Charlie McGillivray

Born in East Whitburn, West Lothian, Charlie or “Ching” as he was known to his family started his career with Dreghorn Juniors.

He signed for Ayr United in 1930, and stayed at Somerset Park for two seasons before transferring to Celtic. Playing in the reserves at Parkhead, he was making a name for himself.

Manchester United’s manager, Mr Duncan, saw his potential and travelled to Glasgow hoping to sign him. In a newspaper interview he recalled that:

“I heard that this 21 year old winger was on a free transfer from Celtic. The whole of the football world knew, too, and others were very anxious to make this player their own.

Anyway I arranged to see McGillivray at a Glasgow station…. (On arrival he found that) half of the football world was gathered round the youth. They had got there before my train.

After a bit of side-stepping I managed to get Charlie to myself in a little ice-cream shop. On the mineral water-stained table of the shop I signed up this promising youth.”

McGillivray became a United player on the 8^th May 1933. He made nine appearances for the first team.

Along with teammate William Stewart, Charlie was put on the transfer list. Both were signed for Motherwell by their manager, former Dundee F.C. player, John Hunter. He found it hard to gain a regular position in the first team, finding himself in and out of the reserves. By September 1938 he asked to be placed on the transfer list.

Charlie signed for Dundee in October 1938, manager Andy Cunningham agreeing a deal which saw John Evans go to Motherwell in a swap deal.

He made his debut on the 3^rd October in an away match against Leith Athletic. Playing at inside right, he scored the only goal for the Dark Blues, in a disappointing 3-1 defeat.

His goal scoring prowess was in evidence from the start, scoring a hat-trick in his next match against East Stirlingshire. He carried this form on for the rest of the season, scoring twenty nine times in twenty six first team appearances. He scored four goals in a match against Airdrie on the 14^th January 1939, which included a penalty.

At the start of WW2, Charlie returned to Glasgow, taking up a position in a ship-yard alongside team-mate Harry Sneddon. The eighty mile journey to Dens Park on match day proved to be a problem.

Once professional football was suspended for the duration of the war Charlie turned out as a “guest player” for several clubs, including Hearts, Albion Rovers, Greenock Morton & Dunfermline. In 1943 he was officially transferred to Hibernian, ending a five year association with Dundee F.C. His time at Easter Road was short, kept on when they dropped out of the North Eastern League, he fell out of favour for a starting position. Looking for regular football when an opportunity arose he made the move to Dundee United.

Initially a squad player, he became player/manager in 1944, and was in charge for the club’s heaviest ever home defeat, when Aberdeen won 9-1 in a “wartime league match.” By October 1945 he told the club’s directors that he “desired to be released from the role of club manager,” after asking for clarification about his future. He was released from his contract, and given a free transfer.

A second managerial stint took place with a move to Stirling Albion, where he would also have a role as a player. He resigned from the post in November 1946. There was an unfounded rumour that he was to become manager of a Mexican team. He did, however, move to the United States, settling in California where he worked in the aviation industry. He was still involved with football becoming player/manager for the L.A. Scots.

Charlie returned to Scotland later in life, and resided in Livingstone. He died on the 7^th November 1986. He is buried in Mid Calder Churchyard, West Lothian.