Legendary Celtic Partnerships - The First Great Celtic Team

Over the years Celtic have had their fair share of dominant sides in Scottish football. Jock Steins side of the ‘60s & ‘70s were consistently involved at the business end of European footballing campaigns and built sides to secure 9 league titles in a row. Our more recent 9 in a row & Quadruple Treble triumph cements our place as the predominant domestic club side of the 21 century.

If you rewind just over 100 years we find the original super team of Scottish football. From season 1904/05 through to 1909/1910 Celtic secured 6 leagues titles in a row & became the first team to secure back to back League & Scottish Cup doubles. This record breaking Celtic side had a prolific strike force throughout their history making period of success. Alec Bennett, Peter Sommers, Davie Hamilton, Jimmy McMenemy & Jimmy Quinn led a dynamic front 5 that appeared to score at will. 

The legendary status of this forward line finds its roots in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park in 1904 when Jimmy Quinn scored a hatrick to win the cup for Celtic against their city rivals Rangers. Trailing 2-0, The “Croy Express” scored three unanswered goals to secure the trophy & launch Celtic into a sustained period if domination.

The first of 6 consecutive league titles was won in the most dramatic fashion the following season, when a play-off match between Celtic & Rangers would be required to decide the League champions of Scotland. Celtic won the match 2-1 at Hampden park with goals coming from McMenemy & Hamilton.

The league & cup double was secured in 1907 as Celtic beat Hearts 3-0 in the Scottish cup final, 2 of the goals coming from Peter Sommers. The first back to back double followed in 1908 after a thumping 5-1 victory over St Mirren in the Cup Final, Bennet, Quinn, Sommers & Hamilton all helping themselves to goals in the match. These players could be relied upon for the big matches by scoring goals in the matches that mattered.

Over the course of their careers at Celtic, these 5 forwards would play a combined total of almost 1500 matches, scoring 559 goals. Their achievements & teamwork helped to deliver 6 league titles in a row & a record that stood for over 60 years, until another great partnership arrived to lead Celtic onto domestic & international success.

Legendary Celtic Partnerships - Kelly & Maley

Since our formation in the small parish hall of St Mary’s in the Calton in the late 1800s Glasgow Celtic have flourished & grown, first as force helping the impoverished people of the east end of the city, then as a successful footballing side in the Scottish game & across Europe.

The direction of the club both on & off the pitch has been driven by individuals, families, friends players & legendary figures . Over the last 14 decades a number of greats have helped cement the clubs place in world football. All of these accolades & honours were achieved as a team, but that’s not to distract from those players who had a little bit extra skill, craft & gallus style that entertained the masses on the slopes of Celtic Park over the years, there is also room for the men who struck up a partnership in different areas on the pitch & in the club management to take the team & the fans to new highs of footballing glory.

In this series, I will look at a number of partnerships over the decades that have ensured Celtic have stayed at the forefront of Scottish football & punched above their weight in the elite European club competitions. 

James Kelly & Willie Maley 

It is difficult to think of the footballing side of Celtic without these 2 key figures leading the club through our early years. 

James Kelly & Willie Maley were on the pitch as Celtic took their first strides into the new footballing world on the 28th May 1888, with Kelly scoring as Celtic beat Rangers 5 goals to 2 in a friendly match. Both men played their part just 4 years later when Celtic overcame Third Lanark to win the Scottish Cup for the first time.

The pair would spend over 40 years together serving the club, initially as players & then as board member & manager respectively. During their time at Celtic Park an incredible 17 league titles & 13 Scottish Cups were secured. This partnership guided Celtic through their formative years, achieving many firsts including 6 in a row & the first Scottish league & Cup double. However, their partnership wasn’t all about the silverware, the ethical stand point which is still true today was forged during their tenure. 

A quote as simple as “It's not the creed nor his nationality that counts. It’s the man himself" from Maley ensured Celtic would not be hamstrung for years by a narrow minded signing policy & ensured an open mind for finding the best players & managers available throughout our history. 

The Kelly family name would continue to be heard around Celtic Park for over 100 years as the family controlled the fortunes of the club through the many highs & the difficult lows of our first 108 years.

