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Fullname: William Stark
aka: Billy Stark
Born: 1 December 1956
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
Signed: 2 July 1987 (from Aberdeen)
Left (Player): 6 July 1990 (to Kilmarnock)
Position: Midfielder
Debut: 8 Aug 1987 -v- Morton (A) 0-4, Premier League
Internationals: none
Assistant Manager: 1994-1997 (under Tommy Burns)
Interim Manager: 3 games in 1997
Biog
It is not quite so well known that Billy Stark was destined to join Rangers as a youngster until Alex Ferguson gave him a trial for St Mirren down in Selkirk in a Friendly. Ferguson was so impressed he got Billy to sign for St Mirren in 1975 on the bus back up to Paisley. Billy had been playing for Anniesland Waverley and training with Rangers at the time and Rangers were apparently far from happy at losing out.
On October 15th 1977 Billy Stark first came to the attention of Celtic fans when he scored a brilliant winning goal in the young St Mirren sides 2-1 shock win at Parkhead. After that Stark was a constant thorn in Celtic’s side during his eight years at Love Street, where he was an under rated player, but nevertheless it was a surprise that he failed to get a transfer to bigger and better things during that period. Stark was eventually reunited with old Saints boss Alex Ferguson in 1983 and although he had four successful seasons at Pittodrie he was never fully accepted by sections of the Aberdeen fans.
In the summer of 1987 he was 31 and viewed as having his best days behind him when new Celtic manager Billy McNeill made him his first signing during his second spell as boss for £75,000. To say the Celtic fans were not amused would be an understatement but Billy Stark would go down in the history books alongside Ronnie Simpson, Lubo and Pat Stanton when it came to senior professionals having Indian summers at Parkhead. Saying that, even though McNeill felt there were still a few more miles left in the engine he still only gave him a one year deal on the signing.
Billy Stark’s forte was scoring goals from midfield particularly ghosting in at the back post from deep crosses. On August 8th 1987 he scored at Cappielow on his debut in the 4-0 thumping of Morton on the opening day of the season and it was clear that his experience would be an asset to the young Celtic players around him.
On August 29th he forever won the hearts of the Celtic faithful by scoring the only goal against Graeme Souness’ expensive Rangers acquisitions at Parkhead when he fired home a splendid shot with his weaker left foot from Mark McGhee’s right wing cross. During the second half he was the victim of an atrocious tackle by Rangers player manager Souness after Billy had lost a boot in a tackle, Souness receiving a straight red card for his trouble and Billy Stark, thankfully, had no serious injuries. This result was the foundation stone for the successful centenary season in which Billy Stark would have a vital role. He developed a magnificent understanding with Chris Morris on the right hand side of the Celtic team and many goals came from that combination.
In February 1988 he scored a magnificent winning goal in extra time at Easter Road against Hibs in a Scottish Cup replay, a typically opportunist effort after a Peter Grant pile driver had smacked off the crossbar. Billy was in the Celtic team on April 23rd that clinched the title against Dundee at a packed Celtic Park in front of an estimated attendance of 72,000 on a joyful day for Celtic fans. In May he played a crucial role in the Scottish Cup final 2-1 win against Dundee United when he came on as a substitute with Celtic trailing 1-0, having a hand in Frank McAvennie’s winning goal and so Celtic’s centenary season was successfully completed with a League and Cup double success
In 1988/89 Billy Stark was kept on and remained a mainstay of the Celtic side although the Bhoys had a miserable start to the league campaign which cost them any chance of another title. Billy scored the vital first goal in the 4-0 home win over Hungarian champions Honved in a European Cup early round, and then scored the winning penalty in the shoot out in the side that defeated Liverpool in the middle East in Dubai, a one off game played between the Scottish and English League Champions for the Dubai Super Cup.
His goals were still an important facet of Celtic’s play and he scored important efforts, on November 2nd 1988 scoring twice at Pittodrie, the second a glorious, rising shot past Theo Snelders, and he grabbed a vital goal in the 3-1 home win over Rangers on November 12th. He later netted two fine efforts against Hearts at Parkhead on Hogmanay 1988 in a fine 4-2 win.
The 1989/90 season was a wash out for Billy Stark with injury and he only played from April onwards in what was a disastrous season for Celtic. His experience was deemed as essential for the Scottish Cup final at Hampden on May 12th 1990 and he came close to scoring during open play although Aberdeen won 9-8 on penalties. In the summer of 1990, and the Celtic squad needing rapid surgery, Billy Stark moved on to join his great friend Tommy Burns at Kilmarnock.
Post-Playing Days
He was to return to the club four years later (in 1994) as assistant to new manager Tommy Burns, and on Tommy’s departure in 1997 acted as an interim manager for 3 games.
