Willie Maley Memorial Petition

The people over at Maley's bhoys have created a petition to help remember and credit Willie Maley.

Willie Maley was the longest serving manager at Celtic. In his 43 years as manager, he won 16 league titles, 14 Scottish Cups, 14 Glasgow Cups and 19 Glasgow Charity Cups.

If you want to help this cause simply in the comments section below post your name and your town. Alternatively you can send the same details to @MaleysBhoys on twitter. Or you can post the information on their facebook. Once the petition has hit 1,000 signatures it will be sent to Peter Lawwell, it currently has over 300 signatures.

Below is a statement by Maley's Bhoys which you can also read here.

I am sure that you would agree that Celtic is a football club like no other. Born in the impoverished East End of Glasgow in 1888, it has seen many managers, players, and staff throughout it’s almost 125 years in existence.

Undoubtedly, there is still a lengthy list of great names that deserve some sort of memorial at Celtic Park. Brother Walfrid has a statue, Jock Stein and his Lisbon Lions have stands named in their honour, (Jock Stein and Jimmy Johnstone have statues too), and Tommy Burns has a plaque, and rightly so. These men contributed so much to the football club that it is imperative their legacies are never forgotten.

However, in my opinion, there is one name that is overlooked far too often for such a memorial at Celtic Park; Willie Maley. Celtic’s first, and longest serving, manager led the club in that role for no less than forty three years (winning thirty major trophies along the way), and gave, in total, fifty two years of his life to the service of the club. It should also be remember that he played ninety six times for the club, including in Celtic's first ever match, and scored two goals for the club. Without William Patrick Maley, Celtic Football Club simply would not be the same as it is today.

In the modern world, where managers are often lucky to be given more than a season or two in charge, it is hard to comprehend one man guiding a club through such a long period of history. When we consider the fact the club was formed in 1888, and the club’s second manager, Jimmy McStay only got the job in 1940, it is clear to see that Maley gave his life to the club, and should stand alongside the likes of Jock Stein in Celtic’s history.

In my mind, and in the minds of the undersigned on this petition, Celtic simply must do something to honour this man’s memory, not only so that he finally has the place at Celtic Park which he deserves, but equally so generations to come can be reminded of the man who, once Brother Walfrid launched the ship, steered it so lovingly and with such skill, for so long.

In summary, whether it is through the renaming of a stand at Celtic Park (which we feel would be the most fitting tribute to our first manager), the commissioning of a statue or a plaque, or something else entirely, I, and the undersigned, would like to know your plans to commemorate this man’s service to this football club, and, if you do not presently have any, would strongly urge you to begin looking at the various options open to you.

The man that coined the phrase, which perhaps sums Celtic up better than any other, deserves his eternal place amongst the greats at Celtic Park;

“It is not his creed nor his nationality which counts – it is the man himself.”

Yours Sincerely,
The Undersigned Celtic Supporter