Johnny Crum
The game in Maryhill was just a third Celtic start for Johnny Crum. He had replaced Bertie Thomson on the right-flank, following the winger’s transfer to Blackpool a few days earlier. Bertie liked to ‘live life to the full’, as they say, which would bring him into regular conflict with manager Willie Maley. He had been the Scottish Cup final hero of 1931, setting up the last-gasp equaliser in the first match with Motherwell before matching McGrory’s double in the replay, a 4-2 victory for Celtic. He had also been providing the service from the right-wing in the Hampden rematch two years later, as the great man won the trophy for Celtic again.
However, in between times, he had fallen out with Maley, who was concerned over his ‘unsatisfactory play and physical condition.’ Such disputes at Celtic tended to end one way, with the player leaving, which is exactly what he did, on 21 August 1933. Thomson would spend just one season in Lancashire before heading north to join that same Motherwell side, returning to Celtic Park with the Steelmen on Saturday, 8 December 1934, beside another former Bhoy, John McMenemy, son of the legendary ‘Napoleon’.
Both men were received warmly by the home crowd, Bertie presented with a horseshoe adorned in both club colours by his previous fans. However, such kindness would not extend beyond the referee’s whistle, as Motherwell would then be beaten 3-2. Bertie would retire shortly after this, at 27, his lifestyle excesses prematurely ending his career then his life. He would die suddenly from heart failure in Glasgow three years later, on 17 September 1937, just two months into his third decade and on the third birthday of his daughter. Yet another tragedy in a period where grief had become a regular visitor to those with Celtic Football Club in their hearts.
Three days after the 3-0 defeat of Partick Thistle, Saturday, 26 August 1933, Celts were on the road again, this down heading for Ayrshire and a match with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The only change in the Hoops side would see Jack Connor replace Hugh O’Donnell, in an attack comprising four players who would feature at centre-forward for the Bhoys at one time or another, Crum, McGrory, Frank O’Donnell and Connor himself. Alec Thomson was the exception in that sense.
On a scorching hot day, left-back Peter McGonagle put the visitors ahead from a trademark free-kick, after McGrory had been fouled at the edge of the box. Kilmarnock equalised within four minutes through Williamson before Connor’s moment of glory arrived, in the closing stages of the first half, McGrory failing to connect with Crum’s cross but his fellow Garngad man making no mistake to restore the lead, his first goal for Celtic. Incredibly, that lead would be gone before the interval, Killie hitting back with two goals in 60 seconds, Maxwell then Liddell beating Joe Kennaway to send the hosts into the break 3-2 ahead. They would again dominate the second period without adding to their lead before a mistake between the Celtic keeper and McGonagle with eight minutes to play allowed Liddell a tap-in for his second of the day. Crum reduced the deficit from close-range near the end, however, it would be too little, too late.
Jack Connor would retain his place in the team for the trip to face Third Lanark at Cathkin in midweek, a first round Glasgow Cup-tie. Maley did shuffle his pack with three changes, 18-year-old Willie Buchan getting his second start following the opening day defeat in Dumfries as Alec Thomson dropped out, Charlie Napier filling the other inside-forward slot at the expense of Frank O’Donnell and Peter Wilson coming in for Malcolm MacDonald at right-half.
The first half was goalless with Napier giving Celts the lead five minutes after the restart, with a fine solo effort, Johnny Crum adding a second on the hour mark before Peter McGonagle missed a penalty, his shot hitting the post after the referee had spotted a handball. Hasson then kept the hosts in the tie at 2-1 before a second goal from Crum with four minutes remaining and a last-minute counter from Jimmy McGrory set the Hoops up for a semi-final clash with Rangers. Jack Connor would thus get to enjoy his first taste of victory as a Celt that night.
Three days later, Saturday, 2 September 1933, Jack would make his home debut, Celtic Park the fourth different venue in his four appearances in the first team. Hearts were the visitors as Maley fielded an unchanged line-up, both Johnny Crum and Jack Connor struggling on the day in their unaccustomed wide roles, whilst Jimmy McGrory found the Edinburgh side’s keeper, Wembley Wizard, Jack Harkness, in sensational form. Despite incessant pressure from Celtic, the game would end a disappointing 0-0.