Celtic were blessed with a number of strong leaders in those early years & they all played their part in building the foundations of the club we follow today. Willie Maley & James Kelly built on those strong foundations & helped propel the club into 20th century & on to unrivalled success.

Celtic Centenary Team - A Tribute to Billy McNeill

In the summer of 1987 Celtic found themselves in the very unusual position of finishing behind their city rivals in the Scottish top flight. Not since the end of season 1977/78 had Celtic finished behind Rangers in the league, but the 2nd half of the 1986/87 season had saw Celtic give up the title they had won in dramatic fashion at St. Mirren park the year before. A lead at top of the table in early 1987 was gone by mid-March & the title was lost in the penultimate match of the season. To add to the disappointment of ending the season without silverware, Celtic also lost a number of key players throughout the team. Davie Hay was sacked, Brain McClair, Mo Johnstone, Murdo McLeod & Danny McGrain all left for pastures new.

The Celtic team were needing a major overhaul & the club were stumbling towards their Centenary season celebrations without someone to lead & manage the team. 

When the managerial announcement was made, the emotional heart strings that run through Celtic Football Club were pulled on as our greatest ever captain returned to lead a team in need of a renewed Will to Win. Billy McNeill’s decorated playing career with Celtic had propelled the towering centre back to legendary status across the footballing world, 9 Scottish League titles, 7 Scottish Cup wins, 6 league cup wins & of course captained the team who conquered all in front of them to lift the European Cup in Lisbon in 1967. Under a spell as manager in the late 70s & early 80s Billy delivered further success with 3 league titles, 1 Scottish cup & 1 league cup. Celtic had not just appointed a manager, they had appointed a natural leader, a winner & a man who knew the Scottish game inside out. 

The rebuild process got underway with the arrival of Andy Walker, Billy Stark & Chris Morris. Mick McCarthy had also made the switch to the east end of Glasgow in a deal sown up prior to Cesar’s return to Glasgow. When the final piece of transfer business was complete Joe Miller & Frank McAvennie were added to an attack minded team, built to entertain The Celtic Way. The squad inherited by Billy already had some strong characters & Celtic minded players. Roy Aitken, Tommy Burns & Paul McStay would all play a part in what became a memorable season. 

Billy McNeill moulded a team of winners in that most spectacular of seasons where Celtic achieved another milestone as they became the first club to win the league in their Centenary year. The dream double was achieved in typically dramatic style with 2 late goals from Frank McAvennie to overcome Dundee United at Hampden Park. 

When you listen to the players as they reminisce about our Centenary season, the praise of the boss who guided them to the triumph is unending. A motivator & leader. An inspiration to those he worked with. Billy on the other hand was always modest in his self appraisal. 

For all the fairy tale stories woven in to the fabric of Celtic Football club, Billy McNeill is centre stage for so many of them. The iconic figure of our Captain of Captains, Manager & Ambassador will forever be embedded in the hearts & minds of Celtic fans throughout the world.

25 years of Oasis

In the spring of 1994 the winds of change began to blow through the UK music scene. The singles chart had been dominated by a varied selection of tunes ranging from Mr Blobby, Doop & Chaka Demus. The album chart gave a more rounded view of the balladeers of the music industry with Meat Loaf, Bryan Adams, Diana Ross & Mariah Carey featuring heavily. 

I , like many other music fans had been left devastated by the death of Kurt Cobain in April ’94. A UK tour that had fans at fever pitch following the release of “Nevermind" & their meteoric rise to fame in the early 90s will always be one of the big what if moments for music fans of that era. However, as history shows the music doesn't stop after the untimely death of special talents & lyricists. 

In early May a quirk in the musical timeline saw Scottish rock band Stiltskin head up the singles chart with “Inside", the success of the song may have been helped along by the link to a Jeans advert shown at the time – all of the songs linked with these adds went to number one. Around the same time the 3rd release from Blur “Parklife" bounced into the number one slot in the album charts. However, In the background a musical phenomenon was noisily gathering pace. 

