McCluskey: George McKinley Cassidy (George)

1983-1986 (Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: Hamilton, Lanarkshire: 19-09-1957

Debut: v Newcastle United (h): 27-08-1983

5’11” 12st (1985)

McCluskey played for St Catherine’s Secondary School, Uddingston, Holy Cross, Hamilton, and won five Scottish Schoolboy caps and four Youth caps. He was with Celtic Boys’ Club and Thorniewood United before signing for Celtic in July 1974 and made his senior debut in 1977-78. He formed a lethal partnership with Frank McGarvey during the early 1980's, often providing chances for his more prolific partner, although averaging over a goal every three games himself over an eight year Celtic career. He scored Celtic’s winner against Rangers in the 1980 Scottish Cup Final, redirected a Danny McGrain volley past Rangers goalkeeper Peter McCloy for an extra-time winner and won Scottish Championship medals in the following two seasons and was a member of the Scotland World Cup party in 1982, but never won a full cap, even though he did represent the Under-Twenty-one side seven times. A wonderfully talented forward, Hamilton-born McCluskey combined an elegant first touch with great vision and a thunderous shot and these talents allowed him to score some truly memorable goals. He made his debut in October 1975 when he came on as sub and scored as Celtic defeated FC Valur 7-0 in the European Cup Winners Cup at Parkhead. His obvious talent made him a favourite of the supporters and his place in Celtic folklore is cemented as a member of the team which won the League Championship in such dramatic fashion in 1979 when the Bhoys secured the title with ten men at Parkhead as they came from behind to defeat Rangers 4-2. At his best McCluskey was a supreme forward with the talent to trouble any defender, as his goals in the European Cup against the likes of Ajax and Real Madrid proved. He also played an important role in Billy McNeill’s Celtic side of the early 80’s which won back to back titles. For all his talent though some critics believed McCluskey didn’t score enough goals for a Celtic striker and at a time when the Hoops had an abundance of attacking options McNeill himself often preferred the more aggressive style of Frank McGarvey to George’s elegance. He scored seventy-eight goals in two hundred and four games at Parkhead. After a fall out with the club over his salary, while the board of the time may be accused of under-valuing McCluskey’s abilities, no such accusation can be made of the supporters, who still remember him fondly to this day, he joined Leeds for £161,000 in August 1983. Despite his natural ability, he lacked consistency at Elland Road and found it hard to adapt to the English game after such a successful time in Scotland with Celtic and in June 1986 he signed for Hibernian. He scored sixteen times in eighty-three Leage appearances at Easter Road before he left Hibs for Hamilton Academicals in September 1989 for £35,000. After scoring thirty-four goals in ninety-five League appearances he was freed in May 1992, and he joined Kilmarnock a couple of months later and played his part in Killie being promoted to the Premier League. He was appointed player-coach in August 1994, but two months later he was transferred to Clyde. He scored thirteen times in fifty-seven League appearances for Kilmarnock. In his time at Clyde he made thirty-five League appearances and scored eight goals. He later played for Baillieston and he is now a community coach for Celtic and is also part of their matchday hospitality team. He lives in Uddingston and drives taxis in Glasgow.