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Danny McGrain

Daniel Fergus McGrain MBE (born 1 May 1950) is a Scottish former professional footballer, who played for Celtic, Hamilton Academical and the Scotland national team as a right back. McGrain is regarded as one of Scotland's greatest players and throughout the 1970s and 80s as one of the best full backs in world football; sports writer Hugh McIlvanney commented, "Anybody who saw him at his best had the unmistakable impression of watching a great player, probably one who had no superior anywhere in the world."[5]

Danny McGrain
MBE
McGrain in 2013
Personal information
Full name Daniel Fergus McGrain[1]
Date of birth (1950-05-01) 1 May 1950 (age 72)[2]
Place of birth Finnieston, Glasgow, Scotland[2]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3]
Position(s) Right back[2]
Youth career
Queen's Park Strollers
1967–1970 Celtic
Maryhill[2]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1987 Celtic 439 (4)
1987–1988 Hamilton Academical 21 (0)
Total 460 (4)
International career
1973 Scottish League XI[4] 1 (0)
1973 Scotland U23 2 (0)
1973–1982 Scotland 62 (0)
Managerial career
1992–1994 Arbroath
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

McGrain began his career at Celtic and was one of the "Quality Street Gang", a group of young players that emerged in the late 1960s. He progressed to the first team and went on to play 659 competitive games for Celtic between 1970 and 1987, winning seven League Championships, five Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups. He spent his final season of his career with Hamilton, where he helped win them promotion to the Premier Division. McGrain played in the 1974 and 1982 World Cups for Scotland. His 62 caps earned him a place in the Scotland national football team roll of honour and he was inducted to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

After retiring from playing, McGrain had a spell as manager of Arbroath in the early 1990s, and is now currently part of the coaching staff at Celtic.

Club career

Born in Glasgow and raised in the city's Drumchapel area,[6][7] McGrain played for Queen's Park Strollers and also featured for the Scotland Schools team, where he was scouted and signed for Celtic in May 1967, aged 17.[7] He became one of the so-called 'Quality Street Gang', the great Celtic reserve team that also included players such as Kenny Dalglish, Lou Macari, Paul Wilson , Davie Hay and George Connelly, who eventually took the places of the ageing Lisbon Lions. At first, McGrain was regarded as a midfielder but was utilised in a variety of roles in the reserve side before becoming established as a right-back.[8][7] He had a spell at Junior club Maryhill to gain experience playing with adults, and also made a fruitless attempt at a college course in engineering prior to becoming a full-time professional.[7]

Having been chosen to accompany the main squad to the 1970 European Cup Final along with Dalglish,[6][7] McGrain made his first-team debut for Celtic as a substitute in a Scottish League Cup tie against Dundee United at Tannadice on 26 August 1970.[9][10] He then went on and made his league debut three days later in the opening fixture against Morton at Celtic Park.[8][9] McGrain was used sparingly by manager Jock Stein in his first couple of seasons in the first team, but the young full-back played well in these games.[8]

Having made only 10 league appearances, McGrain suffered the first serious set-back of his career on 25 March 1972. He sustained a fractured skull during a match at Brockville against Falkirk after a clash of heads with forward Doug Somner.[8] McGrain, however, made a full recovery and began the following season, 1972–73, as Celtic's first-choice right-back [11] in place of Jim Craig who had left the club at the end of the previous season.[12] McGrain now became a first-team regular and made 30 league appearances that season.[13] He also rose through the ranks at international level, making two appearances for the Scotland Under 23 side in the spring of 1973, before finally making his debut at full international level for Scotland in May 1973 against Wales at Wrexham.[11] McGrain picked up his first winner's medal at the end of the season when Celtic clinched their eighth successive league championship title.[14]

By the mid 1970s, McGrain was considered by many to be one of the best full-backs in the world.[8][15] He played as what is known today as an attacking full-back and contributed significantly in both attacking moves as well as in defence.[5] His abilities included a burst of speed, skill and control on the ball, vision and anticipation and, when required, a strong but fair sliding tackle.[16] He won a further league championship title and a Scottish Cup in 1974 and played in the World Cup for Scotland that same year.[11] However, McGrain was diagnosed with diabetes immediately after the World Cup, but with the benefit of medication and a controlled diet and lifestyle, continued to play without adverse effect.[17]

In 1977, McGrain won his second league and cup double.[18] He was also voted Player of the Year by the Scottish Football Writers' Association.[19] McGrain became captain of Celtic at the start of season 1977–78 in the wake of Kenny Dalglish's departure to Liverpool. However, a troublesome foot injury that medical staff struggled to identify or treat adequately saw McGrain miss most of the season with Celtic. He also missed the 1978 World Cup for Scotland.[20] Celtic finished the season trophy-less and failed to qualify for European competition for the first time since the early 1960s.[21][22] McGrain eventually recovered from his mystery foot injury[20] and after a tentative re-introduction into the Celtic team, now managed by Billy McNeill,[23][24][25] played in the club's last 18 league fixtures of the season in the spring of 1979.[26] On his return from injury, a change in his style of play was apparent. There was a noticeable reduction of pace, which in turn was compensated for by a greater reliance on anticipation of play and distribution of the ball.[27] McGrain went on to pick up his fourth league championship medal at the end of that season as Celtic clinched the title with a dramatic 4–2 win over Rangers in their final game of the season.[28]

