Former Celtic Boys Club manager 'performed sex act on teenage player', Glasgow Sheriff Court hearing told

A former Celtic Boys Club manager performed a sex act on a youth player, a hearing has been told.

Frank Cairney, 87, allegedly touched the boy while on a team trip to Aviemore, Scottish Highlands, between 1988 and 1989.

The now 50-year-old claimed he went to Cairney’s room alone under the pretence of talking about football.

The man also stated that Cairney touched him inappropriately after driving him home from training.

A 59-year-old man also alleged that he was repeatedly touched by Cairney on the thigh in his car in Paisley, Renfrewshire and at the club’s Barrowfield training ground between 1978 and 1979.

Cairney was said to have committed sexual crimes against a total of three teenage boys between July 1978 and June 1989.

An examination of facts at Glasgow Sheriff Court is taking place as Cairney, of Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, was deemed unfit for trial.

The 50-year-old man told the court in his evidence that he was captain of a five-a-side under 16s Celtic Boys Club team who faced an Aviemore Select side.

He stated that Cairney drove the team and stayed in a hotel over the course of a weekend.

The man said: “I think he asked me to go to his room before or after dinner under the pretence of what happened during the game.

“I remember talking about football in general.

“I don’t know if I was leaving, I stood up and he stood up and he touched my clothing and put his hand down the front of my clothing.”

The man went on to claim that Cairney performed a sex act on him.

He added: “I was massively shaken, I told him to stop when he started.

The man later recalled that Cairney would sometimes drive him home from training at Barrowfield.

He said: “A couple of times he would reach over and touch my groin area as I was leaving or when he was saying something about football and touch me again.

“I would rush out the car basically.”

The witness added that he was touched “two, three or four times” over his clothing by Cairney.

Andrew Crosbie, defending, put it to the witness that he was never alone with Cairney in Aviemore.

The man replied: “That’s a lie.”

The 59-year-old alleged victim told the court in his evidence that Cairney was known for “shouting, screaming and balling.”

He stated that as a 15 and 16-year-old he was also “picked on” by Cairney who would slap him on the head and upper body.

The man recalled a trip to Paisley to play St Mirren for Celtic Boys Club in which Cairney gave him and two other team mates a lift.

He stated that Cairney took them to a changing room near an old racetrack on the other side of town.

The witness said: “We were waiting on someone to come to (open up) the dressing room.

“He had his back to the passenger door and he put his hand on my thigh.”

He added that his two teammates looked out of the window when it was happening.

The man stated he “freaked out” and “just froze.”

He went on to tell the court that Cairney would scream and say “what are you looking at” while in Barrowfield.

He said: “He would slap someone, he would plant himself between the players and he would put his on my thigh again.

“The rest of the lads wouldn’t say something – they would look away.”

He stated that this took place three or four times.

Prosecutor Mark Allan asked about the impact the incidents had on the witness.

He replied: “My mental health has been all over the place…it never goes away – 44 years of it.”

The man then told Mr Crosbie under cross examination that Cairney would come into the shower room when his teammates were there “raising voices and hand.’

He also refuted the advocate’s suggestion that the touching of his thigh was during an “animated conversation.”

The court heard both men reported Cairney to the police in early 2019.

They also stated that they are seeking compensation against Celtic through their lawyers of the same firm.

The examination of facts continues before Sheriff Tom Hughes.