Crilly, William

C | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: William Alphonsus Crilly
aka: Willie Crilly, William Crilly, ‘Electric Spark’, ‘Mighty Atom’, William Crilley, Willie Crilley*
Born: 29 Aug 1901*
Birthplace: Cowcaddens Glasgow
Died: 17 Sep 1955, New York City, USA
Signed: 6 May 1922 (from Alloa)
Left: 19 Sep 1922 (to Alloa)
Debut: Celtic 2-1 Hamilton, League, 26 Aug 1922
Position: Centre Forward
Internationals: none
*See Notes below

Biog

A centre-forward Willie Crilly was signed from Alloa in May 1922 having set a record that remains to this day of 49 goals in a season (1921-22) for them, which helped his team to promotion. He is still regarded to this day as the greatest ever Wasp.

Regarded as having a powerful shot and remarkably quick on his feet, but was a far cry from the normal run of Celtic centres in stature and style. The club had dispensed with John Connor and Tully Craig for Crilly.

It was remarked: “Crilly is as slippery as an eel, elusive as the will o’ the wisp, fleet as a rumour… is to Scottish football what Jimmy Wilde is to boxing“. (1921)

Willie Crilly made his Celtic first team debut in a 2-1 league win over Hamilton at Parkhead on 26 August 1922. Although quick and possessing a powerful shot, Willie was deemed to be too easy to knock off the ball and thus his first team chances were limited. His other games were a 3-0 win over Raith Rovers (scoring a goal) and a 1-0 loss to Hibs, all at the start of the 1922-23 season.

It just wasn’t to be for Willie Crilly, and having made a total of just three league appearances for the Bhoys with the one goal, he returned to Alloa in September 1922.

One remark recorded is that “Celtic were not dissatisfied – the little fellow wanted to be back with his pals“. Maybe he just needed some further time to settle in properly, or could have been other reasons why he left so sharply.

He left Alloa at the end of 1922/23 season, moving to the US and became a US citizen, playing for a multitude of colourfully named clubs there.

He came back to Scotland in the late 1920’s and signed for Alloa again in 1929. Alas, he fell foul of UK law having been accused of assaulting his wife. He was sentenced to 4 week prison in May 1930 for the theft of gold coins worth £6 from his father-in-law, motive was to clear gambling debts. He was admonished in Glasgow Sheriff Court, but given he was now a US citizen, he was deported back to the US in 1930 (apparently he infringed the ‘Aliens Act‘).

He later played for Brooklyn Wanderers v Celtic whilst Celtic were on a US tour (June 7 1931).

He is said to have been very prolific in his entire career, reputedly scoring over 1000 goals. Only Brazilians seem to be able to make similar boasts. Interesting grouping for this ‘Mighty Atom‘. Possibly Celtic should have given him more time as said and who knows what a player the club management might have had on their hands.

He is believed to have returned to the United States and joined the US Army on 18 November 1942, serving in the Air Corps with Fifteenth Air Force during World War II.

He passed away at the Fort Hamilton Veterans Hospital in Brooklyn (USA), on the night of 17th September 1955 after a two-year illness. He is buried in Long Island National Cemetery in New York.

---

Anecdotes

• From “Alphabet of the Celts” by McBride et al:

“Willie played on Sundays for a Glasgow Meat Market side called “Pale Ale”. Teams stacked themselves to win and outside betting was heavy. Games were played on Glasgow Green or Soda Waste (near Shawfield) and huge crowds were common.”

• Under his name in a published picture is the nickname “The Mighty Atom” which is recognised more as the Celtic supporters’ moniker for the great Patsy Gallagher. However it was not an uncommon handle, and was given to a few players who were short in height but never in talent.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

• Player Pics

Notes

• Year of Birth is 1901 and not 1903 as reported elsewhere,
• The official spelling is Crilley not Crilly which was commonly used. see link.

---