Willie McCartney
Encyclopedia
Willie McCartney was a Scottish
association football referee and manager
. He managed both of the Edinburgh derby
rivals, Heart of Midlothian
and Hibernian
.
The Sunday Herald
newspaper listed McCartney as #22 in their 2003 list of the 50 greatest Scottish football managers, citing his role in the development of Hibs'
Famous Five
forward line. The newspaper also said that McCartney "was intelligent, jovial and had great presence", and described his ultimate failure to win a major trophy as "unthinkably cruel".
manager in November 1919, replacing his father, John
. He had the task of rebuilding the side that had been largely decimated in the First World War, including three dead on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Although Hearts drew big crowds during the early 1920s, the team was unsuccessful and narrowly avoided relegation in 1922
.
Hearts improved through the rest of McCartney's time, particularly after the signing of prolific goalscorer Barney Battles, Jr.
in 1928, but defensive frailties meant that they did not win any trophies. In 1933, McCartney asked to be relieved of clerical duties to concentrate on working with the players, but this had no discernible impact. McCartney resigned in June 1935, as the new chairman wanted a more hands-on approach to management. McCartney had signed and developed many good players, but ultimately failed to deliver success.
manager in 1936. Hibs had suffered a very poor period in the early 1930s, having been relegated in 1931
, failing to win promotion in 1932
, and only just retaining Division One status in 1934
and 1936
after winning promotion in 1933
. McCartney's appointment produced some excitement, as Hibs drew a crowd of 25,000 for his first match in charge.
Hibs again struggled in his first season
, as McCartney tried to find the right blend of the many new signings he had made. By 1938, McCartney had developed a strong group of younger players, although the club suffered a humiliating Scottish Cup
defeat by . Hibs put up a much better effort in the following year
, but were beaten 1–0 by eventual winners in the semi-final.
Just as it appeared McCartney was building a good team, with The Scotsman
predicting a good season for Hibs, the Second World War started. The Scottish Football League
abandoned competition after five games of the 1939–40 season
, with only friendlies outside "danger areas" (major central belt
towns and cities) allowed. These restrictions were soon relaxed to allow games to be played in the cities, subject to Home Office
permission, but the league was regionalised.
Hibs used the war years productively, however. Gordon Smith and Bobby Combe
were signed in 1941, even though Hearts had been watching both players. Soon afterwards, Smith scored a hat-trick for Hibs against Hearts at Tynecastle
. Combe also scored in a 5–3 win for Hibs. At the same time, McCartney attracted guest players including Matt Busby
and Bobby Baxter
.
Hibs won the Summer Cup in 1941, defeating in the final. Rangers were the dominant club during the war, winning every Southern League competition and six of the ten cup competitions. McCartney's Hibs were their main challengers, winning two of the other four cups, and winning an equal share of the league points contested between the two sides.
The guest players moved on at the end of the war in 1945, but McCartney continued to build the side. Willie Ormond
and Eddie Turnbull
were signed during the 1946–47 season
, while a young Lawrie Reilly
also signed in that season. McCartney technically wasn't allowed to sign the 16 year-old Reilly, but got around the regulation by keeping the signing form in his desk until Reilly's 17th birthday.
Hibs finished that season as runners-up in both of the main competitions, second to in the league and 2–1 losers to in the 1947 Scottish Cup Final. Hibs started the following season
strongly, and were top of the league in January ahead of a key match against Rangers at Ibrox
. The week before, Hibs played in the Scottish Cup
at Cliftonhill
. Hibs won an unremarkable match 2–0, but manager McCartney had collapsed and died later that day.
Trainer Hugh Shaw
was appointed as McCartney's replacement, and Hibs went on to win the league that season Shaw completed the Famous Five
lineup by signing Bobby Johnstone
, and the team went on to win further league championships in 1951
and 1952
.
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...
association football referee and manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. He managed both of the Edinburgh derby
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
rivals, Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
and Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
.
