Celtic Player of the Day – Jimmy McStay

Originally posted on The Celtic Star | By David Faulds | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 6:30 PM ET

Jimmy McStay, born in 1895, was the younger brother of Willie and was a centre half. He was generally regarded as a good, rugged determined centre half of the Jock Stein type rather than a classy Billy McNeill.

Like Stein, he was a good leader of men and succeeded his brother Willie as captain in 1929 when Willie left to go to Hearts. He had already won three Scottish Cup medals, and he led Celtic to another two in 1931 and 1933, but it was his bad luck to be there in difficult times.

The death of John Thomson cannot have been easy for him, especially when Maley himself seemed unable to cope with it, and then a couple of years later came the death through tuberculosis of Peter Scarff.

He was never considered good enough to be capped for Scotland (many people disagreed with that) but after the disastrous season of 1933/34 he went to Hamilton Accies and played in another Scottish Cup final, losing to Rangers in 1935.

After a spell in Ireland, he became Manager of Alloa Athletic, and in 1940 he became the successor to Willie Maley at Celtic Park. In the difficult war time circumstances, he was not a success and was sacked in favour of Jimmy McGrory soon after the end of the war. He died on 31 December 1973.

David Potter

*Article from The Celtic Star archives celebrating the wonderful work of the late, great Celtic Historian David Potter.

SUMMER SALE NOW ON AT CELTICSTARBOOKS.COM – IDEAL FOR FATHER’S DAY SHOPPING, Order today and we’ll post FIRST CLASS immediately!

This article first appeared on The Celtic Star and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: