Garry, Edward

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Fullname: Edward Garry
aka: Ned Garry, Ted Garry, Ed Garry, Teddy Garry
Born: 7 March 1885
Died: 28 May 1955
Birthplace: Renton, West Dumbartonshire
Signed: 12 January 1905
Left: 15 May 1907 (to Derby County)
Position: Forward
Debut: Celtic 1-0 Hearts, League, 21 April 1906
Internationals: N/A
International Caps N/A

Biog

“Perhaps he over-did the carpet-weaving but his knowledge of the game was above normal.”
“[Ned Garry] one of the best young forwards in the country… a crack shot”
(quotes sourced from “Alphabet of the Celts” by McBride et al book).

Born in Renton, Dunbartonshire, Edward Garry was a forward who signed for Celtic in January 1905 from Dumbarton Harp (although some sources claim he signed from Galston). His elder brother is reported to have been Dumbarton Oarsman Tom Garry.

He made his Celtic debut in a benefit match v Clyde on 4th January 1905 although the report has him as “Garrity“. In this match, he “gave a display at inside left that caught the fancy of the Parkhead officials“. He also played in reserve games for Celtic A v St Mirren A in January 1905, and records show he played at least six friendlies in January to May 1905.

After being briefly loaned to Ayr United he finally made his Celtic league debut in a 1-0 home league win over Hearts on 21st April 1906. Hearts had knocked Celtic out the Scottish Cup so this was revenge and showed who was clearly the best side in Scotland for the season (as Celtic had already wrapped up the league). Hearts went on to defeat Third Lanark in the Scottish Cup final the next week.

However, with Celtic boasting the attacking prowess of Bennett, Quinn, McMenemy, Hamilton and Somers it was always going to be very difficult for the then young Ted Garry to force himself into first team contention.

He was to have only sporadic appearances for the first team, and consequently he made just six league appearances for Celtic, scoring a solitary goal. As well as at Ayr, he was given a loan spell at Stenhousemuir to gain game time.

He signed off at Celtic with the third Celtic goal v Hearts in a 3-3 draw in May 1907, a key result as it sealed Celtic becoming the first side to complete the domestic double of league & Scottish Cup. Celtic had been three down and fought back with Ted Garry scoring the crucial final goal for Celtic. Incredible moment for him, and he could be said to be one that sealed that triumph. It was his only goal for the club.

Celtic were going through a golden period, and he played in two league title winning sides which is a wonderful experience to look back on.

Another high-mark was the honour to travel with Celtic on their tour of Germany, Bohemia & Hungary in 1906, in which he played for Celtic v Southampton in a 1-0 win on 4th June 1906 played in Budapest, apparently receiving a medal “the size of a plate” to commemorate the win.

He moved on to Derby County in May 1907 and would later convert into a more defensive player. He had a long career at Derby County, and helped them to the second tier championship title in England in 1911/12, winning on goal average. They had a great following season in 1912/13 finishing seventh, but the season after in 1913/14, he only played three times in a season that Derby County collapsed to last in the top tier to be relegated.

He may not have won any honours for the national side, but did twice play for the Anglo-Scots v Home Scots in international trial games: 1908 (Anglos 3-0 Home) and 1911 (Anglos 0-0 Home). He was also in the preliminary squad in 1909.

During the war years, he went on to have loan spells at Bradford Park Avenue (then under the management of ex-Celt Tom Maley) and then Dumbarton (where apparently he “stiffened up the half-back line“).

Appears to have wrapped up his playing career in 1919.

Post-Playing Career
Even though he unfortunately was unsuccessful at cementing a place at Celtic, he still gained a lot in football as after his playing career he later coached in Spain. This included a stint at RCD Espanyol of Spain (FC Barcelona’s city rivals), and he may also have coached at Real Sociedad.

He had the honour of being the first manager of Espanyol, managing them from 1922-24. As the Spanish national league had not as been set up, as it didn’t begin until 1929, matches during his tenure were therefore mostly in the local set up. It was a major period for the club, most notably as they moved into their new ground in 1923 which was to be their home for the next 74 years (Estadio De Sarria). However, politically it was a turbulent time as in 1923 Miguel Primo de Rivera overthrew Spain’s parliamentary government, and established himself as dictator which began the slide down the slippery slope towards civil war.

He returned afterwards to the UK to work for British Celanese in Spondon near Derby. Taking in the political instability in Spain that was to escalate rapidly, it’s no surprise Ted Garry did return. We can only theorise now if he had remained longer if he could have made a greater name for himself in the history of the Spanish football. For example, Belfast Celtic’s Patrick O’Connell made a great name for himself across various Spanish clubs, most notably Barcelona in the 1930s. Patrick O’Connell started in Spanish football at a similar time as Ted Garry, having been appointed as manager at Racing Santander in 1922. However, there were a number of former players and managers from the UK & Ireland who were plying their trade in Spain, and helped build the foundations that left a lasting legacy for football in the country.

He passed away in 1955 in Derby.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Scottish League

• 1905-06, 1906-07

Pictures

• Player Pics

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Notes

• See: https://twitter.com/joebloggscity/status/1409092195165036549?s=20
• Counter to some sites, we have confirmed he played on loan to Bradford Park Avenue (Bradford PA) and NOT Bradford City as others have stated, see below pic.
• Alphabet of the Celts and some other places claim he was at Galston before Celtic, but other source claimed from Dumbarton Harp (see pics)
• Made his debut in Benefit match v Clyde on 04/01/1905 although report has him as “Garrity”. However, a later report on 14/01/1905 confirms it is Edward Garry from Dumbarton Harp and that he had played v Clyde on 04/01/1905 (see below pics)
  
• The only mention I see for Galston is the May 1905 transfer news. Dumbarton Harp mentioned in Dumartonshire trial in 1903 & 1905. Jan 1905 to Celtic, May 1907 to Derby (Harps mentioned). 22/1/1904 Garry DH to Renton!? (see: https://twitter.com/andyboyd1967/status/1409149697231671304?s=20)
  
• Query: for further investigation: I may be pushing the boat out on this one. BUT Ted Garry is from & played for Dumbarton on loan from 1915-17, and the Barca legendary Patrick O’Connell (Belfast Celtic) was at Dumbarton from 1919-20. Possibly some connection wrt their times in Spain? However there were actually a number of managers/coaches from the UK & Ireland plying their trade in Spain at this time.