 From a mining background, McAtee was employed in that reserved occupation for much of the period of conflict, with players of the time who did not join the armed forces playing football at weekends on top of a full-time work shift.After winning three wartime titles he was conscripted in 1917 and served in Italy.On returning to Scotland McAtee resumed his successful football career with Celtic, participating in two further league title-winning seasons for a total of six.