Celtic Boys Club

Infobox Football club
clubname = Celtic B.C


full name= The Celtic Boys Club
founded = 1966
chairman = Gerry King
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The Celtic Boys Club is a youth and feeder club for Celtic FC in Glasgow.The club operates U-9s to U-17s teams and has helped develop many future professional footballers.

History

The Celtic B.C was founded in 1966 by a group of volunteers with the permission of Sir Robert Kelly and Jock Stein to use the name 'Celtic'.Facts|date=August 2008 The club's sole purpose was to give the youngsters of Glasgow a chance to play in organised football and to develop a career in football. First based in Maryhill, the club was independent from Celtic FC at first, but links started to strengthen as the Boys Club was allowed to use the training facilities at Barrowfield training complex on London Road. John Higgins, a Celtic scout, recognised the benefits of the club and a semi-formal agreement was made where the Under 16 side would act as a nursery for Celtic scouts to find players with potential to play for Celtic FC. However players from the Boys club were under no obligation to sign for Celtic FC.Fact|date=August 2008

Honours

*sport honours|European Youth Cup|1|1974 Under 16

Controversy

In 1996 the Boys Club's founder, Jim Torbett was convicted of sexually abusing boys under his care, including Alan Brazil, over a 7 year period. [ [http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1572723,00.html Child abusers who shame British football] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/213063.stm Former Celtic manager guilty of abuse] ] .

Professional players produced

Celtic Boys Club has produced many professional players, some of whom have gone on to play for Celtic FC.

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*Roy Aitken
*Jim Beattie
*Tom Boyd
*Jimmy Boyle
*Alan Brazil
*Gerry Britton
*Jim Casey
*John Collins
*Ronnie Coyle
*Gerry Creaney
*Kenny Dalglish
*Steve Fulton
*Peter Grant
*David Hay
*Sean MacBride
*George McCluskey
*Danny McGrain
*Jim McInally
*Tosh McKinlay
*Mark McNally
*Paul McStay
*Willie McStay
*Lou Macari
*Alex Mathie
*Joe Miller
*David Moyes
*Pat Nevin
*Charlie Nicholas
*Brian O'Neil
*Andy Ritchie
*Derek Whyte

References

External links

* http://www.thecelticboysclub.co.uk/ official website