They played for Celtic – Paul Byrne
Irish youngster Paul Byrne signed for Celtic back in the summer of 1993, a month shy of his 21st birthday…
Liam Brady signed the Dublin born winger from Bangor, having been impressed with his terrific form with the Northern Irish side. Form that saw him scoop each of the club’s four player of the year awards in a season they won the domestic cup, with Paul himself scoring in the final.
Paul had started his professional career in England with Oxford United, but his time at the U’s was by all accounts a disaster, so he decided to up-sticks, and head back nearer to home in a bid to reinvent himself.
It worked, as he was soon a Celtic player, the stuff of dreams for any Dublin youngster, especially with Irish legend Brady in charge of the Hoops, and despite the club being in turmoil on and off the park, it was great honour and opportunity for the 20 year old Byrne.
Paul made his competitive Celtic debut against St Johnstone in a 2–1 league defeat at McDiarmid Park, a game that ironically ended the tenure of Liam Brady, with the Irishman handing in his notice shortly after. Anyone who was at that game can confirm it was one of the worst Celtic performance ever.
Byrne managed a few games under caretaker manager Frank Connor, and then under Brady’s successor Lou Macari, who was dismissed at the end of yet another frustrating campaign. This of course was a difficult time on and off the park for Celtic, with the club in complete dire straits. However with the arrival of Fergus McCann, things were starting to look more optimistic for the first time in years.
Paul’s form towards the end of the 1993/94 campaign caught the attention of Republic of Ireland boss Jack Charlton who named him in a full squad for a friendly against Russia in March 1994, giving him an outside hope of making the pending World Cup finals squad.
Unfortunately for Paul, he was an unused substitute, preventing him from winning a full cap for his country and he was never picked for a squad again, ending his international aspirations.
Paul didn’t exactly live the life of a professional athlete. He smoked, he struggled with his weight, not helped by his fondness for the Glasgow nightlife, some said that he enjoyed a pint or two and it was said that he liked a punt at the bookies, a dangerous combination for a footballer stuck in the Glasgow fishbowl.
His fitness issues, along with a loss of form soon saw Paul fall of out the picture at Celtic Park, which resulted in a loan spell at Brighton, before moving to Southend United in an £80,000 move in the summer of 1995.
In total, Paul Byrne played 28 appearances for Celtic scoring four goals. Paul once said: “My career was all ifs, buts and maybes…”
That certainly sums it up perfectly. Pity though as he was a really talented player.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
