The Pat Woods Files – Charles Patrick Tully

The Celtic Star

·12 July 2024

The Pat Woods Files – Charles Patrick Tully

Charlie Tully

Part 1: Wonder Boy

A few months back, legendary Celtic author and historian Pat Woods shared some old newspaper articles with me, all relating to the life and career of Charlie Tully, a wonderful Celt whom Pat had the privilege to see play in those hoops. Charlie was the source of so many hilarious stories over the years, many of which Pat shares with relish. We agreed at that point that with Charlie’s centenary on the horizon, we would hold off until then to publish.

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The great man would have celebrated his 100th birthday yesterday, and often joked that he wished he had been born a day later, ‘just for the craic!’

The first article we want to share is from the Glasgow Weekly News of 2 October 1948, seven days after Charlie had teased and taunted the Rangers defence as Celts won a League Cup sectional clash 3-1 at Celtic Park. That was a third straight win in the competition for the Hoops, having earlier beaten Scottish champions Hibernian 1-0 at Celtic Park and Clyde 2-0 at Shawfield, and 48 hours later Jimmy McGrory’s men lifted a first trophy since the war, beating Third Lanark 3-1 in the Glasgow Cup final in front of 87,000 spectators at Hampden.

Of course, Celtic of that era being Celtic, they then proceeded to lose the next three League Cup games to exit the competition, including a 6-3 home defeat by Clyde!

The war years had been frustrating and cruel to Celtic supporters, but two beacons of hope had arrived in recent times, a wing-half called Bobby Evans and now this genial inside-forward from Belfast, Charlie Tully. Here is how the Glasgow Weekly News reported on his impact back in October 1948.

Charlie Tully on the ball

The article is headed Wonder Boy…

“A slim, fair-haired young man with a lop-sided Irish smile is causing a ‘divil of a commotion’ among Scots football fans. Charles Patrick Tully is his name.

Some say he’s the double of Jimmy McMenemy, one-time Glasgow Celtic idol. Others say his style more closely resembles that of the late great Bobby Walker, of Hearts. So the arguments go on in pub and club, on tram and terracing. At work and at play.

But all agree on one thing. The arrival of Charlie Tully from Belfast a few weeks ago is the most exciting thing that has happened in Scottish football for many a year.

Celtic fans in particular, and football fans in general, have welcomed this dainty young Irishman with the dancing feet and swirling swerve in a way that leaves no doubt as to their feelings.

A week ago, at the close of the Celtic-Rangers clash, a crowd of 70,000 – and they weren’t all Celtic supporters – lingered behind to applaud the magnificent performance of the smiling Irishman as he walked off the field.

Little wonder. His slippery moves, coolness, cuteness, his apparent cheekiness on the ball stamp him as a truly great football craftsman.

His very appearance on the field is a signal for a roar from the crowd. His every move is discussed and analysed.

Since his arrival at Celtic Park the Glasgow club have improved by leaps and bounds, which culminated this week in them beating Third Lanark in the final of the Glasgow Cup.

And if you ask any Parkhead fan how this has come about, he’ll tell you about “Cheeky Charlie” Tully.

Charlie’s no Hercules. Stands 5 feet 7 and weighs 10½ stones. He’s 23 years of age [he was 24 at that time] and shows signs of early baldness.

Still a bachelor, but he won’t be in that state for long. On November 22, in Belfast, he will marry Miss Carrie Harris. They’re hoping to find a house in Glasgow.

One of a family of ten – seven boys and three girls – Charlie is the only one who’s made a name for himself in sport.

Football is Charlie’s only trade. He joined Belfast Celtic at the age of 15 and played for them for seven years before Glasgow Celtic paid £8,000 for his transfer.

His only hobbies are walking and an occasional game of snooker. Scores 20 to 30 breaks. Smokes eight cigarettes a day, when he can get them, but never before two o’clock. Drinks an occasional bottle of stout.

He doesn’t dance, hates fuss, but isn’t really shy – once you know him.”