Jimmy Delaney
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Delaney (3 September 1914 – 26 September 1989) was a Scottish
football player who enjoyed a 24-year playing career.
on provisional forms in 1933 from Stoneyburn Juniors, signing a permanent contract the following year. He spent 13 years with the Glasgow
club, making 305 appearances in all competitions. Delaney suffered the misfortune of a badly broken arm in a home game against Arbroath
in April 1939. The injury sustained being further exacerbated by the opposition player Attilio Becchi, who was apparently a Celtic fan, accidentally stepping on Delaney's arm. Delaney's torn football shirt was sold for £564 at Christie's in 2002.
In 1946, Delaney signed for Matt Busby
's Manchester United
in a £4,000 deal. He helped United win the 1948 FA Cup Final
and finished his United career with 28 goals. He moved back to Scotland at the age of 36, joining Aberdeen
in November 1950 and made his Dons debut in a 5–1 defeat of Falkirk
. A year later he joined the Bairns, where he spent three seasons. In January 1954, Derry City
paid £1,500 to sign him, a record fee for the Irish Football League, remarkable in that he was by this stage 39 years old. Two years later he joined Cork Athletic as player-manager before eventually retiring after a season with Highland League
Elgin City
in 1957.
Delaney has the distinction of having won the Scottish Cup
with Celtic in 1937, the English FA Cup
with Manchester United in 1948, and the Irish Cup
with Derry City in 1954. He also came close to a fourth different Cup in the Republic of Ireland, earning a runners-up medal with Cork Athletic in 1956. He won 15 cap
s for Scotland
and scored 6 goals. Delaney also represented the Scottish League XI
six times. On 15 November 2009 he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame
.
. His grandson John Kennedy
was also a professional footballer, who played as a defender for Celtic
and Norwich City
.
Delaney died in September 1989, shortly after his 75th birthday.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football player who enjoyed a 24-year playing career.
Career
Delaney joined CelticCeltic 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...
on provisional forms in 1933 from Stoneyburn Juniors, signing a permanent contract the following year. He spent 13 years with the 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...
club, making 305 appearances in all competitions. Delaney suffered the misfortune of a badly broken arm in a home game against Arbroath
Arbroath F.C.
Arbroath F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. They were founded in 1878 and currently play their home matches at Gayfield, Arbroath, Angus. They play in maroon strips, and are nicknamed "The Red Lichties" due to the red light that used to guide...
in April 1939. The injury sustained being further exacerbated by the opposition player Attilio Becchi, who was apparently a Celtic fan, accidentally stepping on Delaney's arm. Delaney's torn football shirt was sold for £564 at Christie's in 2002.
In 1946, Delaney signed for Matt Busby
Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby, CBE, KCSG was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and again for the second half of the 1970–1971 season...
's Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in a £4,000 deal. He helped United win the 1948 FA Cup Final
1948 FA Cup Final
The 1948 FA Cup Final was contested by Manchester United and Blackpool at Wembley Stadium on 24 April 1948. United, who had not appeared in an FA Cup Final for 39 years, won 4–2, with two goals from Jack Rowley and one apiece from Stan Pearson and John Anderson. Eddie Shimwell and Stan Mortensen...
and finished his United career with 28 goals. He moved back to Scotland at the age of 36, joining Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
in November 1950 and made his Dons debut in a 5–1 defeat of Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
. A year later he joined the Bairns, where he spent three seasons. In January 1954, Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
paid £1,500 to sign him, a record fee for the Irish Football League, remarkable in that he was by this stage 39 years old. Two years later he joined Cork Athletic as player-manager before eventually retiring after a season with Highland League
Highland Football League
The Press & Journal Highland Football League is a league of football clubs operating not just in the Scottish Highlands, as the name may suggest, but also in the north-east lowlands...
Elgin City
Elgin City F.C.
Elgin City Football Club are a semi-professional football team based in Elgin, Moray. They currently compete in the Scottish Third Division....
in 1957.
Delaney has the distinction of having won the 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...
with Celtic in 1937, the English FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
with Manchester United in 1948, and the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
with Derry City in 1954. He also came close to a fourth different Cup in the Republic of Ireland, earning a runners-up medal with Cork Athletic in 1956. He won 15 cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
s for 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...
and scored 6 goals. Delaney also represented the Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
six times. On 15 November 2009 he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame
Scottish Football Hall of Fame
The Scottish Football Hall of Fame is located at the Scottish Football Museum. Inductees are picked each year by fans and a committee selects the eight finalists who are inducted at an annual dinner....
.
Personal life
Son of Patrick Delaney and Bridget Nash from Crettyard, Queen's County (now County Laois) in Ireland, Jimmy was born in Cleland, North LanarkshireCleland, North Lanarkshire
Cleland is a small village near Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland - see . The two nearest towns are Wishaw and Motherwell. The village has a strong mining heritage and is a typical example of a working class village in North Lanarkshire and the Glasgow area...
. His grandson John Kennedy
John Kennedy (Scottish footballer)
John Kennedy is a retired Scottish professional footballer who played as a centre back for Celtic and Norwich City. He was also a Scotland international, but suffered a horrific knee injury on his Scotland debut in March 2004...
was also a professional footballer, who played as a defender for Celtic
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...
and Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
Delaney died in September 1989, shortly after his 75th birthday.