McGrain continued to be a mainstay of the Celtic side during the early to mid 1980s; captaining them to a further three league championships, two Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup,[11] despite also suffering a broken leg in 1981.[6] He made his 600th competitive appearance for Celtic in a 2–0 win over St Mirren in October 1985. Manager Davie Hay described him as a "superb player and professional" and said he was "the best tackler on the field" in the match against St Mirren.[29] In the summer of 1986, Airdrie made an approach for McGrain to become their player-manager. Negotiations reached an advanced stage until a last-minute change of heart by the Airdrie board.[11] McGrain remained at Celtic for a further year; playing regularly at the age of 36: he missed only two games in the second half of the season.[11][30] He played his final game for Celtic on 9 May 1987, a league fixture away against Hearts.[30]

In May 1987, McGrain was given a free transfer by Celtic.[1] He joined Hamilton Accies in the summer and helped them win promotion to the Premier Division before finally retiring from playing.[31]

International career

His international career began at Scotland Under 23 level on 13 February 1973, with a game against England at Kilmarnock.[32] McGrain played alongside Alan Rough and Asa Hartford in a 1–2 defeat.[33] He won a second cap at Under 23 level a month later away to Wales, winning 2–1.[34]

McGrain made his full international debut for Scotland on 12 May 1973, in a British Home Championship tie against Wales at Wrexham, winning 2–0.[11][35] He won a further two caps over the following week in Home Championship ties against Northern Ireland and England.[36] The game against England saw McGrain fielded in an unfamiliar role at left-back to accommodate another highly rated right-back, Sandy Jardine of Rangers.[37] McGrain would go on to play at left-back for many of his Scotland appearances in the 1970s in order to accommodate the Rangers player, still able to play to the abilities he displayed in his normal role.[16]

McGrain played in eight consecutive internationals for Scotland[11] and was selected by Willie Ormond for the 22 man squad travelling to West Germany for the 1974 World Cup.[38] McGrain played in all three World Cup group matches (Zaire, Brazil and Yugoslavia), but despite being undefeated Scotland returned home having failed to qualify for the next phase.[38] This early-exit from the tournament proved fortunate for McGrain, who had been suffering from extreme thirst all through the tournament and had lost 2 stone (12 kg) in weight. On his return to Glasgow, McGrain was diagnosed as being diabetic. Had there been any further delay in identification and treatment of his condition, the consequences could have proved fatal.[39] With his illness now being managed, McGrain was able to continue playing football.[39]

McGrain continued to play regularly for Scotland, now being fielded in his more familiar position at right-back, but missed Scotland's ill-fated 1978 World Cup campaign in Argentina through injury.[11]

On his recovery from injury in 1979, McGrain regained his place in the Scotland team.[40] He made 16 consecutive international appearances in the run up to the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Now captain of the side, McGrain was named in Jock Stein's 22 man squad travelling to Spain. He played in Scotland's opening game against New Zealand but was dropped for the next match against Brazil. McGrain came on as a substitute for Gordon Strachan in Scotland's third game, against the Soviet Union.[11] This transpired to be his final game for Scotland.[11][41]

McGrain is a member of the Scotland national football team roll of honour, courtesy of the 62 caps he won during his career.[42]

Coaching career

After retiring from playing, McGrain had a brief spell coaching at Clydebank in 1989.[43]

In November 1992 McGrain was appointed manager of Scottish Second Division side Arbroath.[44][45] That season, McGrain led Arbroath to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup, losing 0–3 at home to eventual winners Rangers.[46] The following season Arbroath played McGrain's former club Celtic in a Scottish League Cup tie and lost 1–9, a record defeat for the club.[46][47] McGrain resigned in January 1994 due to illness.[46][48] In his 14 months at Gayfield Park, McGrain became popular with their fans and was followed by a group of supporters known as 'Danny McGrain's Bearded Army'. These supporters attended games wearing tribute T-shirts and stick-on beards, affectionately mimicking McGrain's own trademark beard.[45]

In August 1997 McGrain joined the backroom staff at Celtic, working under Wim Jansen.[49] After a spell coaching the under-21 side,[39] he was made first team coach after being promoted by Neil Lennon in October 2012 from the Development Squad.[50]

Personal life

McGrain is married to Laraine, and the couple have three daughters.[6] His younger brother Tommy was also a footballer who trained with Celtic as a teenager, but he did not break through to the first team and subsequently played for Dumbarton.[51][52]

McGrain supported Rangers (Celtic's Glasgow rivals) as a boy. He wrote two autobiographies, one when his career was at its peak and another shortly after he retired. In both, McGrain (a Protestant) told how he had been spotted by someone doing some scouting for Rangers when he was still a boy but the scout did not recommend him to Rangers, wrongly assuming from his name – Daniel Fergus McGrain – that he was a Catholic and that Rangers would not sign him because of this.[1] However, McGrain has since stated, "I don't know if that story's true. Over the years that followed nobody from Rangers ever told me they wanted to sign me".[53][6]

In the summer of 1974, McGrain was diagnosed as suffering from diabetes. He had just returned home from playing for Scotland in the World Cup in West Germany, where he had displayed an excessive thirst and lost 2 stones (12 kg) in weight. Despite his condition, McGrain was able to continue playing top-level football. In March 2002 McGrain was found by police in the south side of Glasgow, slumped unconscious in the driver's seat of his car. He had entered a hypoglycaemic state, where the brain is drained of sugar and causes the body to shut down to conserve what little there is left. The officers revived McGrain and fed him a sugary sweet. Had McGrain not been found in time he would have suffered brain damage and possibly died. However, he made a full recovery and commented "There was no harm done in the end."[54]

