Charlie Tully
Encyclopedia
Charles Patrick "Charlie" Tully (11 July 1924 - 27 July 1971) was a famous footballer
of Celtic Football Club.
Tully was born in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. In 1944 he was struggling to break into a very strong Belfast Celtic
team and in a bid to garner better match experience was sent on loan to Cliftonville F.C.
. After just 10 appearances he returned to more than make the grade at Celtic Park (Belfast)
. He scored the winning goal in the 1947 Irish Cup
Final.
Tully signed for Celtic from Belfast Celtic
on 28 June 1948. He played his debut match at Inside-left at home against Morton
on 14 August in a 0-0 draw. He played a total of 319 matches for Celtic, scoring 47 goals, throughout his career, which spanned 11 years.
Charlie’s skill quickly earned him the reputation as a Celtic great after an outstanding performance against Rangers
in a 3-1 victory at Celtic Park
where it was reported ‘Tully dribbled about almost at will.’ ‘..The miraculous Irishman bewildered, badgered…. mesmerised Rangers..’ This catapulted Tully to the status of cult hero and the beginning of ‘Tully Mania’ when Tully cocktails were sold in pubs; Tully ties in shops and green Tully ice cream in cafes.
As well being such an accomplished club player, Tully played international football for Northern Ireland
. One game is particularly well remembered. In 1952 Tully scored both goals in a 2-2 draw with England
, one of which was scored from the corner flag. Tully achieved this feat again in 1953, not once but twice against Falkirk
in a Scottish Cup
tie at Brockville. Tully took a corner for Celtic and swung the ball directly into the net. The referee, presuming that the ball must have been placed outwith the arc, instructed Tully to retake the corner. Tully did so with the same result, swinging the ball into the net directly from the corner.
Tully spent brief periods on loan to Stirling Albion
before being released in September 1959. Thereafter he took up the position of player-manager at Cork Hibernians
before spells in management with Bangor
(twice) and Portadown
.
Tully died in his sleep at home in Belfast on 27 July 1971. The Falls Road was packed with mourners for his funeral.
His sons (Charlie and Brian) and daughter Patricia all still live in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
of Celtic Football Club.
Tully was born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. In 1944 he was struggling to break into a very strong Belfast Celtic
Belfast Celtic
Belfast Celtic Football Club was a football club in Northern Ireland that was founded in 1891, and was one of the most successful teams in Ireland until forced to withdraw from the Irish League in 1949.-History:...
team and in a bid to garner better match experience was sent on loan to Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
. After just 10 appearances he returned to more than make the grade at Celtic Park (Belfast)
Celtic Park (Belfast)
Celtic Park was a multi-use stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home of Belfast Celtic F.C.. It was also a greyhound racing course. The stadium was able to hold 50,000 spectators at its height...
. He scored the winning goal in the 1947 Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
Final.
Tully signed for Celtic from Belfast Celtic
Belfast Celtic
Belfast Celtic Football Club was a football club in Northern Ireland that was founded in 1891, and was one of the most successful teams in Ireland until forced to withdraw from the Irish League in 1949.-History:...
on 28 June 1948. He played his debut match at Inside-left at home against Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
on 14 August in a 0-0 draw. He played a total of 319 matches for Celtic, scoring 47 goals, throughout his career, which spanned 11 years.
Charlie’s skill quickly earned him the reputation as a Celtic great after an outstanding performance against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in a 3-1 victory at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
where it was reported ‘Tully dribbled about almost at will.’ ‘..The miraculous Irishman bewildered, badgered…. mesmerised Rangers..’ This catapulted Tully to the status of cult hero and the beginning of ‘Tully Mania’ when Tully cocktails were sold in pubs; Tully ties in shops and green Tully ice cream in cafes.
As well being such an accomplished club player, Tully played international football for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
. One game is particularly well remembered. In 1952 Tully scored both goals in a 2-2 draw with England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, one of which was scored from the corner flag. Tully achieved this feat again in 1953, not once but twice against Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
in a Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
tie at Brockville. Tully took a corner for Celtic and swung the ball directly into the net. The referee, presuming that the ball must have been placed outwith the arc, instructed Tully to retake the corner. Tully did so with the same result, swinging the ball into the net directly from the corner.
Tully spent brief periods on loan to Stirling Albion
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
before being released in September 1959. Thereafter he took up the position of player-manager at Cork Hibernians
Cork Hibernians F.C.
Cork Hibernians F.C. were an Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1957 and 1976 and played their home games at Flower Lodge. In 1971, they were League of Ireland champions.-History:...
before spells in management with Bangor
Bangor F.C.
Bangor Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1918, hails from Bangor and plays its home matches at Clandeboye Park. Club colours are gold and royal blue...
(twice) and Portadown
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
.
Tully died in his sleep at home in Belfast on 27 July 1971. The Falls Road was packed with mourners for his funeral.
His sons (Charlie and Brian) and daughter Patricia all still live in Belfast, Northern Ireland.