A Glaswegian, Tom McAdam started out as a bustling centre-forward but ended his career as a commanding centre-back, an evolution that proved pivotal in the fortunes of one of Scotland’s biggest clubs.

PART ONE

Tom McAdam began at Dumbarton in the early 1970s, a period in Scottish football when young talents often had to carve their way through the rugged landscape of lower-league football before making it big. He quickly established himself as a capable goal-scorer, and it was not long before his talents caught the eye of bigger clubs. Consequently, at the front end of the 1975-76 campaign,, Dundee United came calling with a fee of £37,000—a substantial amount at the time—and McAdam made the move to Tannadice Park.

At Dundee United, he made an instant impact, finding the back of the twice on his debut for The Tangerines in a fine 3-1 victory against St Johnstone at Tannadice Park on the 1st of November. That performance set the tone for a productive two-year spell in which he netted 21 goals in 61 Premier Division appearances. Moreover, his ability to hold up play and bring others into the game made him a valuable asset to Jim McLean’s side. However, as is often the case in football, a bigger stage awaited, and in September 1977, Celtic swooped in with a £60,000 bid, securing the services of a player they believed would add firepower to their attack.

Jock Stein, the legendary Celtic manager, saw McAdam as a useful addition to his squad, but breaking into a team of such stature was never going to be straightforward. As a striker, he found it difficult to cement a place in the starting eleven, often being relegated to the substitutes’ bench. Despite possessing the physicality and intelligence to lead the line, he struggled to make a lasting impression in the forward areas.

However, fate—and Billy McNeill—had other ideas. In the final league match of the 1978-79 season, a crucial encounter against Rangers, McNeill, who had taken over from Stein, decided to deploy McAdam in central defence. It was a bold move, but one that paid off handsomely, as McAdam produced a composed display to help Celtic secure a thrilling 4-2 win at Parkhead on the 21st of May, and, with it, the title. From that point on, there was no looking back. His reinvention as a centre-back was complete, and he soon formed a formidable partnership with Roy Aitken at the heart of defence. His aerial prowess, combined with his reading of the game, made him an invaluable asset, and his leadership qualities soon became apparent.

PART TWO

Once McAdam had found his place in defence, McNeiill´s Celtic side reaped the rewards. Over the course of his career at Parkhead, he won three Scottish league titles (1978-79, 1980-81, and 1981-82), a Scottish Cup (1984-85), and a Scottish League Cup (1982-83). His ability to marshal the backline, make crucial interceptions, and contribute the odd goal from set-pieces made him an important cog in the machine.

What’s more, McAdam’s versatility was an asset that many managers dream of. If Celtic needed an emergency forward, he could step in; if they required defensive solidity, he was already established. He was never the flashiest player, nor was he the most technically gifted, but he was a reliable presence.

Football is rarely sentimental, and by 1986, Celtic decided to part ways with McAdam, allowing him to leave on a free transfer. For a player who had given nearly a decade of service, it was a humbling moment, but McAdam was not finished yet. Short spells at Stockport County and Hamilton Academical followed before he found a home at Motherwell, where he spent three years bringing experience and steel to their defence.

Then, in 1989, he moved on to Airdrie, where he eventually hung up his boots. Though his latter years were spent away from the limelight at Celtic, his contributions to Scottish football remained evident.

Intriguingly, Tom McAdam’s career had an added layer of drama due to his familial ties to the game. His older brother, Colin McAdam, was also a professional footballer and, in a twist that only Scottish football could script, played for Rangers at the same time Tom was at Celtic. This meant that the McAdam household was often split when Old Firm derbies rolled around. The two brothers faced each other eight times in Scotland’s most ferocious rivalry, with their family loyalties momentarily set aside for 90 minutes offierce  battle.

After retiring, McAdam was not quite done with football. He returned to Celtic in 1993 in a coaching capacity, working with the reserve team and passing on his experience to the next generation. While he never ventured into top-level management, his love for the game ensured he remained involved in some capacity.