In the 1983 New Year Honours, McGrain was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to association football in Scotland.[55] The investiture was performed by the Queen Mother (the Queen was on tour in America), at Buckingham Palace.[56]

In 2002, Celtic supporters voted for what they considered to be the greatest Celtic XI of all time. McGrain was voted into the team, which was; Simpson, McGrain, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Auld, Johnstone, P. McStay, Dalglish, Larsson and Lennox.[57] He was an inaugural inductee to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004,[58]

McGrain is the vice patron of Football Aid, a Scottish charity fund-raising organisation.[59] He has been involved with them since their inception in 2000, and was appointed vice patron in 2004.[60]

In popular culture

In 1996, Glasgow rock band Big Wednesday celebrated McGrain in music in their single "Sliding in like McGrain".[61] McGrain appeared on television with the group as part of the promotional activities.[62]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition;Club[2][13][63]
Club Season League Scottish
Cup
Scottish
League Cup
Europe Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Celtic 1970–71 Scottish Division One 7 0 0 0 5 0 2 0 2 0 16 0
1971–72 3 0 1 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 10 0
1972–73 30 0 7 0 10 0 4 0 2 0 53 0
1973–74 30 1 3 0 13 0 5 0 3 0 54 1
1974–75 30 0 5 0 7 0 2 0 3 1 47 1
1975–76 Scottish
Premier Division
35 0 1 0 9 1 6 0 2 0 53 1
1976–77 36 0 7 0 10 1 2 0 0 0 55 1
1977–78 7 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 11 0
1978–79 18 2 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 24 2
1979–80 34 0 6 0 5 0 6 0 3 0 54 0
1980–81 33 0 3 0 8 0 4 0 1 0 49 0
1981–82 26 0 2 1 6 0 1 0 0 0 35 1
1982–83 33 1 3 0 10 1 4 0 2 0 52 2
1983–84 33 0 5 0 10 0 6 0 0 0 54 0
1984–85 30 0 7 0 3 0 4 0 1 0 45 0
1985–86 28 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 36 0
1986–87 26 0 4 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 33 0
Total 439 4 60 1 106 3 54 0 22 1 681 9
Hamilton Academical 1987–88 Scottish First Division 21 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 22 0
Career total 460 4 60 1 107 3 54 0 22 0 703 9

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[64]
National team Year Apps Goals
Scotland 1973 8 0
1974 7 0
1975 9 0
1976 7 0
1977 9 0
1978 0 0
1979 1 0
1980 8 0
1981 7 0
1982 6 0
Total 62 0

Honours

Player

Celtic[5][13]

