Former Celtic Boys Club chairman faces abuse trial — The Times and The Sunday Times
A former senior figure at Celtic FC’s feeder club has been charged in connection with an alleged sexual offence against a child, The Times has learnt. Gerald King, 69, a former chairman of Celtic Boys Club, is due to appear at Glasgow sheriff court in May. King, from Springburn, Glasgow, taught...
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A former senior figure at Celtic FC’s feeder club has been charged in connection with an alleged sexual offence against a child, The Times has learnt.
Gerald King, 69, a former chairman of Celtic Boys Club, is due to appear at Glasgow sheriff court in May.
King, from Springburn, Glasgow, taught and coached football at a primary school in the north of the city. He was employed as a teacher from 1976 until he retired in 2017.
Police Scotland said: “A 69-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with a non-recent sexual offence against a child. A report was submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
The Crown Office confirmed that King was involved in an active solemn case, meaning it is likely to be prosecuted on indictment before a judge or sheriff and jury. A preliminary hearing is scheduled to be held at the beginning of May.
King also served as a coach at Celtic Boys Club and contributed to its official magazine. In 1985 he used the publication to ask boys to send him photographs and accounts of “funny incidents” during training.
As well as being a teacher and football coach, King also used to work for a business selling sporting trophies and medals.
This week Francis Cairney, 86, who served as the general manager of Celtic Boys Club from 1974 until 1991, was said to be suffering from dementia.
It is alleged that he indecently assaulted a teenager at Celtic Park, the club’s stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, and another at the club’s former training ground.
Cairney, of Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, is also charged with indecently assaulting another teenage boy at a hotel room in Aviemore and in a car in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, on various occasions between August 1, 1988 and June 30, 1989.
He denies all the charges.
Cairney was due to go on trial at the beginning of next month but his lawyer Jim McParland said he was suffering from dementia and results of an NHS scan were expected in the near future.
A further hearing has been set for next week.