| Willie Maley Biog |
The Bank (Restaurant)
The Bank was a restaurant in Glasgow city centre which, for more than 30 years, was owned by Celtic legend Willie Maley.
Maley became the owner of the premises – located at 41 Queen Street – in 1920 and for the next 20 years the restaurant/bar would become an unofficial headquarters for Maley's Celtic regime.
The Bank (pictured left in 1991) was a popular destination for post Scottish Cup final celebrations and was often the place the players and the cup would head for first after leaving Hampden. Often thousands of supporters would gather outside the restaurant to catch a glimpse of their heroes with the Scottish Cup.
The players – both first team and reserve – would also reguarly meet at The Bank pre-match and Maley would also summon players their to discuss transfers or new contracts. It was also, naturally, a popular place for the players of the day to socialise.
The Bank's populatiry among the players and Maley use of his restaurant as an unofficial Celtic base was not met with approval by the club board who were concerned with players mixing with the "wrong sort". However, Maley's success as manager made most reluctant to voice their feelings.
Although no longer known as The Bank, the building remains in use as a pub today and is now called 'Black's'.
The Loving Cup
According to 'Glasgow Observer', November 20th 1920, Willie Maley marked his taking over 'full proprietorship' of the Bank Restaurant in Glasgow’s Queen Street(near junction with Argyle Street) with a dinner there which was attended by the entire Celtic board headed by chairman Tom White.
Also present were Rangers director John MacPherson and representatives from other Scottish clubs, plus guests from the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association who presented Maley with a 'Silver Loving Cup' in appreciation of his work for first world war charities through athletic meetings etc. that he promoted.
An orchestra 'assisted' at the gathering.
Courtesy of Celtic Historian Pat Woods