McEleny, Charles

Fullname: Charles Richard McEleny
aka: Charlie McEleny, Charles McEleny
Born: 3 Mar 1873 (?)
Died: 1 Aug 1908
Birthplace: Raymoghy, Ireland
Signed: 2 Nov 1893; 2 May 1896
Left: 9 Nov 1895 (to Burnley); 1897 (to New Brighton)
Position: Wing-half
Debut: Celtic 3-1 Dundee, League, 4 Nov 1893
Internationals: none

Biog

Wing-half Charles McEleny enjoyed two spells with Celtic in the 1890s.

He originally signed for the Bhoys from Abercorn in November 1893 and made his debut on the fourth of that month in a 3-1 league victory over Dundee at Parkhead.

A strong-running and powerful player Charles McEleny quickly established himself as a first team regular and his robust style was an asset to Celtic at a time when rough stuff was very much the norm for football.

He won the first of his Glasgow Charity Cup medals in 1895 with a 4-0 win over Rangers with a typical ‘sleeves-up-and-at-em‘ attitude (‘Alphabet of the Celts‘).

He had the most competitive match appearances in season 1894-95 along with Dan Doyle, so was an important cog in the team.

However, not happy with the tough training schedule at Celtic, in November 1895 he departed for English side Burnley. He returned to the Bhoys in May 1896 (just as Celtic had completed and won the league), and helped Celtic in a 2-1 win over Queen’s Park to win his second Glasgow Charity Cup medal.

He had started the 1896-97 as a near ever-present and managed to finally score his first goal in a competitive match, in a 2-0 win over Third Lanark on 17 Oct 1896.

Yet again, he was moving south, this time to play for New Brighton. Again his move was due to a dislike of the training disciplines, which clearly questions his professionalism.

One quote states that “Celtic (had) never parted with a better player“, but you can argue that.

In his two spells as a Celt, Charles McEleny played 34 league and Scottish Cup games and scored one goal, and seemed to be unlucky on just missing out on being part of any successful Celtic campaigns for the major honours.

He went on to play for New Brighton Tower, Swindon Town, Brentford and Greenock Morton before quitting football and then working as a painter/decorator. He never seemed to be able to hang around very long at most clubs, which probably shows he was a difficult one to handle, “or maybe he was just a hard case? (‘Alphabet of the Celts’)”.

Sadly, Charles McEleny died prematurely on 1st Aug 1908, at the young age of 35 at Smithston Poorhouse and Asylum, Greenock.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Glasgow Charity Cup

• 2

Pictures

• Player Pics