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When Celtic tried to sign a rugby player

When Celtic tried to sign a rugby player

Hugh Barrow6 May 2019 - 21:16
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Celtic boss Willie Maley tried to sign a Rugby player

With Parkhead set to host the Pro 14 Final the same day as the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden will Celtic still be keeping an eye on potential signings at Parkhead as one of their legendary managers Willie Maley did in 1908

When Australia's representative rugby league team, the Kangaroos, first toured Great Britain in 1908-09. They played an exhibition match at Celtic Park, against the Northern Union and Australia's H. H. ('Dally') Messenger totally blew the opposition away. His play was so impressive that Celtic FC's manager, the legendary Willie Maley, approached Dally about switching to soccer

Australian journaliat Morry Walsh records
“It was while he was in England with the 1908-9 Kangaroos. The team struck a bad financial patch. The Lancashire cottonworkers were on strike, money was scarce.
The team was invited to Glasgow to play an exhibition game. Willie Maley, famous manager of Glasgow Celtic, offered them the Parkhead ground free of charge.
Maley was enthralled by Messenger's spectacular dashes down the wing, his uncanny kicking accuracy.
After the game he offered Dally the then fabulous sum of £1000 to sign on for Glasgow Celtic as an outside-right.
But before he left Australia Dally had promised his mother faithfully to return home, no matter what offers were made to keep him in England.
Playing League later at St. James Park he was spotted by directors of Newcastle United Soccer Club.They pestered him for days to switch to Soccer.
Later, the Kangaroos were training at Southport, where the Tottenham Hotspurs were having a training run.
The two teams had an impromptu game of Soccer. Daily's educated feet almost made the round ball talk. Hotspur directors made him a £1000 offer.
But Dally never broke a promise, his rule to this day.”

Stranger things have happened

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