season was the 77th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: East Fife, Falkirk-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Airdrieonians, Kilmarnock...
, 1976–77
1976-77 in Scottish football
Season 1976–1977 was the 80th season of Scottish league football.After the failure of the Spring Cup and the 26 game season in the 1st & 2nd Divisions, a 39 game season was instituted in these divisions with a slight imbalance in the amount of home and away games played by each team; however,...
, 1978–79
1978-79 in Scottish football
The 1978-1979 season was the 82nd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Hearts, Motherwell-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Dundee, Kilmarnock...
, 1980–81
1980-81 in Scottish football
The 1980-81 season was the 84th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: CelticRelegated: Kilmarnock, Hearts-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Hibernian, Dundee...
, 1981–82
1981-82 in Scottish football
The 1981–82 season was the 85th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: CelticRelegated: Partick Thistle, Airdrieonians-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Motherwell, Kilmarnock...
, 1985–86
1985-86 in Scottish football
The 1985–86 season was the 89th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:With Rangers once again failing to mount a title challenge, manager Jock Wallace's second spell as manager ended in April when he was sacked and the club appointed Graeme Souness as player-manager,...
Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
Winner 1973–74, 1974–75
Scottish Cup 1974-75
The 1974–75 Scottish Cup was the 90th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Airdrieonians in the final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replay:-Third round:...
, 1976–77
Scottish Cup 1976-77
The 1976–77 Scottish Cup was the 92nd staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Rangers in the final.-First round:-Second round:-Replays:-Third round:-Replays:...
, 1979–80
Scottish Cup 1979-80
The 1979–80 Scottish Cup was the 95th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Rangers in the final...
, 1984–85
Scottish Cup 1984-85
The 1984–85 Scottish Cup was the 100th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Dundee United in the final.-First round:-Replay:-Second round:-Replays:-Second Replay:...
Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
Winner 1974
1974 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1974 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 26 October 1974 and was the final of the 29th Scottish League Cup competition. It was contested by Hibernian and Celtic. Celtic won the match 6–3, with John "Dixie" Deans and Joe Harper scoring hat-tricks for each side...
, 1983
Hamilton Scottish League First Division Winner 1987–88
1987-88 in Scottish football
The 1987–88 season was the 91st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Notable events:Billy McNeill's second spell back in charge of Celtic began in style as they finished the season by winning the double of the league title and Scottish Cup...