Willie Fernie: Putting On The Style

"Piling on the agony, putting on the style That’s what Glasgow Celtic have been doing all this while. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven ways to make you smile Watching Willie Fernie putting on the style!"

Just one verse from the many songs still sung today which record glorious Celtic victories from the fabulous ‘50s, a decade which witnessed the Coronation Cup, Hampden in the Sun and a first League and Cup Double in 40 years, the last before captain Jock Stein became a revered Celtic manager. A time of heroes in Hoops, such as Charles Patrick Tully, Bobby Evans, Sean Fallon and Neil Mochan. However, for many Celtic supporters of the day, one man epitomised that era, the Wizard of the Dribble,

Willie Fernie, a beautiful, elegant footballer who was a key figure in all of those wonderful triumphs with goals and assists whilst playing in any number of positions. Willie would enjoy a spell in England before returning to his beloved Celtic to help bring on the youngsters who would become European champions, then move into a coaching role under Jock Stein to develop the multi-talented generation known as the Quality Street Gang. This is his story.

“Those of us who saw Willie Fernie play for Celtic saw a genius.” David Potter