Loney Willie Image 3 Glasgow Celtic 1910

Description

Denny, Falkirk born centre half Willie Loney signed for Celtic from Denny Athletic in June 1900 and made his Scottish League debut in a 2-0 win at Hearts on September 17th that year, scoring on his debut. He was to be a stalwart of the Celtic side that won six Scottish League championships in succession, and is considered among the great Celtic players. Loney was an outstanding performer whose toughness and abundance of skill enabled him to swiftly turn defence into attack. Loney himself enjoyed the opportunity attack and he possessed a lethal shot which regularly tested the opposition keeper. In due course he became Celtic’s club captain.

He won The Scottish League with Celtic every year between 1905 and 1910 and won The Scottish Cup in 1904, 1908 and 1912. Although his career at Parkhead was at times hit by injuries and illness he remained a key component to Celtic’s success right up to his eventual departure to Motherwell in October 1913. By then Loney had made a total of 305 appearances for Celtic and scored 29 goals, and was capped twice for Scotland (generally the committee favoured the more extrovert Charlie Thomson of Hearts), both caps coming in March 1910 against Wales and Ireland. He also represented The Scottish League three times between February 1909 and October 1910, playing twice against The Irish League and also against The Football League.

He went on loan to Belfast Celtic in May 1908 and after leaving Celtic in 1913 Loney played for Motherwell, scoring once in 16 appearances in 1913-14 before joining Partick Thistle in 1914 and then playing for Clydebank in 1915 before his retirement from football in 1917.

His younger brother, Henry Loney, also played for Denny Hibs, as well as for Falkirk, Alloa Athletic and Dumbarton.