The legendary Manchester music scene of the late 80s & early 90s had delivered some if the most iconic bands, musicians & dancers in the UK. The Charlatans, Happy Mondays & Inspiral Carpets were all part of the cultural musical movement headed up by The Stone Rose’s, however musical differences, drink & drug fuelled sessions would see these bands lose their place at the top of the musical charts to the new wave of Grunge music imported from the United States. The 24 hour happy people refused to Stand Still, they kept the faith & awaited a Second Coming. They didn't have to wait too long. 

On 11th April Creation records released a single from their newly signed 5 piece band from Manchester. To the vast majority of the UK the release went under the radar reaching number 31 in the singles chart, but Oasis were already well on the road to superstardom. A heavy schedule of touring throughout the UK had already seen the band make a huge impact in the hearts & minds of a fan base that wanted more. 

As word of the band started to spread in mainstream music circles the band played their first set on Top of the Pops with their 2nd single Shakermaker. This track peaked at number 11 in the charts, but now the band had been given some primetime exposure. The trademark swagger, attitude & style of a band ready to conquer the music scene was there for all to see. 

In August 1994 Oasis released their 3rd single Live Forever making it into the top 10 in the UK singles chart, the band were now perfectly placed for the release of their debut album. In late August Oasis released their album Definitely Maybe to huge critical acclaim. The album became the fastest selling debut album in UK music history at the time & everywhere you turned you could see & hear the influential sounds & styles of the reformed & re-energized Manchester Music scene. 

A UK tour closely followed as did the 4th single from the album Cigarettes & Alcohol, all the while Oasis continued with their confident takeover of UK music. I was lucky enough to see & hear the rise of a musical sensation as a 16 year old culminating in 2 unforgettable performances from the band at the Glasgow Barrowlands in December 1994.

In the final weeks of 1994 “Whatever" was released & entered the charts at number 3 cementing Oasis place as the pacesetters of the new guitar based indie soundtrack of the mid 90s.

Jock Stein - The quiet start to something special

They often say that with the benefit of hindsight your vision is 20/20. For the 20000 match goers congregated on the slopes at Celtic Park on a wet December day in 1951 they may well have changed their whistles to cheers at the announcement of a new signing had they known what the future held. 

Jock Stein was making his debut in the Celtic defence following a move back to Scotland from Llanelly for a relatively small fee. To say the Celtic support was underwhelmed by the signing would probably be an understatement. At the time we were struggling to put the ball in the net, most fans would have been looking for a striker to help improve our position in the league, but in truth we were also losing goals & games that we shouldn’t have been. During November a 2-1 defeat away to Stirling Albion was closely followed by a 4-0 loss at the hands of Queen of the South at the home of the Doonhamers. The team needed a strong head to help steady the defence. 

Stein had made his name in the Scottish game as a strong defender with Albion Rovers in the late 40's, playing just under 100 matches for the Coatbridge side. In 1950 Jock swapped part time football of Cliftonhill & life in the coalmines of Lanarkshire for a professional contract with Llanelly in Wales, but just one year & 44 matches later Stein found himself back in Scottish Football in the East End of Glasgow. 

With 7 players from the 1951 Scottish Cup winning side on the field at kick off the Celtic team was full of big names, but not so much big performances. The fans that made the effort to attend the match in some dismal weather were treated to an enthralling match with superb “inside-forward" play & great goals. 

 Celtic were 2 nil up by half time, thanks to two goals from young forward James Lafferty. James had made his debut 1 week earlier at Celtic Park, and these goals were his first for the club. St Mirren would pull a goal back midway through the 2nd half through their inside-forward Tommy Gemmell. 

 The entertaining match would finish 2-1 to Celtic with Collins & McPhaill taking the plaudits for the home side & Gemmell receiving praise for St Mirren. There was even special mention for Jock Stein in steadying the Celtic defence. 

The season would end in disappointment with Celtic being knocked out the Scottish Cup by Third Lanark & finishing 9th in a league of 16 teams. However, the purchase of an unfancied centre back that season would have an incredible effect on the club in the years to come, it also ignited a friendship that would reshape the history of the club as Jock Stein & Sean Fallon coached the team to an unparalleled period of success in Scottish & European football just 16 years later.

