Willie Fagan

Celtic

Fagan started his professional career as a teenager at Celtic, joining the club from Wellesley Juniors, the same route taken by his uncle John McFarlane 16 years earlier. He made his debut aged barely 18 in March 1935, and appeared five times for the Hoops as they won the 1935–36 Scottish Division One title; however, it was his six goals in as many matches at the start of the 1936–37 season which drew attention from other clubs.

Preston North End

He moved on to Preston North End where he would link up with several other Scottish players, including former Celtic players Hugh O'Donnell and Frank O'Donnell, and future managerial great Bill Shankly. They reached the FA Cup final of 1937 but lost the game 3–1 to Sunderland.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager George Kay then took Fagan to Liverpool where he made his debut, along with John Shafto, on 23 October 1937 in a 1–1 league draw with Leicester at Anfield. He scored his first Liverpool goal a week later on 30 October in a 3–2 league win over Sunderland at Roker Park. While playing for the Reds, Fagan went straight into the line-up in his favoured inside-left position, although he did appear as a centre-forward; he ended his initial season at the club with nine goals in 36 matches. He followed this up by scoring 15 times, one behind top scorer Berry Nieuwenhuys (who later invited Fagan to be best man at his wedding) and missing only just three matches of the 1938–39 campaign. The Second World War…

Preston North End

FA Cup runner-up: 1936–37 Liverpool

Football League First Division: 1946–47 FA Cup runner-up: 1949–50