Glancy, Lawrence

Personal

Fullname: Lawrence Glancy
aka: Lawrence Glancey, Lawrie Glancey, Lawrie Glancy
Born: 29 July 1902
Died: […]
Birthplace: Cowdenbeath
Signed: 21 January 1922
Left: 28 July 1923 (to Bo’ness)
Position: Centre-Forward
Debut: Celtic 2-0 Motherwell, League, 15 Mar 1922
Internationals: N/A

Biog

Centre-forward Lawrence Glancy was signed by the Bhoys in January 1922 after the sought after ‘Hearts of Beath’ player had trials at Hibs.

He was reportedly “a much wanted junior“, “strong, robust, tall, a shot in either foot“. He’d even scored “four beautiful goals” in only his second match with Beath v Dunfermline Juniors on 3 Dec 1921. So understandably on paper he looked to be a good option.

He was also the cousin of Tom Glancy who had a long career from 1914-1934 with Falkirk & Cowdenbeath, as well a stint with St Johnstone. He went on to become a trainer at Cowdenbeath.

Cowdenbeath-born Lawrence Glancy had come close to signing for his hometown club before the Celts snapped him up. Despite an impressive start with the reserves (scoring two v Aberdeen reserves and then signed right that day by Celtic), his one and only first team appearance came in a 2-0 league win at home to Motherwell on 15 March 1922.

Notably, there were 8000 at the game, but the economic environment was difficult at the time, and reportedly at half-time the gates were opened and 10,000 unemployed poured in.

Cowdenbeath brought a charge that Celtic had offered Lawrence Glancy monetary inducements (likely miffed as Celtic’s Tom White had dismissed Cowdenbeath’s admission to Division One). Cowdenbeath made an offer and Celtic topped it, and that’s the bottom line with the charge dismissed. Having played only one league game, Celtic maybe shouldn’t have bothered.

He would move on loan to Clackmannan and Cowdenbeath, and then left Celtic in July 1923 for Bo’Ness. Sadly it doesn’t appear that he managed a long career in the senior game.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

• Player Pictures

The Glancy or Glancey family was at the centre of a real dynasty of Cowdenbeath’s footballing heroes.

Larry Canning was born in Natal Place, Cowdenbeath on the 1st November 1925. Larry played for Aston Villa between 1942 and 1954. Most people though now recollect Larry as a TV and radio commentator in the Midlands. He was best known from his days as a radio presenter on BBC Radio’s Sports Report at 5pm every Saturday – often reporting from Villa Park. He was the son of Tom Canning and his wife Mary Ann Glancy. Mary Ann’s brother Lawrie Glancey (son of Lawrence Glancey and Ann Green was born on 26 October 1897 at 34 Union Street, Cowdenbeath) played for Hearts of Beath, Cowdenbeath and Celtic in the 1920s.

He moved to Buffalo in the States but didn’t like the club or the town. He then joined his two brothers – James and Henry in Bordentown, New Jersey with their building business. He served in the US Army as Sergeant Engineer in the war and became Superintendent of Highways for the State of New Jersey. Mary Ann’s sister Sarah married Sandy Venters (a Cowdenbeath player) and among their sons were Alex Venters (Rangers, Cowdenbeath and Scotland), Andrew Venters (Bowhill Rovers and New Brighton) and John Venters (Preston, Morton, Nottingham Forest).

Sarah, Lawrence and Mary Ann’s cousin was Tom Glancy who played over 300 games for Cowdenbeath between the wars and was the father of Watty Glancy who became Cowdenbeath’s trainer (capped at Juvenile Level for Scotland, played junior for Jeanfield Swifts, and in the Leslie Hearts team that won the Scottish Secondary Juvenile Cup alongside Willie Fernie).

Tom Glancy was the son of Tom Glancy and Helen Ford and brother of the other Lawrie Glancy mentioned above who died in 1992 who was a well known local bowler.