Hamilton Academical

Manager

Arbroath

Individual

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Campbell, Tom; Woods, Pat (1987). The Glory & The Dream. Grafton Books. p. 428. ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Danny McGrain". Neil Brown – Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Danny McGrain". National Football Teams. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Danny McGrain –Scotland Football League Record from 27 Mar 1973 to 27 Mar 1973 clubs – Celtic". Londonhearts.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  5. ^ a b c . STV Sport. 1 April 2010. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e Aidan Smith (9 February 2013). "Interview: Danny McGrain still going strong at 62". The Scotsman. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e Mark Henderson (29 March 2012). "Becoming A Bhoy: Danny McGrain". Celtic F.C. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e Campbell, Tom; Woods, Pat (1987). The Glory & The Dream. Grafton Books. p. 424. ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
  9. ^ a b "Celtic Player Danny McGrain, Games Played 1970–71". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Dundee United 2–2 Celtic, League Cup (26/08/1970)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rollin, Jack (1988). Soccer – Records, Facts & Champions (2nd ed.). Guinness Publishing Ltd. pp. 56–57. ISBN 0-85112-360-0.
  12. ^ "Celtic Player Jim Craig Details". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  13. ^ a b c "Celtic Player Danny McGrain Details". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  14. ^ Campbell, Tom; Woods, Pat (1987). The Glory & The Dream. Grafton Books. p. 271. ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
  15. ^ "Your Most Exciting Player 1976-77". Shoot. May 1977.
  16. ^ a b Campbell, Tom; Woods, Pat (1987). The Glory & The Dream. Grafton Books. p. 425. ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
  17. ^ Keevins, Hugh (23 December 2011). "Celtic legend Danny McGrain: I beat diabetes and so will Scotland kid Scott Allan". Daily Record. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  18. ^ Craig, Jim (7 May 2012). "If You Know The History: 7th May Scottish Cup Final 1977". Jimcraigcsc.wordpress.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  19. ^ a b "Scotland – Player of the Year". Rsssf.com. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  20. ^ a b Campbell, Tom; Woods, Pat (1987). The Glory & The Dream. Grafton Books. pp. 425–427. ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
  21. ^ Campbell, Tom; Woods, Pat (1987). The Glory & The Dream. Grafton Books. p. 291. ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
  22. ^ Hunter, William (1 May 1978). "Celtic boys out of their class". The Glasgow Herald. p. 15. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  23. ^ Reynolds, Jim (11 September 1978). "McGrain to face Burnley?". The Glasgow Herald. p. 20. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  24. ^ Keevings, Hugh (16 November 1978). "Danny's great comeback". Evening Times. p. 39. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  25. ^ Davidson, Alan (5 March 1979). "Happy Celts: Conn, McGrain on way back". Evening Times. p. 30. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  26. ^ "Celtic Player Danny McGrain, Games Played". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  27. ^ Campbell, Tom; Woods, Pat (1987). The Glory & The Dream. Grafton Books. p. 427. ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
  28. ^ Paul, Ian (22 May 1979). "10-man Celtic win the league". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  29. ^ Reynolds, Jim (7 October 1985). "McGrain still going strong after 600 matches for Celtic". The Glasgow Herald. p. 7. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  30. ^ a b "Celtic Player Danny McGrain, Games Played". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  31. ^ a b "Former Arbroath FC boss Danny McGrain backs Lichties for the title". Thecourier.co.uk. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  32. ^ "Scotland U23 Player Danny McGrain, Games Played". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  33. ^ "Scotland U23 1–2 England, Friendly (13/02/1973)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  34. ^ "Wales 12 Scotland U23, Friendly (14/03/1973)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  35. ^ "Wales 0–2 Scotland, British Championship (12/05/1973)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  36. ^ "Scotland Player Daniel Fergus McGrain, Games Played". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  37. ^ "England 1–0 Scotland, British Championship (19/05/1973)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  38. ^ a b Jan Alsos. "1974 – Squads – Scotland". Planet World Cup. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  39. ^ a b c "Football: Players are still gutted by our KO in 1974 World Cup finals. I'm not – it saved my life; DANNY McGRAIN REVEALS HOW HE BEAT DIABETES TO BECOME SCOTLAND LEGEND". Daily Record. 30 March 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  40. ^ Paul, Ian (18 December 1979). "Stein puts the young ones in driving seat". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  41. ^ "Scotland 2–2 Soviet Union, World Cup (22/06/1982)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  42. ^ . Scottish Football Association. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  43. ^ "McGrain drafted in to help out Bankies". The Herald. 19 August 1989. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  44. ^ "McGrain takes over at Arbroath". The Herald. 11 November 1992. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  45. ^ a b "Former Arbroath FC boss Danny McGrain backs Lichties for the title". The Courier. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  46. ^ a b c . Arbroath FC. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  47. ^ Paul, Ian (26 August 1993). "Paradise at the seaside as Celtic hit the goal trail". The Herald. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  48. ^ "Early inspections". The Herald. 18 January 1994. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  49. ^ "Paul goes to school". The Herald. 11 August 1997. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  50. ^ "Celtic have appointed Danny McGrain as new first-team coach". Sky Sports. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  51. ^ "McGrain drain... [scan]". Evening Times. 10 June 1978. Retrieved 21 July 2018 – via Partick Thistle History Archive.
  52. ^ "Tom McGrain – Player Profile". Dumbarton Football Club Historical Archive. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  53. ^ Keevins, Hugh (20 April 2013). "Danny McGrain: If Neil Lennon wins 10-in-a-row I hope he gets the knighthood that Jock Stein should have got". Daily Record. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  54. ^ "Danny McGrain is found slumped at wheel of his car; Scotland and Celtic hero missing for 3 hours after falling unconscious". Sunday Mail. 24 March 2002. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  55. ^ UK & Commonwealth list: "No. 49212". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1982. p. 15.
  56. ^ a b "Danny Boy, MBE". Evening Times. 1 March 1983. p. 1. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  57. ^ "Jinky best-ever Celtic player". BBC Sport. 9 September 2002. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  58. ^ a b . Scottish Football Museum. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  59. ^ "Danny McGrain (MBE)". Football Aid. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  60. ^ "Celtic and Scotland Legend Danny McGrain takes up post of Football Aid's first Vice-Patron". Football Aid. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  61. ^ "The latest from the Scots music scene". The Mirror. 6 August 1997. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  62. ^ "Bite Back; Euro jungle". Sunday Mail. 10 March 1996. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  63. ^ "Meadowbank go through in extra time (Meadowbank 1 Hamilton 0)". The Glasgow Herald. 19 August 1987. p. 23.
  64. ^ "Roll of Honour – Danny McGrain". Scottish FA. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  65. ^ . Scottish FA. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  66. ^ "Danny MCGrain". Scottish FA. Retrieved 26 August 2018.

