Career
Delaney joined Celtic on provisional forms in 1933 from Stoneyburn Juniors, signing a permanent contract the following year. He spent 13 years with the Glasgow club, making 305 appearances in all competitions. Delaney suffered the misfortune of a badly broken arm in a home game against Arbroath in April 1939.
The injury sustained being further exacerbated by the opposition player Attilio Becchi, who was apparently a Celtic fan, accidentally stepping on Delaney"s arm.
Delaney"s torn football shirt was sold for £564 at Christie"s in 2002. Delaney was held in high regard as a player by Matt Busby who, in 1946, signed him for Manchester United in a £4,000 deal.
He moved back to Scotland at the age of 36, joining Aberdeen in November 1950 and made his Dons debut in a 5–1 defeat of Falkirk. A year later he joined the Bairns, where he spent three seasons.
In January 1954, Derry City paid £1,500 to sign him, a record fee for the Irish Football League, remarkable in that he was by this stage 39 years old.
Two years later he joined Cork Athletic as player-manager before eventually retiring after a season with Highland League Elgin City in 1957. He also came close to a fourth different Cup in the Republic of Ireland, earning a runners-up medal with Cork Athletic in 1956. Delaney also represented the Scottish League XI six times.
On 15 November 2009 he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.