Celtic Announce Derby Tribute For Club Legend
Celtic have announced there will be a minutes applause for Duncan Mackay tomorrow before the champions kick off against Rangers in a vital Glasgow derby.
The former Celtic right back and captain sadly passed away during the week at the age of 82, Mackay was a Celtic legend in his own right and like other legends before him, has left behind a Hoops legacy to be proud of as the passionate defender made an impressive 236 appearances in the Hoops.
Celtic made an official statement regarding Mackay’s death on the club’s website:
“Everyone at Celtic Football Club is saddened to hear of the death of former player, Duncan MacKay, who has passed away at the age of 82.
“Dunky, who played for the Hoops between 1955-64, making 236 appearances and scoring seven goals, is rightly considered a Celtic great.
“His first-team debut came in August 1958, in a League Cup tie against Clyde at Shawfield, which Celtic won 4-1, and he soon established himself as first-choice right-back in the team.
“A highly-rated defender who was an early exponent of the attacking full-back role later honed by the likes of Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig, Dunky MacKay was a firm fans’ favourite and his leadership qualities were identified by Jimmy McGrory, who made him captain in 1961, succeeding Bertie Peacock as skipper.
“He would later pass on the captain’s armband to Billy McNeill for the start of the 1963/64 season.
“In November 1964, he moved to Third Lanark, before heading out to Australia where he would eventually settle after a brief return to Scotland.
“He also gained 14 caps for Scotland during his playing career. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with Duncan’s family and friends at this very sad time.
Following that, Celtic today announced on Twitter the club will hold a minutes applause before the game against Rangers kicks off in tribute to the legend.