Hillsborough Memorial

On the 30th April 1989 Celtic and Liverpool met at Celtic Park in what was an emotional day for fans of both clubs as they united in grief at the loss of life of 96 Liverpool fans at Hillsborough 2 weeks earlier.

As an 11 year old I watched the events of the opening minutes of the Liverpool v Notting Forrest FA Cup semi final unfold on TV with my dad.     I remember the disbelief in my parents eyes as the reality of the events became clear & the tragic loss of life was reported on news bulletins throughout the evening.

Even though we lived in Glasgow a real sense of sadness & grief was felt in our home for some time after the tragedy.

In the days & weeks after Hillsborough, football matches & results really took on no significance as the people of Liverpool mourned the loss of their sons & daughters as a result of this tragedy.  Anfield became a place for mourners to pay their respects to those who lost their life, as flowers & scarfs were left on the Anfield turf & Kop terracing.

The strength & resilience of the people of Liverpool helped unite their city in grief, as did the actions of the management team & players as they supported the relatives of those families who had lost loved ones.

As some focus moved towards the return to action on the football field, Celtic & Liverpool agreed to play a memorial match at Celtic Park.

My sister picked up tickets to the memorial match & gave me the ticket as a gift for my Confirmation a few days before the match.

I remember approaching the main stand that day & seeing so many different coloured scarfs in & around the stadium as people from across the UK had come to pay their respects.

On getting to our seats, we found we were sitting next to a group of family & friends who had made the trip up from Liverpool for the match.  They were still raw with emotion, but grateful for the welcome given by fans around them on their journey.

Before the match kicked off a Celtic fan lay flowers on the pitch at the Celtic end of the ground & then fans held their scarfs high & joined in a rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone".

Liverpool ran out 4-0 winners on the day, but the purpose of the match was not test who was the better footballing side, but to allow a new chapter to begin as the healing process continued for the people of Liverpool.

Another emotional rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" echoed through Celtic Park & scarfs were swapped between fans once the match was over.

The Liverpool team returned home & looked to turn their attention back to their actions on the football pitch.

I was at a Celtic match with my son towards the end of the season a few years ago & he asked why some fans were walking round the trackside with a huge Liverpool flag.   It took some time to explain what had happened that day in Sheffield & the link between both clubs.

So much has changed in football since the events at Hillsborough in 1989, but the commitment & dignity shown by the families & friends to ensure Justice for the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their life that day should never be overlooked.

ICD Operation & Mental Health Recovery

Hogmanay is normally a time of celebration for families and friends across Scotland, however the bells that welcomed in 2017 rang with a little more trepidation for me.    Earlier that day I had endured/enjoyed a day out at the football with my 2 children watching Celtic come from behind to secure a 2-1 victory against city rival Rangers.   From my seat high in the Broomloan Road stand I had watched my team Celtic secure our first win at Ibrox for a few years.   The pulsating ninety minutes had left many in the 50000 strong crowd checking their heartbeat, but for me, the day brought me a new sensation & worry.


As I made my way to my seat at the very top of the away end at Ibrox, my heart was racing.    Was it the expectation of another Glasgow derby – or was my heart trying to tell me something? 


Shortly after I was born in 1978 I was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot (a combination of four abnormalities of the heart).    The condition meant that I needed 2 operations to help restore my oxygenated blood circulation when I was just 3 and 6 months old.  These procedures were followed up with 4 open heart surgeries (including 3 pulmonary valve replacements) when I was 3, 9, 19 & 31.    It’s fair to say that I am aware of just about every heartbeat.   However, the frenetic sensation in my chest was all very new to me & was very different to the increased heart rate when celebrating a winning goal.


As part of my aftercare with the Scottish adult  congenital service at the golden jubilee hospital I was able to discuss my symptoms with the nurse practitioners who arranged for a 24 hour tracing of my heart.   Unfortunately, no irregularities were identified during the review.    This was simply because my heart never raced out of control when it was being monitored.     Over the next 2 years I continued to feel the strong palpitations in my heart intermittently, until in late December 2018 I visited Glasgow Royal Infirmary after I had experienced a series of palpitations lasting well over 20 minutes.


