Gormley, Philip

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Fullname: Philip Gormley
aka: Phil Gormley
Born: 13 October 1924
Died: 8 January 1998
Birthplace: Greenock
Signed: 3 January 1948
Left: Apr 1950 (free); Aug 1950 (to Aldershot)
Position: Centre-Forward
Debut: Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen, League, 10 Jan 1948
Internationals: N/A

Biog

Signed from Kirkintilloch Rob Roy in January 1948 centre-forward Philip Gormley made just one senior appearance for the Bhoys.

That game was a 1-0 home league victory over Aberdeen on 10th January 1948.

He would spend the rest of his Celtic career outside the first team picture – not helped by a broken leg – and was released in April 1950.

He actually got lucky in that his sole appearance was that Aberdeen match as it was Celtic’s only victory that month. The first team had lost to Rangers 4-0 and then Hearts 1-0, prior to the Aberdeen match, and then humiliatingly lost 4-0 to Morton straight after this Aberdeen match. So he got to miss out on all the defeats.

It wasn’t a great time to play for Celtic, who were poor and languishing domestically. It my have been his sole match for Celtic but he wasn’t the only one with a debut Celtic victory in this match. Konrad Kapler played nine times for Celtic’s first team, and the Aberdeen match was Konrad Kapler’s only victory with the first team.

It was a dire time also as in that season (1947/48), Celtic actually came perilously close to relegation, with the final results on the final day of the league season pivotal to ensure Celtic avoided that ignominy. Things needed to change, but sadly Celtic mostly were to limp on with poor management at both team and board level for many years to come.

As the centre-forwards return during the season was poor, it could be argued that Philip Gormley could have been given more of an opportunity.

He went on to join Aldershot in 1950 before returning to Scotland with Dundee United in 1953 for a short spell playing four league cup games before leaving when his contract expired. Dundee Utd badly lost all four games he played with them, conceding 17 goals, not that it was his fault, but didn’t help his case. Celtic on the other hand finally had a stellar season, going on to win the double that season.

He passed away in 1998.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

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