External links

danny, mcgrain, this, article, about, celtic, scotland, player, former, clyde, player, footballer, born, 1953, daniel, fergus, mcgrain, born, 1950, scottish, former, professional, footballer, played, celtic, hamilton, academical, scotland, national, team, righ. This article is about the Celtic and Scotland player For the former Clyde F C player see Danny McGrain footballer born 1953 Daniel Fergus McGrain MBE born 1 May 1950 is a Scottish former professional footballer who played for Celtic Hamilton Academical and the Scotland national team as a right back McGrain is regarded as one of Scotland s greatest players and throughout the 1970s and 80s as one of the best full backs in world football sports writer Hugh McIlvanney commented Anybody who saw him at his best had the unmistakable impression of watching a great player probably one who had no superior anywhere in the world 5 Danny McGrain MBEMcGrain in 2013Personal informationFull nameDaniel Fergus McGrain 1 Date of birth 1950 05 01 1 May 1950 age 72 2 Place of birthFinnieston Glasgow Scotland 2 Height5 ft 10 in 1 78 m 3 Position s Right back 2 Youth careerQueen s Park Strollers1967 1970CelticMaryhill 2 Senior career YearsTeamApps Gls 1970 1987Celtic439 4 1987 1988Hamilton Academical21 0 Total460 4 International career1973Scottish League XI 4 1 0 1973Scotland U232 0 1973 1982Scotland62 0 Managerial career1992 1994Arbroath Club domestic league appearances and goalsMcGrain began his career at Celtic and was one of the Quality Street Gang a group of young players that emerged in the late 1960s He progressed to the first team and went on to play 659 competitive games for Celtic between 1970 and 1987 winning seven League Championships five Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups He spent his final season of his career with Hamilton where he helped win them promotion to the Premier Division McGrain played in the 1974 and 1982 World Cups for Scotland His 62 caps earned him a place in the Scotland national football team roll of honour and he was inducted to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004 After retiring from playing McGrain had a spell as manager of Arbroath in the early 1990s and is now currently part of the coaching staff at Celtic Contents 1 Club career 2 International career 3 Coaching career 4 Personal life 5 In popular culture 6 Career statistics 6 1 Club 6 2 International 7 Honours 7 1 Player 7 2 Manager 7 3 Individual 8 See also 9 References 10 External linksClub career EditBorn in Glasgow and raised in the city s Drumchapel area 6 7 McGrain played for Queen s Park Strollers and also featured for the Scotland Schools team where he was scouted and signed for Celtic in May 1967 aged 17 7 He became one of the so called Quality Street Gang the great Celtic reserve team that also included players such as Kenny Dalglish Lou Macari Paul Wilson Davie Hay and George Connelly who eventually took the places of the ageing Lisbon Lions At first McGrain was regarded as a midfielder but was utilised in a variety of roles in the reserve side before becoming established as a right back 8 7 He had a spell at Junior club Maryhill to gain experience playing with adults and also made a fruitless attempt at a college course in engineering prior to becoming a full time professional 7 Having been chosen to accompany the main squad to the 1970 European Cup Final along with Dalglish 6 7 McGrain made his first team debut for Celtic as a substitute in a Scottish League Cup tie against Dundee United at Tannadice on 26 August 1970 9 10 He then went on and made his league debut three days later in the opening fixture against Morton at Celtic Park 8 9 McGrain was used sparingly by manager Jock Stein in his first couple of seasons in the first team but the young full back played well in these games 8 Having made only 10 league appearances McGrain suffered the first serious set back of his career on 25 March 1972 He sustained a fractured skull during a match at Brockville against Falkirk after a clash of heads with forward Doug Somner 8 McGrain however made a full recovery and began the following season 1972 73 as Celtic s first choice right back 11 in place of Jim Craig who had left the club at the end of the previous season 12 McGrain now became a first team regular and made 30 league appearances that season 13 He also rose through the ranks at international level making two appearances for the Scotland Under 23 side in the spring of 1973 before finally making his debut at full international level for Scotland in May 1973 against Wales at Wrexham 11 McGrain picked up his first winner s medal at the end of the season when Celtic clinched their eighth successive league championship title 14 By the mid 1970s McGrain was considered by many to be one of the best full backs in the world 8 15 He played as what is known today as an attacking full back and contributed significantly in both attacking moves as well as in defence 5 His abilities included a burst of speed skill and control on the ball vision and anticipation and when required a strong but fair sliding tackle 16 He won a further league championship title and a Scottish Cup in 1974 and played in the World Cup for Scotland that same year 11 However McGrain was diagnosed with diabetes immediately after the World Cup but with the benefit of medication and a controlled diet and lifestyle continued to play without adverse effect 17 In 1977 McGrain won his second league and cup double 18 He was also voted Player of the Year by the Scottish Football Writers Association 19 McGrain became captain of Celtic at the start of season 1977 78 in the wake of Kenny Dalglish s departure to Liverpool However a troublesome foot injury that medical staff struggled to identify or treat adequately saw McGrain miss most of the season with Celtic