1929/30 – John signed for Celtic on 1 May 1929, the report misquoting his middle initial.
“…and J. A. Ferguson, a back from Maryhill Hibs, have been added to the staff.”
He was included in the list of 19 players signed by Celtic for the coming season in the Dundee Evening Telegraph of 24 July 1929, again shown as J. A. Ferguson, height 5-foot 9½ inches tall and weighing 11 stone 9 pounds.
John played in the second pre-season public trial at Celtic Park on Wednesday, 7 August 1929, lining up alongside legends such as Jimmy McStay, Peter Wilson, Paddy Connolly, Alec Thomson and Jimmy McGrory, plus his old Maryhill Hibs teammate Peter Scarff. The team is captured in the historic photograph below, and I believe would have lined up as follows.
John Kelly; John Ferguson & Peter McGonagle;
Peter Wilson, Jimmy McStay & John Donoghue;
Paddy Connolly, Alec Thomson, Jimmy McGrory, Peter Scarff & Peter Kavanagh.
Note that the photo caption above is incorrect. Names should read as follows.
Back row: John Donoghue, John Ferguson, Jimmy McStay, John Kelly, Peter McGonagle & Peter Wilson.
Front row: Alec Thomson, Paddy Connolly, Jimmy McGrory, Peter Kavanagh & Peter Scarff.
This was the opposition line-up for that trial match, the most recognisable face being that of goalkeeper John Thomson, although a young Chic Geatons is also standing on the right of the back row, whilst John’s Maryhill Hibs teammates Willie Gray and Joe Riley are seated at the front.
Sadly, John suffered an injury during that trial match, which cost him his place in the opening League game of the season against Hearts three days later, on the day the new (current) main stand was opened at Celtic Park. John was listed at right-back in the match programme that day, which was a unique piece of history in itself as it was the first ever produced by the club, but it was a young Chic Geatons who played against Hearts in his place.
As a very occasional article writer for the Star and a Dalmuir man, this article was ( almost literally ) right up my street. Thank you
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Cheers, Eugene. Much appreciated. There is a further development on that story, just yesterday, so watch this space!
Nice read Matt, I love reading these stories on lesser known players in the hoops and the thought that my Da may have heard or read about them at the time.
Cheers, Tam. That’s very kind of you. Yes it’s important that these stories are discovered and shared. I actually found out some more detail on this story yesterday so watch this space!