 McAtee was born in Cumbernauld (then a tiny village) although appears to have been raised in the neighbouring village of Croy, home to another Celtic great of the era, Jimmy Quinn; he joined Celtic in 1910.A fast right winger with strong legs " 'said to resemble those of a billiard table' " and a fondness for cutting inside to unleash a powerful shot, McAtee formed an effective partnership with Patsy Gallacher.He had already won one Scottish Football League Championship and three Scottish Cups when his career was interrupted by World War I, although the league continued to operate.