He went on to manage Morton, St Johnstone and Queen’s Park before accepting a role as coach and manager of the Scotland U21 side and being involved in the SFA Youth Development programme. He resigned in 2014. He moved on in June 2015 to be involved at Albion Rovers, but moved back to coach at various levels within the national team set-up, retiring in April 2024.
When Tommy Burns sadly passed away on 15th May 2008 it was Billy who was asked by the Burns family to do the readings and gave a moving eulogy about Tommy Burns at his Funeral. Billy Stark finished up with the words “Miss You Pal” which was and is a true reflection of how Celtic Supporters all over the world felt and still feel about the loss of one of Celtic’s favourite sons.
Billy Stark is fondly remembered by Celtic supporters and will long be remembered as a hero of the club’s centenary season. It was a footballing education (and a pleasure) watching him in a Celtic jersey.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1987-90 | 58 (6) | 7 (3) | 3 (1) | 5 | 74 (10) |
| Goals: | 17 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| Teams | Seasons | Apps. | Gls. |
| St. Mirren | 75-83 | 255 | 60 |
| Aberdeen | 83-87 | 109 | 41 |
| Glasgow Celtic | 87-90 | 64 | 17 |
| Kilmarnock | 90-92 | 22 | 6 |
| Hamilton Academical | 91-92 | 14 | 0 |
| Kilmarnock (P./Asst.Mgr.) | 92-94 | 36 | 3 |
Honours (with Celtic) as a player
Scottish Premier Division
Scottish Cup
Pictures
Podcasts
Articles
Stark reality of historic Old Firm battles
(Billy Stark on his first Celtic V Rangers game)
17/12/06
Rodger Baillie
Billy Stark enjoyed instant hero status in his first Old Firm game for Celtic — but he also feels for under-pressure Paul Le Guen at Rangers
BILLY STARK knows the joy of scoring the winner in an Old Firm match, but his goal almost became a postscript as in the madcap Old Firm world he was hailed a hero by the Celtic support — as he was involved in the sending-off of Graeme Souness.
The beanpole midfielder was 30 when Billy McNeill, starting his second spell as Parkhead manager, snapped him up from Aberdeen. Stark made his Old Firm debut at Celtic Park in August 29, 1987, scoring the decisive goal after five minutes in a 1-0 victory. But it was a clash in the 54th minute with the Rangers player-manager that gave him a footnote in Old Firm history.
“I slid into a tackle which people who remember me as a player will find hard to believe,” recalls Stark. “My boot came off and I was still holding it when Peter Grant passed to me and Graeme Souness went to win the ball. I managed to see him coming and dodged his challenge. It was worth a booking, but referee Davie Syme wasn’t his pal. He’d had his name taken earlier for mouthing at the ref, so he was sent off.
“Graeme was a magnificent player, but he didn’t like getting beaten. In the heat of the moment you go for the ball, and if you mistime it then it looks bad and he was full value for that ordering-off. Some Celtic fans were more chuffed that Souness was sent off than the fact we won, which tells you everything about the rivalry.”
Stark, now in charge of Queen’s Park, has been named the Third Division manager of the month for November. He was No2 at Celtic under Tommy Burns and admits, as yet another confrontation looms against Rangers, that he retains a keen interest. “Everyone is force-fed the daily Old Firm diet and I still get a tingle when these games come round, even though I’m not involved now. That special edge would be there even if they played every week.
“If you’re unlucky enough to be on the heavy end of a defeat, and I was in the Celtic side beaten 5-1 at Ibrox (in August 1988), you just go home and shut the door for a week. Well, apart from Frank McAvennie but he operated under different rules from the rest of us.
“Conversely, an Old Firm win is great for the winner’s confidence and Rangers will believe they still have a chance in the league if they win this one, which is why it is so important.”
Stark sees similarities in the reign of Burns as Celtic manager with Paul Le Guen at Rangers, and the Frenchman faces another searching test today in his first Old Firm game on home ground. “The new Rangers manager is just like Tommy, it’s a transitional time for his club and he’s had to build a new team. I know how intense it was for Tommy, he was up against arguably the best Rangers team ever, as they went for nine in a row. We operated at Hampden for one season with Celtic Park being rebuilt. He had as much on his shoulders as anyone could bear, and the problems are magnified a million times as an Old Firm manager but it makes you a better man.
“The job changes everyone who does it, at Celtic and Rangers. If you take all the criticism personally then you’re not able to function. Paul Le Guen is a proven manager, I’ve been impressed with the way he conducts himself. He’s an intelligent, measured individual and it doesn’t look as if he gets caught up in the madness. But I’m sure he’s still found it a culture shock becoming part of the Old Firm.”
Stark also admires the way Gordon Strachan, his former Aberdeen teammate, has recovered from the black start of that defeat by Artmedia Bratislava in the Champions League qualifier.
“Nobody could have envisaged Celtic being where they are now in such a short space of time. It showed great strength of character on his part to overcome all the early criticism.”