Celtic Player of the Day – Frank McGarvey, magic, just magic

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The Celtic Star

·19. Mai 2025

Celtic Player of the Day – Frank McGarvey, magic, just magic

When Frank McGarvey left us in the early hours of 2023, he left memories of a great Celt and a really rather remarkable character.

He won three League Championships for Celtic, two Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup, and then he went to St Mirren and won another Scottish Cup medal with them. Indeed he had two spells with St Mirren, and played oftener for them than he did for Celtic. He was also capped seven times for Scotland.

OneFootball Videos

1979 International Friendly Scotland v Argentina. Frank McGarvey and Diego Maradona at Hampden– Scotland 1 Argentina 3 – on 2June 1979

He had gone to Liverpool in 1979 after leaving St Mirren, but that never worked out and Celtic brought him back in 1980. He could hardly be blamed for losing the Scottish League in 1980, but he did won a Scottish Cup medal in the “riot” Cup final of 1980.

He played a consistent part in winning the Scottish League in 1981 and 1982, his best game by far being the game against his old club St Mirren in March 1981 when he scored a hat-trick with devastating football.

His most famous goal was the header from an Aitken cross in the 1985 Scottish Cup final, but it was a bitter sweet moment for Frank, because he had only been offered a one year contract for next year when he felt he was entitled to more. So he left the club and finished his playing career back at St Mirren.

Frank Mcgarvey, celebrates after scoring the winner in the 1985 Scottish Cup Final, 16 May 1985. Photo Mary Evans Allstar

In later years, he admitted to a gambling addiction and his book “Totally Frank” is well worth a read on that subject. A month or two before his death he appeared at Parkhead to be greeted by the fans who still adored him.

David Potter

*Article by David Potter from The Celtic Star archives celebrating the wonderful Celtic writing from the late, great Celtic historian.

A story told by Frank McGarvey. A ball was played to him out on the touchline beside the jungle , and Frank got it under control and was starting to run up the wing. Someone shouted ‘c’mon frank show’s some o’ yer magic‘ which prompted someone else to shout ‘aye, disappear‘.

“David Hay took over as manager when Billy McNeill left, and I always feel I was unfairly treated by him. Although I played well for him, he wanted his own players. I was 29 and wanted to spend the rest of my days at Celtic, but he sold me on, even though the cup final goal made his job a lot safer,” Frank McGarvey

“Just to look at the Celtic end and look at the Celtic fans cheering. When I was a wee boy brought up in Easterhouse I dreamed of those things.” Frank McGarvey

“Just to say to the Celtic fans, that I love them very much & I want to thank them for everything they’ve done for me,” Frank McGarvey (2022)

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