He also missed the 1978 World Cup for Scotland 20 Celtic finished the season trophy less and failed to qualify for European competition for the first time since the early 1960s 21 22 McGrain eventually recovered from his mystery foot injury 20 and after a tentative re introduction into the Celtic team now managed by Billy McNeill 23 24 25 played in the club s last 18 league fixtures of the season in the spring of 1979 26 On his return from injury a change in his style of play was apparent There was a noticeable reduction of pace which in turn was compensated for by a greater reliance on anticipation of play and distribution of the ball 27 McGrain went on to pick up his fourth league championship medal at the end of that season as Celtic clinched the title with a dramatic 4 2 win over Rangers in their final game of the season 28 McGrain continued to be a mainstay of the Celtic side during the early to mid 1980s captaining them to a further three league championships two Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup 11 despite also suffering a broken leg in 1981 6 He made his 600th competitive appearance for Celtic in a 2 0 win over St Mirren in October 1985 Manager Davie Hay described him as a superb player and professional and said he was the best tackler on the field in the match against St Mirren 29 In the summer of 1986 Airdrie made an approach for McGrain to become their player manager Negotiations reached an advanced stage until a last minute change of heart by the Airdrie board 11 McGrain remained at Celtic for a further year playing regularly at the age of 36 he missed only two games in the second half of the season 11 30 He played his final game for Celtic on 9 May 1987 a league fixture away against Hearts 30 In May 1987 McGrain was given a free transfer by Celtic 1 He joined Hamilton Accies in the summer and helped them win promotion to the Premier Division before finally retiring from playing 31 International career EditHis international career began at Scotland Under 23 level on 13 February 1973 with a game against England at Kilmarnock 32 McGrain played alongside Alan Rough and Asa Hartford in a 1 2 defeat 33 He won a second cap at Under 23 level a month later away to Wales winning 2 1 34 McGrain made his full international debut for Scotland on 12 May 1973 in a British Home Championship tie against Wales at Wrexham winning 2 0 11 35 He won a further two caps over the following week in Home Championship ties against Northern Ireland and England 36 The game against England saw McGrain fielded in an unfamiliar role at left back to accommodate another highly rated right back Sandy Jardine of Rangers 37 McGrain would go on to play at left back for many of his Scotland appearances in the 1970s in order to accommodate the Rangers player still able to play to the abilities he displayed in his normal role 16 McGrain played in eight consecutive internationals for Scotland 11 and was selected by Willie Ormond for the 22 man squad travelling to West Germany for the 1974 World Cup 38 McGrain played in all three World Cup group matches Zaire Brazil and Yugoslavia but despite being undefeated Scotland returned home having failed to qualify for the next phase 38 This early exit from the tournament proved fortunate for McGrain who had been suffering from extreme thirst all through the tournament and had lost 2 stone 12 kg in weight On his return to Glasgow McGrain was diagnosed as being diabetic Had there been any further delay in identification and treatment of his condition the consequences could have proved fatal 39 With his illness now being managed McGrain was able to continue playing football 39 McGrain continued to play regularly for Scotland now being fielded in his more familiar position at right back but missed Scotland s ill fated 1978 World Cup campaign in Argentina through injury 11 On his recovery from injury in 1979 McGrain regained his place in the Scotland team 40 He made 16 consecutive international appearances in the run up to the 1982 World Cup in Spain Now captain of the side McGrain was named in Jock Stein s 22 man squad travelling to Spain He played in Scotland s opening game against New Zealand but was dropped for the next match against Brazil McGrain came on as a substitute for Gordon Strachan in Scotland s third game against the Soviet Union 11 This transpired to be his final game for Scotland 11 41 McGrain is a member of the Scotland national football team roll of honour courtesy of the 62 caps he won during his career 42 Coaching career EditAfter retiring from playing McGrain had a brief spell coaching at Clydebank in 1989 43 In November 1992 McGrain was appointed manager of Scottish Second Division side Arbroath 44 45 That season McGrain led Arbroath to the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup losing 0 3 at home to eventual winners Rangers 46 The following season Arbroath played McGrain s former club Celtic in a Scottish League Cup tie and lost 1 9 a record defeat for the club 46 47 McGrain resigned in January 1994 due to illness 46 48 In his 14 months at Gayfield Park McGrain became popular with their fans and was followed by a group of supporters known as Danny McGrain s Bearded Army These supporters attended games wearing tribute T shirts and stick on beards affectionately mimicking McGrain s own trademark beard 45 In August 1997 McGrain joined the backroom staff at Celtic working under Wim Jansen 49 After a spell coaching the under 21 side 39 he was made first team coach after being promoted by Neil Lennon in October 2012 from the Development Squad 50 Personal life EditMcGrain is married to Laraine and the couple have three daughters 6 His younger brother Tommy was also a footballer who trained with Celtic as a teenager but he did not break through to the first team and subsequently played