From Parkhead to John O’Groats…
At the end of the 1934-35 season, the Bhoys took part in a north of Scotland tour, taking in different sites and playing three games too. A host of famous Celtic names wore the Hoops, including Jimmy McGrory, Jimmy Delaney and Tommy McInally.
As well as promoting football in the region, the main purpose of these matches was to support various local charities. In fact, one contemporary newspaper praised Celtic’s benevolence, describing them as “doing real missionary work,” especially after a recent Forfar trip for the same purpose.
Celtic’s first destination was Inverness. A long train journey from Glasgow took the Bhoys to Thistle Park in the town (also known as Kingsmills Park), the home ground of Inverness Thistle. They were one part of the merger which later created Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The Bhoys’ opponents were not the usual home team. Instead they faced a North of Scotland Select, bringing together players from various sides, including Inverness Thistle, Elgin City and Ross County. This match was held in aid of the Inverness Charity Football Association.
On a stormy night, thousands of fans were still encouraged to come and watch Glasgow’s green-and-white men. Within 15 minutes, the home team’s defensive attempts failed when McInally put the Celts one up. Although the north men fought back, Hugh O’Donnell made it 2-0 just before half-time.
Any resistance that the hosts had shown in the first period collapsed after the interval. Celtic – described as “superior in every department” by one newspaper – extended their lead thanks to goals from Delaney and McGrory (2).
Despite the Bhoys being up north, club business continued in Glasgow. Whilst the team and manager were in Inverness, chairman Tom White completed the signing of defender Willie Lyons, who went on to be a club captain.
The following day, Celtic’s journey took them further north, this time heading to Brora. However before they reached the Highland town, they made a tourist stop at Golspie where they were greeted with a green-and-white banner proclaiming ‘Welcome Celtic’. The players also visited Dunrobin Castle.
Later that day – playing at Dudgeon Park – they faced a Sutherland Select. The match proved to be even easier than the Inverness match, indeed it was the Bhoys’ biggest win of the tour. In a “rare exhibition of the finer points of the game”, as one local ‘paper phrased it, Celtic took a five-goal first half lead.
McGrory added two more goals to his record, with Willie Buchan, Johnny Crum and O’Donnell putting their name on the scoresheet. In the second half, another O’Donnell strike and the completion of McGrory’s hat-trick made it 7-1, with Miller of the local team getting “the home side’s crumb of comfort.”
By the following day, the expedition continued, firstly travelling to the very north of Scotland. Before playing the third and final match, Celtic’s team were taken on a motor tour to John O’Groats, the northerly most point in mainland Britain.
The next stage of the journey finally sent Celtic in the direction of Glasgow, with one more stop. The Bhoys went to Wick – playing Celtic’s most northerly ever match in Scotland – and faced local team Wick Academy at Harmsworth Park.
The weather was anything but welcoming. Match reports described a “bitterly cold north wind” as dominating proceedings. In fact, Celtic goalkeeper James Foley was said to be so cold that he “had a travelling rug wrapped around him” for much of the game!
Unlike the previous two fixtures, Celtic found this match much harder going, due in part to the local climate. McGrory opened the scoring after half an hour, but with five minutes remaining it was still 1-0. At this point, Delaney got a second, and ensured a Celtic victory, their third of the tour.
Celtic’s commitment to travelling far and wide around Scotland in aid of local causes was a reminder of the club’s charitable roots. As one newspaper said, The Celts’ “sporting gesture of travelling so far north to play in aid of local charity is greatly appreciated.”
Hopefully Celtic are not quite so generous to their northern hosts today, and return home bringing all three points – and a few goals –with them.
Matthew Marr
Hail Hail History for Hallowe’en on The Celtic Star…
Matthew’s debut Celtic book – The Bould Bhoys Glory to their name which tells the untold story of Celtic first ever league title win was published earlier this year by Celtic Star Books and is available in hardback HERE and also on Amazon Kindle for just £3.49 HERE. Follow Matthew on X/Twitter @hailhailhistory
