Celtic History – A young Will Quinn wins a race and a clock…at Ibrox

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The Celtic Star

·3. April 2025

Celtic History – A young Will Quinn wins a race and a clock…at Ibrox

“Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in!” A famous line from the last of the fabulous Godfather trilogies.

I understand how Al Pacino feels today, as I thought the series of articles which we published on The Celtic Star last year around the life and times of Will Quinn and his son-in-law Charlie Doherty, two wonderful Celtic employees of the last century, would be the end of the story.

Not quite.

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Following on from the publication of my Celtic in the Thirties volumes just before Christmas on Celtic Star Books, I received word a week or two back that someone wanted to share some memorabilia and stories of his great-grandfather, Will Quinn. Always happy to do that so we set up a meeting.

Well, there’s memorabilia and there’s memorabilia, and this is something else! A collection of photos and items which had me spellbound for a couple of hours. For some of those I was able to add some context, and for others to have that provided by Will’s great-grandson Steven. But as always there were a few which raised questions, so it’s back to work we go.

By far the oldest of the items was this beautiful wooden clock, won by Will Quinn, apparently a talented athlete, at the first Ibrox Park on Saturday, 1 August 1896.

Photos courtesy of Steven Quinn for use on The Celtic Star

Some background

Ahead of every season, many of the football clubs in Scotland held sports meetings, where cycle races, track and field events and five-a-side football competitions took place.

In August 1896, the meeting at the first Ibrox Park – situated on Copland Road, adjacent to the site of the current stadium – took place on the first day of the month, in front of 15,000 spectators.

Another meeting would be held at Celtic Park the following Saturday and Monday, as advertised in The Daily Record of Monday, 3 August 1896, submitted by W. Maley, secretary of 80 Saltmarket. That same edition carried a report of the events at Ibrox 48 hours earlier, and so we have perhaps the first mention of Will Quinn…but as an athlete rather than a football trainer, as he wins a half-mile handicap race, and the beautiful clock pictured above.

“RANGERS HOLD A BRILLIANT MEETING AT IBROX”

“With the notable exception of W. Maley, the Celtic champion, and D. R. McCulloch, almost all put in an appearance, and, as might be supposed, the many flat events that were set down for decision were replete with the greatest interest.”

“The half-mile brought out 23 starters, and was mainly noticeable for the excellent running of J. Rodger, the scratch man. He ran with great pluck and judgement, and got the third place, being two yards behind D. Shaw (48 yard)) who was second. The finish was very close, W. Quinn (40 yard), with a capital burst, beating Shaw by about half a foot. The winner’s time was 2 min. 0 1-5 secs.

Half-Mile Flat Race (Handicap) – 1. W. Quinn, Ayr FC (40 yd); 2. D. Shaw, E.W.H. (48 yd); 3. J.Rodger, Carrick Harriers (scratch) Time, 2 min. 0 1-5 secs. Twenty-three starters.

Quinn 20 yards from home looked like winning, but Shaw by a grand effort got in front, and broke the tape six inches in advance, Rodger two yards behind.”

The Scottish Referee of the same day also reported on Will’s victory.

“J. Rodger ran as he always does, consistently, and got third in the half-mile after pulling through a big field. The winner, Quinn, of the Ayr School (40), won the race in strong style.”

The same publication also mentioned the absence of Willie Maley, a champion sprinter in his day and still at that time a player with Celtic. He would become the club’s first manager the following year.

“Unfortunately, Champion Maley was elsewhere, so that Auld Ayr and Clyde Wilson were robbed of the chance of showing him the way to the tape. Some comment was caused by none of the Celts competing at Ibrox. What was the reason?

Secretary W. Maley was at Brig o’ Allan negotiating talent for the 15th, whilst A. S. Maley busied himself in the ring at Ibrox booking entrants for Saturday first.”

On Monday, 3 August, the second part of the Ibrox meeting took place. This involved a senior five-a-side football tournament plus a 300-yards footballers’ race, both won by the hosts.

I note that Will is assigned to Ayr FC, a forerunner of the present Ayr United, which begs the question was Will a footballer as well as an athlete, or was the athletics section an offshoot of the football club? Either way, it helps to bring in another piece of the memorabilia on show, a group photograph which shows a young Will wearing running colours with ‘AA’ on the badge.

Will is perched between the first two seated athletes from the left, wearing the white shirt with badge.

Photo courtesy of Steven Quinn for use by The Celtic Star

I reckon this might be the earliest photograph of Will Quinn in existence, although the date and location are unknown at the moment. He could be late teens or early twenties, perhaps.

At the Ibrox race meeting of August 1896, Will would have been 21 years old and should have recently celebrated his third wedding anniversary with wife Kate and children William and Margaret. But tragedy had intervened a few years earlier.

No more spoilers. The link to Will’s story at that time is below.

Charlie and the Bhoys: Two weddings and three funerals

More to follow on some of the Quinn family memorabilia.

Hail, hail!

Matt Corr

Follow Matt on X/Twitter @Boola_vogue

You can read all of Matt’s brilliant articles in our Authors section at the top of The Celtic Star. Indeed you can do so for all our writers including the late David Potter. Click HERE to see Matt Corr’s article archive and HERE to see David Potter’s brilliant collection of Celtic features.

To see the hardback Celtic books published on Celtic Star Books click HERE and feel free to purchase. Matt will be happy to sign your copies and add any personal dedication you would like. Celtic in the Thirties – in two volumes – is absolutely outstanding. Both volumes are also available on Kindle with all photographs there too.

Celtic in the Thirties

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!

Both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special dedication to your copies please let us know. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…

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