Mackle, Tommy

Personal

Fullname: Thomas Joseph Mackle
aka: Tommy Mackle
Born: 21 Mar 1938
Birthplace: […]
Signed: 20 Nov 1959
Left: 2 May 1961 (free); 18 May 1961 (to Dundee)
Position: Outside-left
Debut: Raith Rovers 2-1 Celtic, League Cup, 8 Aug 1959 (scored once)
Internationals: none

BiogMackle, Tommy - The Celtic Wiki

Tommy Mackle was signed from Johnstone Burgh in the summer of 1959 with high hopes he could become an established first team player, described in one quote as “a wee terrier of the [Bobby] Collins school“.

The tigerish outside-left made a goal-scoring debut in a 2-1 League Cup defeat at Raith Rovers on 8th August 1959. One headline put it as “Mackle makes his mark” despite the disappointing result for Celtic.

He put on some steady performances for the Bhoys but ultimately was unfortunate in having to compete with the magnificent Bertie Auld for a starting berth.

In a career disrupted by National Service he was an excellent performer for the reserves but Celtic were desperate for great first team players not reserves. The first team were languishing, and sadly both the team and board management were poor.

He was eventually released in May 1961 after five first team appearances in the league & cup, and two goals. He also played one game in the Glasgow Cup which Celtic lost to Rangers 2-1.

His only other goal was from a free-kick in a 1-1 draw with Clyde in the league in September 1959, when he was filling in for an injured Bertie Auld.

He was unfortunate to be playing in a poorly performing Celtic side, but his record of four losses, and just the one draw and one victory, didn’t help his case for a longer run in the first team (not that he was alone to blame). Two goals in his six appearances is a fair return, but things were just not working out at Celtic.

He went on to win the West of Scotland Cup with the Celtic reserves.

Post-Celtic
Tommy Mackle was freed by Celtic at the end of the 1960-61 season – a season in which he had spent most of his time in National Service with the British Army in the Rhine in Germany.

Despite continuing with the Army he was snapped up by Dundee.

He later played for both Forfar Athletic and Raith Rovers and appears to have had the best of his career at Forfar as a midfield general and became a popular team man.

Playing Career

APPEARANCES LEAGUE SCOTTISH CUP LEAGUE CUP EUROPE TOTAL
1959-61 3 0 2 5
Goals 1 0 1 2

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

Tommy scoring for Celtic in the League Cup

(note the report spelt his name wrong below)
Mackle, Tommy - Pic