for Dumbarton 51 52 McGrain supported Rangers Celtic s Glasgow rivals as a boy He wrote two autobiographies one when his career was at its peak and another shortly after he retired In both McGrain a Protestant told how he had been spotted by someone doing some scouting for Rangers when he was still a boy but the scout did not recommend him to Rangers wrongly assuming from his name Daniel Fergus McGrain that he was a Catholic and that Rangers would not sign him because of this 1 However McGrain has since stated I don t know if that story s true Over the years that followed nobody from Rangers ever told me they wanted to sign me 53 6 In the summer of 1974 McGrain was diagnosed as suffering from diabetes He had just returned home from playing for Scotland in the World Cup in West Germany where he had displayed an excessive thirst and lost 2 stones 12 kg in weight Despite his condition McGrain was able to continue playing top level football In March 2002 McGrain was found by police in the south side of Glasgow slumped unconscious in the driver s seat of his car He had entered a hypoglycaemic state where the brain is drained of sugar and causes the body to shut down to conserve what little there is left The officers revived McGrain and fed him a sugary sweet Had McGrain not been found in time he would have suffered brain damage and possibly died However he made a full recovery and commented There was no harm done in the end 54 In the 1983 New Year Honours McGrain was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE for services to association football in Scotland 55 The investiture was performed by the Queen Mother the Queen was on tour in America at Buckingham Palace 56 In 2002 Celtic supporters voted for what they considered to be the greatest Celtic XI of all time McGrain was voted into the team which was Simpson McGrain Gemmell Murdoch McNeill Auld Johnstone P McStay Dalglish Larsson and Lennox 57 He was an inaugural inductee to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004 58 McGrain is the vice patron of Football Aid a Scottish charity fund raising organisation 59 He has been involved with them since their inception in 2000 and was appointed vice patron in 2004 60 In popular culture EditIn 1996 Glasgow rock band Big Wednesday celebrated McGrain in music in their single Sliding in like McGrain 61 McGrain appeared on television with the group as part of the promotional activities 62 Career statistics EditClub Edit Appearances and goals by club season and competition Club 2 13 63 Club Season League ScottishCup ScottishLeague Cup Europe Other a TotalDivision Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps GoalsCeltic 1970 71 Scottish Division One 7 0 0 0 5 0 2 0 2 0 16 01971 72 3 0 1 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 10 01972 73 30 0 7 0 10 0 4 0 2 0 53 01973 74 30 1 3 0 13 0 5 0 3 0 54 11974 75 30 0 5 0 7 0 2 0 3 1 47 11975 76 ScottishPremier Division 35 0 1 0 9 1 6 0 2 0 53 11976 77 36 0 7 0 10 1 2 0 0 0 55 11977 78 7 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 11 01978 79 18 2 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 24 21979 80 34 0 6 0 5 0 6 0 3 0 54 01980 81 33 0 3 0 8 0 4 0 1 0 49 01981 82 26 0 2 1 6 0 1 0 0 0 35 11982 83 33 1 3 0 10 1 4 0 2 0 52 21983 84 33 0 5 0 10 0 6 0 0 0 54 01984 85 30 0 7 0 3 0 4 0 1 0 45 01985 86 28 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 36 01986 87 26 0 4 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 33 0Total 439 4 60 1 106 3 54 0 22 1 681 9Hamilton Academical 1987 88 Scottish First Division 21 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 22 0Career total 460 4 60 1 107 3 54 0 22 0 703 9 Appearances in Glasgow Cup Drybrough Cup Anglo Scottish Cup International Edit Appearances and goals by national team and year 64 National team Year Apps GoalsScotland 1973 8 01974 7 01975 9 01976 7 01977 9 01978 0 01979 1 01980 8 01981 7 01982 6 0Total 62 0Honours EditPlayer Edit Celtic 5 13 Scottish League Championship 7 1972 73 1973 74 1976 77 1978 79 1980 81 1981 82 1985 86 Scottish Cup 5 1973 74 1974 75 1976 77 1979 80 1984 85 Scottish League Cup 2 1974 75 1982 83Hamilton Academical Scottish League First Division second tier 1987 88 31 Manager Edit Arbroath Forfarshire Cup 1993 94Individual Edit Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year 1976 77 19 Scotland national football team roll of honour 1981 65 66 MBE 1983 New Year Honours 56 Scottish Football Hall of Fame inducted 2004 58 See also EditList of Scotland national football team captainsReferences Edit a b c Campbell Tom Woods Pat 1987 The Glory amp The Dream Grafton Books p 428 ISBN 0 586 20005 3 a b c d e Danny McGrain Neil Brown Post War English amp Scottish Football League A Z Player s Transfer Database Retrieved 6 February 2015 Danny McGrain National Football Teams Retrieved 6 February 2015 Danny McGrain Scotland Football League Record from 27 Mar 1973 to 27 Mar 1973 clubs Celtic Londonhearts com Retrieved 27 August 2013 a b c Danny McGrain STV Sport 1 April 2010 Archived from the original on 7 February 2015 Retrieved 27 August 2013 a b c d e Aidan Smith 9 February 2013 Interview Danny McGrain still going strong at 62 The Scotsman Retrieved 21 July 2018 a b c d e Mark Henderson 29 March 2012 Becoming A Bhoy Danny McGrain Celtic F C Retrieved 21 July 2018 a b c d e Campbell Tom Woods Pat 1987 The Glory amp The Dream Grafton Books p 424 ISBN 0 586 20005 3 a b Celtic Player Danny McGrain Games Played 1970 71 Fitbastats com Retrieved 27 August 2013 Dundee United 2 2 Celtic League Cup 26 08 1970 Fitbastats com Retrieved 27 August 2013 a b c d e f g h i j k Rollin Jack 1988 Soccer Records Facts amp Champions 2nd ed Guinness Publishing Ltd pp 56 57 ISBN 0 85112 360 0 Celtic Player Jim Craig Details Fitbastats com Retrieved 27 August 2013 a b c Celtic Player Danny