Scotland has produced its fair share of football legends, but few have been as illustrious as midfielder Paul McStay. Born on the 22nd of October 1964 in Scotland, McStay is renowned for his time at none other than Celtic Football Club. Towering at 5ft 10in (1.78m) and, weighing in at approximately 11st 6lb (73kg), he graced the midfield like a ballet dancer, his every move a note in a symphony that Celtic fans were delighted to hear.
Our hero joined Celtic in February 1981, a move that would spell the start of a glorious chapter in the Premiership of Scottish football. In his debut season (1981-1982) alone, McStay would go on to make ten first-team league appearances and netted his first goal.
Paul’s early promise quickly blossomed into undeniable brilliance; in the 1982-1983 season, he doubled his first team appearances to 36 and scored six league goals. The subsequent seasons echoed the same sentiment of excellence. From 1983 to 1985, he marked his imprint on the heart of Celtic, making 66 appearances and scoring seven goals. The 1985-1986 season held a particular note of distinction – McStay made 34 appearances and found the back of the net a total of eight times.
Through the years, our virtuoso's influence in the heart of the Celts' midfield only grew stronger. Just consider the seasons from 1986 - 1997; whether it was the 44 appearances in the 1987-1988 season or the five goals in both the 1988-1989 and 1989-1990 seasons, Mcstay continually drove Celtic forward.
Still, his journey with Celtic captured the essence of a true footballer’s career. The highs, the lows, the victories and defeats. All combined to shape McStay into the player we remember today. In his final season for Celtic (1996 - 1997), he made 15 first-team appearances and scored one goal. His career at Celtic ended on an honourable high when he left the team in June 1997. The stadium might have lost a great player, but Celtic has never lost a true hero.
Now, at the age of 60, our beloved McStay furnishes his vast experience and expertise to the new generation of Players With No Team. His influence in the world of football remains intact, embedded in his time at Celtic and the beautiful game itself.
