Paul McStay

If ever a nickname summed up a player to perfection, then it is The Maestro … because that’s exactly what Paul McStay was. For 16 years he was the model of perfection in the middle of the park for Celtic, an exceptionally talented player who was also the personification of ‘faithful through and through’.

He enjoyed good times with the club, particularly in the 1980s, but also endured a tougher period in the early ‘90s. Throughout it all, Paul McStay performed to the highest level. If his shoulders stoop at all today,  it is because he carried the team and the hopes of the support for six years, between their Scottish Cup triumph of 1989 and the Hampden victory over Airdrie six years later in the same competition.

The McStay name is one of the most famous in Celtic’s history, with Paul’s great-uncles, Willie and Jimmy, club legends of the pre-Second World War era. Paul’s brother, Willie, also played for the club in the ‘80s, and the two brothers enjoyed a number of successes, including both scoring in a victory over Rangers. Yet, the best of them all was Paul Michael Lyons McStay.

An exceptionally talented player who was also the personification of ‘faithful through and through’

That’s not to underestimate the contribution of the other McStays, with Willie and Jimmy both previous club captains, but Paul McStay’s talent eclipsed that of his famous relatives. Modest and unassuming off the park, he was a dominant force on it, and supporters were lucky enough to see him on 677 occasions in Celtic colours.

PRELUDE TO PARADISE
Paul McStay announced his presence to the football world, not in the green and white of Celtic, and not at his beloved Paradise. Instead it was in the dark blue of Scotland, in a schoolboy international match against England at Wembley. The 1980 match saw Scotland win 5-4, with McStay scoring twice and inspiring the Scots to a memorable victory. Not surprisingly, he was named Man of the Match for his performance. Having signed an ‘S’ form with Celtic five years previously, at the age of 11, his ambition was to play for the club he supported, and he put pen to paper on his first professional contract with the club on February 20, 1981 at the age of just 16.

DEBUT BHOY
Celtic faced Queen of the South in the third round of the Scottish Cup on January 23, 1982, and it was the first time that Paul McStay’s name appeared on a Celtic team-sheet, the teenager making his debut alongside another young Celt, John Halpin. A crowd of 24,000 watched the match, with Celtic winning 4-0. This milestone day in Celtic’s history, with the debut of a player who would go on to become a club legend, was also notable for a rare Danny McGrain goal, the defender scoring one of Celtic’s four goals, alongside, Frank McGarvey, George McCluskey and John Halpin, who marked his debut in spectacular style, completing the scoring with five minutes of the match remaining. McStay only had to wait a further week before he scored the first of his 72 goals for the club when he scored at Pittodrie in an impressive 3-1 victory for the Hoops.

HIGHLIGHTS
Paul McStay won seven major trophies during his time at Celtic. His talent deserved much more. He played 10 games in the championship-winning season of 1981/82 after breaking into the team in January 1982, and the following season he won his first trophy as part of the Celtic team which enjoyed a rare League Cup triumph. His two league title successes, however, rank alongside the most memorable in Celtic’s history.

In 1986, Davie Hay’s side had managed to put together a run of victories that exerted pressure on league leaders, Hearts. However, going into the last game of the season, Celtic needed to win by at least three clear goals at Love Street and hope that Hearts lost at Dens Park. In the event, the Bhoys, wearing their lime-green away shirts and inspired by Paul McStay, ran out 5-0 winners, with the Maestro scoring one of the goals. Dundee beat Hearts 2-0 and so the title returned to Paradise.

A league and cup double duly followed, with the Maestro conducting the team in the centre of the park.

Two years later, Celtic celebrated their centenary season, with Billy McNeill back at the helm. A league and cup double duly followed, with the Maestro conducting the team in the centre of the park. It was Paul McStay’s finest season as a Celt, which is a bold statement, given his quality and consistency year in, year out. There would be two further triumphs – a Scottish Cup triumph over Rangers in 1989, and then another Scottish Cup win in 1995, which allowed Paul McStay to lift a trophy as a Celtic captain.

BOWING OUT
On April 5, 1997, Celtic travelled to Kirkcaldy for a league match against Raith Rovers in what would be Tommy Johnson’s debut – and Paul McStay’s final game. Celtic needed a win to continue their league hopes while Raith were in search of points to avoid relegation. It wasn’t until the 89th minute that Celtic went ahead through Paolo Di Canio but a minute later, David Craig equalised and a ninth successive title was all but handed to Rangers. It may have been different had McStay not suffered a groin strain after only 10 minutes when he was replaced by David Hannah. At that point no-one knew that it would be his last game as a professional footballer.

That summer he had to accept the harsh reality and an early retirement was the cruellest blow for a player who still had much to give to the Celtic cause.

Few players, however, will deliver a pass of such perfection that it leaves fans with a smile on their face every time it is recalled.

THAT PASS…
Players can be remembered for great goals, or vital ones in significant games. There are sometimes games which define a player. There are even some who are remembered for their assists – think of Charlie Gallagher in the 1965 Scottish Cup final or the European Cup quarter-final against Vojvodina, or Tosh McKinlay in the 1995 Scottish Cup final. Few players, however, will deliver a pass of such perfection that it leaves fans with a smile on their face every time it is recalled.

Paul McStay produced one such moment of magic. It came on January 2, 1988 in a Glasgow derby at Celtic Park. The Hoops won 2-0, with Frank McAvennie scoring both goals, and it was the genius of McStay which created the opening goal. Seldom has a single pass so dramatically changed the flow of a game. McStay’s inch perfect disguised through-ball left Gough, Roberts and Munro bamboozled and Chris Morris in acres of space to cross for McAvennie power home.

677 CELTIC CAREER APPEARANCES
League: 515, Scottish Cup: 66, League Cup: 54, Europe: 42

72 CELTIC CAREER GOALS
League: 57, Scottish Cup: 6, League Cup: 7, Europe: 2

7 CELTIC CAREER MAJOR HONOURS
League Titles: 2, Scottish Cup: 4, League Cup: 7