Jack would spend just one season at the Vetch Field, scoring one League goal in twelve appearances, before heading back north at the outbreak of war to join Queen of the South. With the Scottish League abandoned in early September after just five matches, the new Western Regional League would see Connor make a return trip to his first love on Saturday, 4 November 1939, scoring twice as his Dumfries side beat Celtic 3-0, consigning the Hoops to the bottom of the table, pointless after three games. He would enjoy a tremendous first season there, as the Doonhammers chased Rangers all the way before, ironically, a 3-1 home defeat by Celtic in April swung the Regional title towards Govan. Celtic’s stance against fielding guest players would be a factor in their final position of thirteenth from sixteen teams.
Having done so well in 1939/40, strangely Queen of the South did not feature again for six seasons in the Regional League, thus it is unclear if or where Jack played competitive football during this period. He would finish his career after the war with short spells at second-tier Alloa Athletic and St Johnstone, before return to his junior side, St Roch’s, as manager, in 1948. Thus Jack’s career circle was complete.
Jack remained friendly with Jimmy McGrory until the great man died in October 1982, his grandson Joe advising me that he was one of the last visitors to Jimmy’s bedside. Connor himself passed away some twelve years later, in June 1994, aged 82. He is back in God’s garden again.
Whilst I have known his grandson Joe, a wonderful Celtic man, for thirty years or so, Jack’s legacy now lives on in the next generation, through his great-grandson Ciaran. He is one of those dedicated fans who travel all over the world to support the team. I have had the pleasure of meeting him on one or two of those trips recently, and he was also present in the Brazen Head at the last @Italian Celts function I attended, belting out ‘Bella Ciao’ with the best of them. In the photos of Jack in his Plymouth days in particular, the resemblance between him and young Ciaran is uncanny.
