CGS James Hay

Hail Hail Media

The Celtic Graves Society are proud to announce a ceremony to commemorate the final resting place of the Celtic captain JAMES HAY At Ayr Cemetery, Holmston Road, Ayr KA7 3BE On Saturday 17th June 2017 at 2pm "Touch combined with strength ... neat stride ground passes ... lion-hearted defence vigorous tackler ... shoulder-work ... full of punch" These are words used to describe Jimmy 'Dun' Hay by the Scotland goalkeeper of the time, Jimmy Brownlie. The Ayrshire born left-half combined immense strength with subtle skill as a stalwart of Willie Maley's legendary side which won six Scottish League Championships in a row between 1905 and 1910. A man who could combine immense strength, skill and leadership qualities would be the Captain of five of these Championship-winning sides between the years 1906-1911. He would also become Scotland Captain for three of his 11 international caps and lead out a Scotland team in 1910 versus England at Goodison Park, Liverpool. Hay signed for Celtic for a fee of £50 from English side Glossop in March 1903 and made his senior competitive debut in a 2-1 home league victory over Partick Thistle on August 15th of that year. He would go on to make 255 appearances for Celtic, scoring a total of 17 goals. He would leave Celtic Park for Newcastle United on the 27th of July 1911, after a benefit game when the Celtic board refused to meet his demands for an improved contract. It was a rather sad end to his Celtic career but in his eight years in Paradise, Jimmy 'Dun' Hay showed time and time again that he was a great player, a great leader and a great Celtic Captain. He was suspended for life for refusing an apology, after accusing a director of Ayr United and the Treasurer of the Scottish Football Association of trying to bribe a referee in 1926. He was later reinstated but subsequently played no major role in the game with which he had been involved for 30 years. Scottish League Champion 6 times: 1904-05, 1905-06, 1906-07, 1907-08, 1908-09, 1909-10 Scottish Cup Winner 4 times: 1904, 1907, 1908, 1911 For more information on Celtic Graves Society please visit www.celticgraves.com where donations to the work of Celtic Graves Society can be made. For further information see: www.facebook.com/CelticGravesSociety or @CelticGraves on Twitter or search for James Hay on www.thecelticwiki.com