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Fullname: William Cringan
aka: Willie Cringan
Born: 21 April 1890
Died: 12 May 1958
Birthplace: Muirkirk, Ayrshire
Signed: 5 May 1917 (loan); 18 Sep 1917 (full)
Left: May 1918 (RFA); 5 Oct 1923 (Third Lanark)
Debut: Rangers 0-2 Celtic, Charity Cup, 12 May 1917
Position: Defender/Centre-half
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 5 caps, 3 as captain
International Goals: 0

Biog

Big hearted Willie Cringan originally joined Celtic on loan from Sunderland in May 1917 when he returned to his native Scotland to assist the war effort by working in the mines. Despite this he got caught up in bureaucrat red tape and was arrested at least twice by the police for so-called 'desertion' after Celtic matches (would be interesting to know which ones). He was briefly in the RFA (Royal Field Artillery) from May 1918 before returning in August 1918.

The centre-half made his competitive debut in a Charity Cup tie at Ibrox on May 12th when the Bhoys defeated Rangers 2-0. Cringan was outstanding that day and by September Willie was with the Bhoys full time. A fantastically committed and whole hearted Celt, Willie was a most dependable defender who gave his all for the Hoops, and would become captain of the first team. His commitment was so great that he was said to be the sort who would fight the flu just to play for the club. He was dubbed "the finest pivot in Scotland".

He made a significant contribution to the league championship triumphs of 1917, 1919 and 1922 and was a key member of the 1923 Scottish Cup winning side (in which was said of this last victory that "too high praise cannot be given the Celtic centre-half").

Sadly in October 1923, after years of faithful and unswerving commitment to the club he loved and bled for, Willie was transferred to Third Lanark after he spoke on behalf of his team-mates who were merely requesting that directors considered a new bonus system having just accepted a cut in basic pay.

It was a spiteful and unjust way to end the Parkhead career of such a committed Celt but typically Willie - who made 214 appearances and scored nine times for the Bhoys - took it with good grace stating: "Celtic are strengthening the side. They don't need me any more". He deserved a lot better treatment than he received from the board at the end.

He played for a variety of other clubs till retiring from football playing in 1925. He spent time in the summer of 1925 as a coach in Belgium.

Away from football, he was a fan of the sport of "quoits" and became Scottish Champion on 1st Sep 1926.

After playing, he later became a landlord of the Star Inn (Bathgate). He passed away in 1958, and is buried in Boghead cemetery, Bathgate

A great Celt who played a strong role for the club at a difficult time in Scottish social history.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Scottish League

• 1916-17, 1918-19, 1921-22

Scottish Cup

• 1923

Pictures

• Player Pics

Link

• Celtic & World War One
  

Notice of passing away