[Player Pics]

WHEN a fresh faced youngster took the field at Somerset Park all of fifty years ago he was embarking on a professional career that would keep him in the green and white hoops for over thirteen years.
The opposition in this mid season league match was Ayr United but for eighteen year old Man Lynch the opponents were immaterial; all that mattered was that a long held personal ambition was being fulfilled as he made his debut for Celtic.
Only months earlier the tough tackling junior international had been signed by Celtic from St. Anthonys. He joined the club as a right half but would gain an equal amount of praise for his performances at outside right. It was in his favourite position of right half that he made the first of his many appearances for Celtic and like so many players it would remain an outstanding memory. As he reflected, an unobtrusive scene at the end of the match made his debut even more special.
“The match against Ayr United gave me one of my proudest moments in football and indeed in my whole life. We won the game 3-0 so it was a satisfactory start for me. But what I remember most vividly was that at the end of the game a great hero of mine went out to congratulate me. a mere youth of eighteen. The man who made that great moment for me was Jimmy McGrory who was still a Celtic player at the time but who had missed the Ayr match because of Injury. It was an action that was typical of the man and one that I really appreciated.
In later years Jimmy McGrory would become manager of Celticand Matt Lynch would feature in his teams. The popular half back is one of the few Celts to have played under the guidance of the clubs first three managers. Prior to McGrory’s appointment Celtic had been under the tutelage of Jimmy McStay and Willie Maley. Of these gentlemen there is no doubt that the most influential in determining the early development of Celtic football club was Maley. He served the club for an incredible fifty two years, and his life and that of Celtic are virtually inseperable. Maley had the reputation of being a strict disciplinarian and despite acknowledging his contribution to Celtic, it was a viewpoint with which Matt Lynch concurred.
“Willie Maley was a great man but a person I used to regard with awe. Most of the time he was ensconced in his office and was not directly involved with our training. Now and again he would walk out the tunnel and when the players saw the familiar figure with the black crombie coat and stetson type hat you never saw such activity on the track.
It was a situation similar to the headmaster and pupil type of relationship, yet it was a style of management that brought results. Jimmy McStay was different in character. A quiet man he was there in difficult circumstances, similarly Jimmy McGrory was also very much a gentleman and although it’s often been repeated both seemed too nice to be really successful managers.”
Despite the domestic success achieved by the club the Celtic side of this era is primarily remembered for its triumph in the Empire Exhibition tournament of 1938. The competition was played at Ibrox in the summer of that year as part of Glasgow’s contribution to the Empire Exhibition which was centred at nearby Bellahouston Park, Celtic progressed to the final at the expense of Sunderland, after a replay, and Hearts. A goal by Johnny Crum was enough to defeat Everton in the final.

For Man Lynch Celtic’s success must have •had a bitter sweet feeling about it. Having played extremely well against Sundetland and then Hearts he was all set to continue as Jimmy Delaney’s deputy on the eve of the final. But just before kick off Delaney was passed fit and regained his place in the side. As Matt recalled he was to suffer disappointment and joy in a short period of time. “Certainly it was a terrible let down for me when I knew I wouldn’t be playing and I had some difficult in hiding my disappointment Once the game started I forgot all about it and when it ended with a 1 -o victoly for us I was as overjoyed as anyone.”

Man Lynch played his last match for Celtic against St Mirren in February 47. His final match, like his debut would result in victory. Since then the passage of time has not dimmed his enthusiasm for the club. Today as Honorary President of the Supporters Association Man remains involved with Celtic attending monthly delegate meetings and other relevant functions. Earlier this year the Association, in appreciation of his dedicated service sent him on an all expenses trip to Rome. The former right half is still a regular attender at all of Celtic s home matches. As a man who never spared himself for the
club he will always be a welcome visitor.