| Tom Maley | Graves & Memorials |
2011
![[Untitled]](https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/EASJbaNn6wW2qJjmjTu3Cg310880 "[Untitled]")
Ceremony to mark final resting place of Tom Maley
By: Paul Cuddihy on 25 Nov, 2011 08:40 THIS Saturday, November 26, the Celtic Graves Society will hold a ceremony at St Kentigern´s Cemetery, Lambhill, Glasgow (event starts at 11.30am) to mark the final resting place of Celtic and Manchester City legend Tom Maley.
Thomas Edward Maley was one of the first players signed for the embryonic Celtic Football Club by John Glass and Brother Walfrid in December 1887. A trained teacher, he was a renowned Victorian forward who had played in England as well as Scotland and was targeted by the founders of the newly-formed club as one of the key signings required to ensure an auspicious start.
A quick-footed outside-left, Tom´s other main attraction to Celtic´s founding fathers was his contacts in the game and, it was with his help, that he joined his brother Willie and many of Scotland´s leading players for the club’s inaugural game against Rangers on May 28, 1888 at the original Celtic Park.
Tom is believed to have scored a hat-trick in that famous 5-2 victory (match reports of the game are inconclusive) and was a leading player until his retirement in 1891. He played a crucial role in Celtic´s march to the Scottish Cup final in the club´s first full season, scoringsix goals on the road to Hampden.
After his playing days, Tom followed his brother into football management, and it was with Manchester City where he found his biggest success. He led City from the EnglishSecond Division in 1903 to their first ever FA Cup victory in 1904 (Celtic winning the Scottish Cup under his brother Willie´s management at the same time), as well as to the runners-up spot in the First Division.
He remained a keen Celt all his days. In 1910 he wrote of his club: "Its long array of Cup victories, its League triumphs, its list of internationalists, its monstre atheltic carnivals are each and all fitting records. The greatest record of all, however, is the charitable works that appear opposite the name. No club in these lands can show aught like to it."
Tom Maley died on August 24,1935 and is buried in St Kentigern´s Cemetery, Lambhill, Glasgow.
Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: "Celtic has a rich history full of magnificent characters and people who made such a telling contribution to the Club.
"It is fantastic that the Celtic Graves Society is carrying out such important work and they deserve enormous credit for this. People such as Tom Maley will forever have their place in our illustrious history and they are fully deserving of all the recognition they receive through events such as Saturday´s ceremony."
The Celtic Graves Society aims to cherish the memory of those whose contribution, large or small, has been the cornerstone of Celtic FC´s
remarkable story. As Celtic supporters they believe that maintaining the memorials of Celtic players and important figures from our past is a fundamental part of ´knowing your history.´
Theywill put the wishes of families first, and with those familiesthe aim is to identify, locate and honour the final resting places of their loved ones.
´They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind.´
Contactthe Celtic Graves Societyby email at info@celticgraves.com or at www.celticgraves.com
Links
Prior to 2011
Tom Maley I.R. Cathcart
Born 1864 Portsmouth
Died August 24, 1935
Buried in St Kentigerns, Glasgow.
At first glance it appears as if there is no headstone but there is a small white piece of marble poking through.
There is a small hexagonal piece of marble which may have had some inscription long ago but weathering has long since put paid to that. It may not even belong to Tom's grave as it is common for a small memorial to be picked up and placed elsewhere.
There are a couple of small holes on the back as it was originally designed to be raised to about 30 degrees. Here it is
In 1935, Tom died of typhoid contracted while on a pilgrimage to Lourdes. Below is a picture of Tom and Willie in Lourdes.
Willie Maley (middle row, far right) and his brother Tom (holding banner) on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1935.
The Scotsman – Monday, 26th August 1935, page 4
TOM MALEY
DEATH OF NOTED FOOTBALLER AND ADMINISTRATOR 
The death occurred in Glasgow at the weekend of Mr Tom Maley, a well-known player and football administrator in his day, and brother of Mr Wm. Maley, Celtic F.C., and Mr Alec Maley, formerly of Hibernians and Clyde.
Mr Maley who was 71 years of age, was a keen amateur footballer in his younger days, and played for Partick Thistle, Dundee Harp, Hibernians, Third Lanark, and Celtic. A school teacher by profession he became governor of Slatefield Industrial School, later leaving that post to become manager of Manchester City F.C. Under his guidance the club prospered, and many famous players were recruited to the team.
His engagement ended with the wholesale suspension of club officials and players over the payment and acceptance of excessive bonus money, but some years later that ban was lifted in his case and Mr Maley became manager of Bradford Park Avenue Club. Later he was associated with Southport F.C prior to:his retirement.
The funeral takes place to-day to Kentigern R-C Cemetery Glasgow
Tom Maley's funeral was a big one and has a good sized article in the Daily Record & the Evening Times, (front page). The Record also has a pic of Willie Maley etc behind the hearse (above).
The chief mourners were his 3 brothers, Willie, Alex and Charles.
The full Celtic Board were present as was the current team.
Surviving players from his early playing days were present (not Celtic) and there were reps from the SFA and all main clubs in Scotland including Bill Struth.
There were many floral tributes from a host of Scottish & English clubs.
The Evening Times also had a sports column mourning his loss but strangely focussed on his time at Man City.
The Herald just had the death notice as follows ;
At 6 Ruthview Avenue, Giffnock (the house of his son in law Mr Bernard J McElhinney) on 23/8/35.
Thomas Edward Maley, aged 71 years, late of 66 Wilton Street, Glasgow.
Fortified by the rites of Holy Church ; RIP. Requiem Mass in St Joseph's, Clarkston today (Monday) at 10.30 am ; Funeral thereafter St Kentigern's RC cemetery, Lambhill ; Friends are invited to meet the cortege at the cemetery gates at 12 noon.
Obituary – Glasgow Observer, Aug 31 1935