The Sunday Herald
Sunday Herald
The Sunday Herald is a Scottish Sunday newspaper launched on 7 February 1999. The ABC audited circulation in April 2011 showed sales of 31,123.From the start it has combined a centre-left stance with support for Scottish devolution...
newspaper listed McCartney as #22 in their 2003 list of the 50 greatest Scottish football managers, citing his role in the development of Hibs'
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
Famous Five
The Famous Five (football)
The Famous Five is the collective term for Hibernian's forward line of Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond. The north stand at Easter Road was named in their honour when it was rebuilt in 1995...
forward line. The newspaper also said that McCartney "was intelligent, jovial and had great presence", and described his ultimate failure to win a major trophy as "unthinkably cruel".
Hearts manager
McCartney was appointed HeartsHeart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
manager in November 1919, replacing his father, John
John McCartney (footballer born 1866)
William John McCartney, known as John McCartney was a Scottish footballer and football manager whose career lasted from 1884 to 1929.-Playing career:...
. He had the task of rebuilding the side that had been largely decimated in the First World War, including three dead on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Although Hearts drew big crowds during the early 1920s, the team was unsuccessful and narrowly avoided relegation in 1922
1921-22 in Scottish football
The 1921–22 season was the 32nd season of competitive football in Scotland. Division Two was reintroduced after having been abandoned due to World War I. Automatic promotion and relegation was introduced this season, as well as goal difference to divide teams who are level on points...
.
Hearts improved through the rest of McCartney's time, particularly after the signing of prolific goalscorer Barney Battles, Jr.
Barney Battles, Jr.
Bernard "Barney" Joseph Battles was a Scottish footballer whose name is synonymous with Heart of Midlothian...
in 1928, but defensive frailties meant that they did not win any trophies. In 1933, McCartney asked to be relieved of clerical duties to concentrate on working with the players, but this had no discernible impact. McCartney resigned in June 1935, as the new chairman wanted a more hands-on approach to management. McCartney had signed and developed many good players, but ultimately failed to deliver success.
Hibs manager
After a year out of the game, McCartney was appointed HibsHibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
manager in 1936. Hibs had suffered a very poor period in the early 1930s, having been relegated in 1931
1930-31 in Scottish football
The 1930–31 season was the 41st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Hibernian, East Fife-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Third Lanark, Dundee United...
, failing to win promotion in 1932
1931-32 in Scottish football
The 1931–32 season was the 42nd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: MotherwellRelegated: Dundee United, Leith Athletic-Scottish League Division Two:...
, and only just retaining Division One status in 1934
1933-34 in Scottish football
The 1933–34 season was the 44th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Third Lanark, Cowdenbeath-Scottish League Division Two:...
and 1936
1935-36 in Scottish football
The 1935–36 season was the 46th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: CelticRelegated: Airdrie, Ayr United-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Falkirk, St...
after winning promotion in 1933
1932-33 in Scottish football
The 1932–33 season was the 43rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Greenock Morton, East Stirlingshire-Scottish League Division Two:...
. McCartney's appointment produced some excitement, as Hibs drew a crowd of 25,000 for his first match in charge.
Hibs again struggled in his first season
1936-37 in Scottish football
The 1936–37 season was the 47th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Dunfermline Athletic, Albion Rovers-Scottish League Division Two:...
, as McCartney tried to find the right blend of the many new signings he had made. By 1938, McCartney had developed a strong group of younger players, although the club suffered a humiliating 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...
defeat by . Hibs put up a much better effort in the following year
Scottish Cup 1938-39
The 1938–39 Scottish Cup was the 61st staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Clyde who defeated Motherwell in the final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replays:-Third round:-Replays:...
, but were beaten 1–0 by eventual winners in the semi-final.
Just as it appeared McCartney was building a good team, with The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
predicting a good season for Hibs, the Second World War started. The Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
abandoned competition after five games of the 1939–40 season
1939-40 in Scottish football
The 1939–40 would have been the 50th season of competitive football in Scotland. However, the outbreak of the Second World War on 3 September 1939 caused the suspension of the league after five rounds of games played in Division One, and four rounds in Division Two...
, with only friendlies outside "danger areas" (major central belt
Central Belt
The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland. Despite the name, it is not geographically central but is nevertheless situated at the 'waist' of Scotland on a conventional map and the term 'central' is used in many local...
towns and cities) allowed. These restrictions were soon relaxed to allow games to be played in the cities, subject to Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
permission, but the league was regionalised.
