Fagan, William

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Fullname: William Fagan
aka: Willie Fagan
Born: 20 February 1917
Died: 29 Feburary 1992
Birthplace: Musselburgh
Signed: 8 June 1934; (January 1942 on loan)
Left: 14 Oct 1936 (to Preston NE)
Debut: Dunfermline 1-3 Celtic League, 16 Mar 1935
Position: Inside Forward
Internationals: Scotland (wartime)
International Caps: 0 (1 unofficial cap)

Biog

Musselburgh-born Willie Fagan signed for Celtic in June 1934 from Wellesley Juniors.

His debut aged just 18 came in a 3-1 league victory at Dunfermline on 16th March 1935 when he made a left wing with Hugh O’Donnell. Willie Fagan, an inside-forward and nephew of Celtic great John “Jean” McFarlane, was to play a total of 12 league matches in his first spell at the club, netting nine goals.

His first goal for the Hoops came in a 3-0 win at Albion Rovers on 18th January 1936 as the Bhoys took the league title for the first time in a decade. So he was to be a little bit of a hero for the club with those goals, and it boded well for the future. He had to wait till the final game of the season for another chance, and proved his worth in a 3-1 win over Partick Thistle scoring twice.

He but finally won himself a run in early season 1936-37 scoring six goals six league games in the run, including doubles v Kilmarnock and Queen of the South.

He was soon dropped and replaced by John Divers and then transferred to Preston in October that year, a little surprising as he was in a rich vein of form with Celtic for goals. His transfer fee was for £3500, good money in those days, which likely explains his transfer out (in part at least). He was still quite young at the time of this transfer.

He went on to play for Preston in the 1937 FA Cup final against Sunderland at Wembley. This final had a very Scottish flavour with no less than ten Scots equally divided between the teams. Sadly Preston’s Scotland quintet of Willie, the O’Donnell brothers, Bill Shankly and Andy Beattie could not get the better of the Makems.

Liverpool were the next club that Willie Fagan played for and he had a good record there, which might have been a great one had it not been interrupted by World War Two. Willie Fagan became a pivotal player for Liverpool when he returned to them post-war, captaining the side and helping them to the league title in 1947. He once again graced the Wembley turf in the 1950 FA Cup Final against Arsenal, in which he formed the left wing with, arguably, Liverpool’s greatest ever player, Townhill born William Beveridge ‘Billy‘ Liddell. Though his four goals had helped his team to reach this cup final, Willie Fagan was, sadly, on the losing side yet again.

He had returned to Celtic Park during World War Two as a loan signing in January 1942, and scored once in two games during the Regional League competition, but both games were lost: Celtic lost to Rangers 2-0 and Clyde 2-1. So not a wholly happy return in results.

The question is whether selling him initially was an error by the management, and should Celtic have kept him? With his record in his first stint, and then his future form with Liverpool, his sympathisers have a very good case.

He gained his only international recognition during World War Two when he appeared for Scotland in 1945; however these are regarded as ‘unofficial’ internationals. The Scotland side lost 3-2 to England. Four of the Scotland side were Liverpool players, and only three were with Scottish clubs (inc Celtic’s Jimmy Delaney, with one other each from Queens’ Park & Hearts).

After football he worked for HM prisons, working as a Borstal officer until his retirement in 1982.

He passed away in 1992.

Quotes

“It’s funny how one’s early ambitions seldom pan out. As a boy I craved to be a famous Opera singer. Just between you and me, I would still like to be one. Realising that’s impossible, however, I’ve substituted a more prosaic aim, and when I finally hang up my football boots I hope to qualify as a masseur. I have already passed examinations as a football coach, and find the work among schoolboys most interesting.”
Willie Fagan in 1950

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Scottish League

• 1935-36
  

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• World War Two

Celtic secure young Fagan

Willie Fagan, the inside right of Wellesley has been fixed up with Celtic. Liverpool and Leith Athletic were keen to secure him. Fagan has come quickly to the fore, as he only joine the junior ranks three months ago from Balgonie Scotia.This is the eight Wellesley player to join up with Celtic. John Thomson (goalkeeper), John McFarlane, Alex Thomson, Graham Robertson, Joe Cowan, Frank O’Donnell, and Hugh O’Donnell were his predecessors.

Copyright – Evening Telegraph

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