Jimmy Delaney

James Delaney (3 September 1914 – 26 September 1989) was a Scottish footballer who played as an outside right. He had a 24-year playing career interrupted by World War II, his longest spells at club level were spent with Celtic in Scotland and Manchester United in England. He was capped 15 times for the Scotland national team, scoring six goals.

Career Club Celtic Delaney joined Celtic on provisional forms in 1933 from Stoneyburn Juniors, signing a permanent contract the following year. Delaney suffered the misfortune of a badly broken arm in a home game against Arbroath in April 1939. The injury sustained being further exacerbated by the opposition player Attilio Becchi (who was apparently a Celtic fan) accidentally stepping on Delaney's arm. Delaney's torn football shirt was sold at auction for £564 in 2002. He spent 13 years with the Glasgow club, making 327 appearances in all competitions including wartime tournaments.

Manchester United Delaney was held in high regard as a player by Matt Busby who, when the war ended in 1946, signed him for Manchester United in a £4,000 deal. Delaney helped United win the 1948 FA Cup Final and finished his United career with 28 goals from 184 total appearances.

Late career in Scotland and Ireland He moved back to Scotland at the age of 36, joining Aberdeen in November 1950 and made his Dons debut in a 5–1 defeat of Falkirk. A year later he joined the Bairns, where he spent three seasons. In January 1954, Derry City paid £1,500 to sign him, a record fee for the Irish Football League, remarkable in that he was by this stage 39 years old. On 15 November 2009, he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Son of Patrick Delaney and Bridget Nash from Crettyard, Queen's County (now County Laois) in Ireland, Jimmy was born in Cleland, North Lanarkshire. His son Pat Delaney was also a footballer whose longest spell was with Motherwell, and his grandson John Kennedy played as a defender for Celtic, Norwich City and Scotland.

Delaney died in September 1989.

Honours Celtic Scottish Division One: 1935–36, 1937–38 Scottish Cup: 1936–37 Empire Exhibition Trophy: 1938 Glasgow Cup: 1938–39

Manchester United FA Cup: 1947–48

Falkirk Scottish Division Two promotion: 1951–52

Derry City British Home Championship: 1935–36, 1938–39 (shared)

Individual Ulster Footballer of the Year: 1953–54 Scottish Football Hall of Fame: 2009