McGrane, Brian

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Personal

Fullname: Brian McGrane
Born: 18 November 1958
Died: 5 December 1977
Birthplace: Faifley, Clydebank
Position: Full Back
Signed: 1975
Debut: n/a
Internationals: none with senior; Scotland under-U18's caps

Biog

[Special words from his brother Paul McGrane]
Brian McGrane: 18/11/1958 – 5/12/1977
Brian McGrane was a young highly talented full back who signed with his boyhood team in 1975 straight from St Patrick's High School, Dumbarton aged 17. Born on 18th November 1958, he was raised in Faifley, Clydebank along with his five brothers and sisters.

As a school boy internationalist he played for both Scotland and Great Britain under 18's. His first game as a trialist with Celtic was against Johnstone Burgh and his first game as a first team player was to be against Partick Thistle in the quarter finals of the League Cup. Ironically this was the first time that Celtic played after his death on 5th December 1977 and a game in which both teams wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

His final game had been against Clydebank and he was one of the goal scorers in the game's 6-1 victory but was unfortunately carried off at half time with stomach pains. On his admittance to the Western Infirmary Hospital, Glasgow, it was discovered that he had ruptured his spleen and he died soon after following a resulting brain haemorrhage. It was also during this time that tests revealed that he had leukaemia.

His funeral was attended by the full Celtic team, the full Rangers squad (along with the respective managers) and various players from the footballing fraternity of the day.

Sadly, Brian left a young wife Susan (who he had only married in the August) and who was heavily pregnant at the time of his death. His daughter, Jennifer was born in January 1978.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

• Player Pictures

KDS

• Remembrance thread (2016)