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Fullname: Henry McCormick
aka: Henry McCormack, Harry McCormick, Harry McCormack
Born: 1894
Died: 21 March 1987 (aged 92)
Birthplace: Denny, Stirling
Signed: 29 July 1917 (from Denny Hibs)
Left: 18 Aug 1919 (to Albion Rovers)
Position: Inside-left
Debut: Morton 1-1 Celtic, League, 1 Dec 1917
Internationals: none
Biog
Signed from Denny Hibernian in July 1917, Henry McCormick was a highly rated junior forward.
The inside left made two appearances and scored one goal for the Bhoys. His debut came in a 1-1 league draw at Morton on December 1st 1917.
He netted a week later against Clydebank, a 3-0 victory with goals also by McLean and Jackson. It was the first season for Clydebank since moving up from the Junior Division. Clydebank were relying in this wartime period to a large degree on English professionals deprived of their place of work due to the FA’s policy of no professional football in England during the war.
Henry McCormick didn’t sadly get to play again for Celtic, but as the fill-in no.10 he was replaced soon enough in that number by the return of the Celtic great Jimmy McMenemy, so in that sense it was never going to be easy to retain that slot. To have had the chance to fill in for Jimmy McMenemy is a wonderful honour for anyone, even if it was for just two games. As Celtic won both games and grabbed a goal, he did a fair stand-in job.
Sadly for Henry McCormick, Celtic lost their hegemony in the league this season, losing the league title by just the one point to Rangers, but did regain it the following season. However, it meant that he lost out on a chance for a league title winner’s medal. If Celtic had won and not drawn the match v Morton, history could have been very different for him & Celtic.
Henry McCormick’s stint in the first team at Celtic was to be short and he moved on to Albion Rovers in August 1919.
After Celtic he once worked for a local bookmakers (before it was even legal!), and apparently liked a cigar and a wee sherry!
He lived a long life, passing away in 1987, and is buried in Hills of Dunipace Cemetery just outside Denny.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1917-19 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | 2 |
| Goals | 1 | 0 | – | – | 1 |
Honours with Celtic
none
Pictures
Links
Note on his name: Henry McCormick NOT Henry McCormack
- “An Alphabet of the Celts” have him listed as McCormack but it is actually ‘McCormick’, a spelling error in the book. The correct spelling was confirmed by a relative of the player to us on this site (much appreciated).
- Further notes: From Harry Cameron @Harpo45
14 children. 3 died in infancy, 9 lived what I thought was forever and 2 still standing at 95 and 88. Worked for the local bookie before it was legal. Liked a wee cigar and a sherry. Great man (and married a great woman)