McGrain Details Fitbastats com Retrieved 27 August 2013 Campbell Tom Woods Pat 1987 The Glory amp The Dream Grafton Books p 271 ISBN 0 586 20005 3 Your Most Exciting Player 1976 77 Shoot May 1977 a b Campbell Tom Woods Pat 1987 The Glory amp The Dream Grafton Books p 425 ISBN 0 586 20005 3 Keevins Hugh 23 December 2011 Celtic legend Danny McGrain I beat diabetes and so will Scotland kid Scott Allan Daily Record Retrieved 27 August 2013 Craig Jim 7 May 2012 If You Know The History 7th May Scottish Cup Final 1977 Jimcraigcsc wordpress com Retrieved 27 August 2013 a b Scotland Player of the Year Rsssf com 14 March 2013 Retrieved 1 September 2013 a b Campbell Tom Woods Pat 1987 The Glory amp The Dream Grafton Books pp 425 427 ISBN 0 586 20005 3 Campbell Tom Woods Pat 1987 The Glory amp The Dream Grafton Books p 291 ISBN 0 586 20005 3 Hunter William 1 May 1978 Celtic boys out of their class The Glasgow Herald p 15 Retrieved 27 August 2013 Reynolds Jim 11 September 1978 McGrain to face Burnley The Glasgow Herald p 20 Retrieved 14 May 2015 Keevings Hugh 16 November 1978 Danny s great comeback Evening Times p 39 Retrieved 14 May 2015 Davidson Alan 5 March 1979 Happy Celts Conn McGrain on way back Evening Times p 30 Retrieved 14 May 2015 Celtic Player Danny McGrain Games Played Fitbastats com Retrieved 27 August 2013 Campbell Tom Woods Pat 1987 The Glory amp The Dream Grafton Books p 427 ISBN 0 586 20005 3 Paul Ian 22 May 1979 10 man Celtic win the league The Glasgow Herald Retrieved 27 August 2013 Reynolds Jim 7 October 1985 McGrain still going strong after 600 matches for Celtic The Glasgow Herald p 7 Retrieved 23 March 2015 a b Celtic Player Danny McGrain Games Played Fitbastats com Retrieved 1 September 2013 a b Former Arbroath FC boss Danny McGrain backs Lichties for the title Thecourier co uk 20 April 2011 Retrieved 27 August 2013 Scotland U23 Player Danny McGrain Games Played Fitbastats com Retrieved 1 September 2013 Scotland U23 1 2 England Friendly 13 02 1973 Fitbastats com Retrieved 1 September 2013 Wales 12 Scotland U23 Friendly 14 03 1973 Fitbastats com Retrieved 9 February 2015 Wales 0 2 Scotland British Championship 12 05 1973 Fitbastats com Retrieved 1 September 2013 Scotland Player Daniel Fergus McGrain Games Played Fitbastats com Retrieved 1 September 2013 England 1 0 Scotland British Championship 19 05 1973 Fitbastats com Retrieved 1 September 2013 a b Jan Alsos 1974 Squads Scotland Planet World Cup Retrieved 1 September 2013 a b c Football Players are still gutted by our KO in 1974 World Cup finals I m not it saved my life DANNY McGRAIN REVEALS HOW HE BEAT DIABETES TO BECOME SCOTLAND LEGEND Daily Record 30 March 2005 Retrieved 1 September 2013 Paul Ian 18 December 1979 Stein puts the young ones in driving seat The Glasgow Herald Retrieved 9 February 2015 Scotland 2 2 Soviet Union World Cup 22 06 1982 Fitbastats com Retrieved 1 September 2013 International Roll of Honour Scottish Football Association Archived from the original on 27 April 2011 Retrieved 11 March 2017 McGrain drafted in to help out Bankies The Herald 19 August 1989 Retrieved 1 September 2013 McGrain takes over at Arbroath The Herald 11 November 1992 Retrieved 1 September 2013 a b Former Arbroath FC boss Danny McGrain backs Lichties for the title The Courier 20 April 2011 Retrieved 1 September 2013 a b c potted history Arbroath FC Archived from the original on 5 March 2008 Retrieved 1 September 2013 Paul Ian 26 August 1993 Paradise at the seaside as Celtic hit the goal trail The Herald Retrieved 1 September 2013 Early inspections The Herald 18 January 1994 Retrieved 1 September 2013 Paul goes to school The Herald 11 August 1997 Retrieved 1 September 2013 Celtic have appointed Danny McGrain as new first team coach Sky Sports 18 October 2012 Retrieved 1 September 2013 McGrain drain scan Evening Times 10 June 1978 Retrieved 21 July 2018 via Partick Thistle History Archive Tom McGrain Player Profile Dumbarton Football Club Historical Archive Retrieved 21 July 2018 Keevins Hugh 20 April 2013 Danny McGrain If Neil Lennon wins 10 in a row I hope he gets the knighthood that Jock Stein should have got Daily Record Retrieved 27 August 2013 Danny McGrain is found slumped at wheel of his car Scotland and Celtic hero missing for 3 hours after falling unconscious Sunday Mail 24 March 2002 Retrieved 1 September 2013 UK amp Commonwealth list No 49212 The London Gazette Supplement 30 December 1982 p 15 a b Danny Boy MBE Evening Times 1 March 1983 p 1 Retrieved 26 August 2018 Jinky best ever Celtic player BBC Sport 9 September 2002 Retrieved 1 September 2013 a b Hall of Fame Dinner 2004 Scottish Football Museum Archived from the original on 15 March 2011 Retrieved 21 July 2018 Danny McGrain MBE Football Aid Retrieved 1 September 2013 Celtic and Scotland Legend Danny McGrain takes up post of Football Aid s first Vice Patron Football Aid Retrieved 1 September 2013 The latest from the Scots music scene The Mirror 6 August 1997 Retrieved 1 September 2013 Bite Back Euro jungle Sunday Mail 10 March 1996 Retrieved 1 September 2013 Meadowbank go through in extra time Meadowbank 1 Hamilton 0 The Glasgow Herald 19 August 1987 p 23 Roll of Honour Danny McGrain Scottish FA Retrieved 7 November 2014 International Roll of Honour Scottish FA Archived from the original on 27 April 2011 Retrieved 11 March 2017 Danny MCGrain Scottish FA Retrieved 26 August 2018 Celtic My Team Danny McGrain Bob Patience 1978 ISBN 0 285 62369 9 In Sunshine And In Shadow Danny McGrain and Hugh Keevins 1987 ISBN 0 85976 191 6External links EditDanny McGrain at the Scottish Football Association Scottish Football Hall of Fame profile Football Aid Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Danny McGrain amp oldid 1132983149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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