Willie O'Neill
Encyclopedia
William "Willie" O'Neill (30 December 1940 — 28 April 2011) was a Scottish
football player who played for Celtic
and Carlisle United
as a full-back.
O'Neill signed for Celtic in 1959, aged 18, and made his debut in the 1961 Scottish Cup Final replay against Dunfermline
. Although O'Neill did not play in Celtic's victory in the 1967 European Cup Final
, he was an important member of the first team squad, making 32 appearances in the 1966–67 season. O'Neill made many of those appearances during the first few months of the season, as Jim Craig had temporarily dropped out of the team due to his dentist
ry studies.
At the time of O'Neill's death, Craig remarked that O'Neill was a defensive-minded full-back, who rarely made forays into the opposition's half of the field. This style of play was in keeping with the traditional function of the position, but full-backs were being expected to attack more by the mid-1960s. Indeed, fellow full-back Tommy Gemmell
scored the equalising goal in the European Cup Final victory.
O'Neill made a total of 86 appearances for Celtic, 55 of those in Scottish Football League
matches. He left Celtic in 1969 for Carlisle United
, but was forced to retire just two years later due to an ankle injury.
O'Neill died on 28 April 2011, aged 70.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football player who played for Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
as a full-back.
O'Neill signed for Celtic in 1959, aged 18, and made his debut in the 1961 Scottish Cup Final replay against Dunfermline
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
. Although O'Neill did not play in Celtic's victory in the 1967 European Cup Final
1967 European Cup Final
The 1967 European Cup Final was a football match between Italian team Inter Milan and Scottish team Celtic. It took place at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 May 1967 in front of a crowd of 45,000. It was the final of the 1966–67 European Cup, the premier club competition run by...
, he was an important member of the first team squad, making 32 appearances in the 1966–67 season. O'Neill made many of those appearances during the first few months of the season, as Jim Craig had temporarily dropped out of the team due to his dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
ry studies.
At the time of O'Neill's death, Craig remarked that O'Neill was a defensive-minded full-back, who rarely made forays into the opposition's half of the field. This style of play was in keeping with the traditional function of the position, but full-backs were being expected to attack more by the mid-1960s. Indeed, fellow full-back Tommy Gemmell
Tommy Gemmell
Thomas Gemmell is a former Scottish footballer and manager.He played as left-sided fullback and had powerful shooting ability. In October 1961, he joined Celtic from Coltness United. He was one of the 'Lisbon Lions' who won the European Cup in 1967. In the final he scored a spectacular goal that...
scored the equalising goal in the European Cup Final victory.
O'Neill made a total of 86 appearances for Celtic, 55 of those in Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
matches. He left Celtic in 1969 for Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, but was forced to retire just two years later due to an ankle injury.
O'Neill died on 28 April 2011, aged 70.
External links
- William O'Neill, The Celtic Wiki