On admission to the hospital I was diagnosed with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia symptoms.   These were no ordinary palpitations, this was serious and the condition had to be treated immediately.     I was given beta-blockers to treat my extra prominent heartbeat, however my specialist would not allow me to leave hospital until I had been fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.    An ICD is a small device which can treat people with dangerously abnormal heart rhythms.    It sends electrical pulses to regulate abnormal heart rhythms, specifically those that can be dangerous and cause a cardiac arrest.   So, I had to spend Christmas in the hospital and was scheduled for surgery on Friday 28th December 2018, almost 2 years to the day since I first experienced the dangerous heart rhythms.


I was taken to the operating theatre for surgery early in the morning.   The device would be implanted under local anaesthetic and I would be awake during the entire procedure.   This was a particularly unsettling experience, however the surgeon and his team ensured I was comfortable throughout and kept me informed of the progress being made.   I was taken back to my ward to recover and have a bite to eat.    The device was tested to ensure the wires were in position correctly  and could regulate my heart if required.    This was a rather strange sensation feeling  a machine change my heartbeat.


With the operation a success I was discharged from hospital the following day, oddly enough just as Celtic were playing Rangers at Ibrox again for the traditional New Year fixture.   This time I was happy to be in my own home instead of the stadium.


Over the next 4 weeks I had to learn how to adjust physically to my new device, this included sleeping, stretching and getting dressed.    I also watched as the bruising & swelling dwindled during my recovery.     A little over 5 weeks after my operation I returned to work with the support of my employers, colleagues and family. 


I managed to overlook the warning signs that should have directed me to my GP to get my racing heartbeat checked for almost 2 years.    I made a similar mistake later in 2019 as I struggled to deal with the mental impact of the change in my heart condition.


As with all my previous heart operations my focus was on physical recovery, some simple exercises to help loosen the tightness around the reforming muscle and tissue surrounding my newly implanted cardioverter defibrillator.    I was fragile both physically and mentally.   This new stage in my desire to overcome the challenges I faced growing up with a serious heart defect left me questioning everything about myself.    However, I thought the best way to deal with it was to get back to being “me"; family life, work, Celtic  and squeezing in as much of everything else as I possibly could, including socialising, gigs and sporting events.

In reality my response to the operation had overlooked the importance of mending the mental wounds caused by the emergency surgery and the severity of the palpitations I had experienced for the previous couple of years.    I had not sensed denial, empathy or justification for the changes in my condition.    I just accepted it, but never really changed.    I kept going, and did not give adequate attention to healing the unspoken trauma.

During the 11 months after my ICD operation I increased my workload and activities in the office and at home.    The impact was crushing.   I completely lost interest in everything I enjoyed and live for.     Family time, football, Celtic, writing and even work - they all suffered.    I woke up on the morning  of the 10th December and broke down in tears, I had no idea why – I felt numb and I couldn't leave the house.   I took some time off from work hoping it would help, but my indifference only grew.

I tried to focus on healthy eating and some light exercise even some mindfulness techniques, but noticed my focus easily strayed.     I found it hard to speak and even harder to sleep.  I started to experience long spells of anxiety and began counselling sessions, arranged through my employer.   My GP prescribed antidepressants, but I drifted into a dark lonely depression.

I made an appointment with my nurse practitioner at the golden jubilee hospital.   Our discussion covered the last 12 months and more, but the focus was on my actions in the last fortnight.   I broke down as I shared details of my growing anxiety and depression, the images and thoughts that had left me paralysed with fear. 

The importance of speaking to someone became very clear to me.   I have follow up appointments with a clinical psychologist to discuss the next steps with me.   I know that there are no quick fixes and it will not be easy.     However, I also appreciate that mental well being is as crucial as physical health and I will be working hard to repair both.

The strength and patience shown by family and friends during this time has helped me open up and to say “I am not ok”.    I am still frightened, but I have taken the first steps in helping overcome my fears.