Hibs used the war years productively, however. Gordon Smith and Bobby Combe
Bobby Combe
James Robert "Bobby" Combe was a Scottish international association football player, who spent his entire senior career with Hibernian....
were signed in 1941, even though Hearts had been watching both players. Soon afterwards, Smith scored a hat-trick for Hibs against Hearts at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
. Combe also scored in a 5–3 win for Hibs. At the same time, McCartney attracted guest players including 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...
and Bobby Baxter
Bobby Baxter (Scottish footballer)
Robert Denholm "Bobby" Baxter was a Scottish footballer best known for his time with English club Middlesbrough. He was born in the Gilmerton area of Edinburgh....
.
Hibs won the Summer Cup in 1941, defeating in the final. Rangers were the dominant club during the war, winning every Southern League competition and six of the ten cup competitions. McCartney's Hibs were their main challengers, winning two of the other four cups, and winning an equal share of the league points contested between the two sides.
The guest players moved on at the end of the war in 1945, but McCartney continued to build the side. Willie Ormond
Willie Ormond
William 'Willie' Esplin Ormond OBE was a Scottish football player and manager. As a player, Ormond was well known as one of Hibernian's Famous Five forward line, winning three league championships in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He then returned to prominence as a manager, first with a...
and Eddie Turnbull
Eddie Turnbull
Edward Hunter Turnbull was a Scottish professional football player and manager.During the late 1940s and 1950s he was one of the Famous Five, the noted Hibernian forward line, along with Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Ormond...
were signed during the 1946–47 season
1946-47 in Scottish football
The 1946–47 season was the 50th season of competitive football in Scotland, and the first since the 1938–39 season.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Rangers-Scottish League Division B:-Scottish League Division C:...
, while a young Lawrie Reilly
Lawrie Reilly
Lawrance "Lawrie" Reilly is a former Scottish association football player. He was one of the "Famous Five", the Hibernian forward line during the 1950s. The others were Bobby Johnstone, Gordon Smith, Eddie Turnbull, and Willie Ormond...
also signed in that season. McCartney technically wasn't allowed to sign the 16 year-old Reilly, but got around the regulation by keeping the signing form in his desk until Reilly's 17th birthday.
Hibs finished that season as runners-up in both of the main competitions, second to in the league and 2–1 losers to in the 1947 Scottish Cup Final. Hibs started the following season
1947-48 in Scottish football
The 1947–48 season was the 51st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Hibernian Relegated: Airdrie, Queen's Park-Scottish League Division B:Champions: East Fife, Albion Rovers...
strongly, and were top of the league in January ahead of a key match against Rangers at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
. The week before, Hibs played in 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...
at Cliftonhill
Cliftonhill
Cliftonhill Stadium is the home ground of the Scottish Football League team Albion Rovers. The ground is situated in the town of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.-History:...
. Hibs won an unremarkable match 2–0, but manager McCartney had collapsed and died later that day.
Trainer Hugh Shaw
Hugh Shaw (footballer)
Hugh Shaw was a Scottish association football player and manager, most notably with Hibernian. He played for Hibs during the interwar period, making his debut during the 1918–19 season...
was appointed as McCartney's replacement, and Hibs went on to win the league that season Shaw completed the Famous Five
The Famous Five (football)
The Famous Five is the collective term for Hibernian's forward line of Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond. The north stand at Easter Road was named in their honour when it was rebuilt in 1995...
lineup by signing Bobby Johnstone
Bobby Johnstone
Robert "Bobby" Johnstone was a Scottish association football player, mainly remembered as one of the Famous Five forward line of Hibernian....
, and the team went on to win further league championships in 1951
1950-51 in Scottish football
The 1950–51 season was the 54th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: HibernianRelegated: Clyde, Falkirk-Scottish League Division B:Promoted: Queen of the South, Stirling Albion...
and 1952
1951-52 in Scottish football
The 1951–52 season was the 55th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: HibernianRelegated: Greenock Morton, Stirling Albion-Scottish League Division B:Promoted: Clyde, Falkirk...
.