Billy Stark, who joined the Hoops during Billy McNeill’s 1987 summer rebuild, was Mr. Reliable in the Hoops’ midfield during the club’s memorable centennial year.
Although he was regarded as the ideal counterpoint to actors like Paul McStay, Tommy Burns, and Peter Grant, his completely polished performances hardly ever made the news. He was consistently reliable in the Hoops’ backroom, but he was never seen to be competent enough to earn a full Scotland international cap.
The skilled midfielder, who is 30 years old, joined from Aberdeen on July 2 for a reasonable £80,000.
It was a brilliant move on the part of the Hoops great, and the player served the squad with distinction for three years before departing to rejoin his close friend Tommy Burns at Kilmarnock.
Stark was one of several new Bhoys brought in by the comeback manager; he did so around the same time as right-back Chris Morris, who cost £125,000 from Sheffield Wednesday, and striker Andy Walker, who cost £350,000 to buy from Motherwell.
Centre-back Mick McCarthy, who had been acquired from Manchester City for £500,000 as Davie Hay’s final transaction for the team, was likewise eager to make his debut.
As he rebuilt the team in the push for a spectacular league and Scottish Cup double in the club’s memorable centennial year, McNeill signed Joe Miller (Aberdeen) and Frank McAvennie (West Ham).
On August 8, Stark scored on his professional debut in a 4-0 victory over Morton at Cappielow. Later that month, against Graeme Souness’ Ibrox team, he swept in the game-winning goal.
The incredibly underappreciated player beat Hibs at Easter Road in a crucial Scottish Cup match in February 1988 and kept his spot for the title game against Dundee at a sold-out Parkhead on April 23, when two goals from Walker sent the crowd into raptures.
A year later, Miller’s opportunistic strike secured the Hoops a 1-0 victory over Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final. Stark was in charge at that point.
He scored 25 goals in 84 total games for Celtic.
Stark, who is now 66, served as Tommy Burns’ assistant manager during the seasons 1994–1997. He served for three games as Burns’ interim manager at the conclusion of the 1997 season before making his final departure from Parkhead that summer.
He became a crucial part of the Hoops, but Scotland was never interested in him
