John ‘Yogi ‘Hughes – Celtic Milestones

Yogi milestones…

More sad news last night with the passing of John Hughes following a short illness. The man known as Yogi to Celtic fans of a certain vintage made over 400 appearances for his boyhood club, scoring nearly 200 goals in the Hoops between 1960 and 1971. Here is a look at some of those career landmarks.

Debut & first goal – Saturday, 13 August 1960

Opening game of season 1960/61 sees 17-year-old John Hughes make his Celtic debut in a League Cup tie against Third Lanark at Parkhead, having impressed earlier that week by scoring in the annual pre-season trial match at the same venue. Yogi missed a great early chance but opened the scoring for Celtic with a header from Bertie Peacock’s cross five minutes after the restart. Neil Mochan added a second late on in a 2-0 win.

Haffey; MacKay & Kennedy; Crerand, McNeill & Peacock; Carroll, Chalmers, Hughes, Mochan & Divers.

First goal against Rangers – Saturday, 20 August 1960

In just his third first-team appearance, Yogi scored Celtic’s third goal at Ibrox just before half-time to put the Hoops 3-1 up in the League Cup sectional match. The game would end 3-2.

Haffey; MacKay & Kennedy; Crerand, McNeill & Peacock; Carroll, Chalmers, Hughes, Divers & Mochan.

First League goal – Saturday, 20 August 1960

Yogi beats former Celtic keeper Rolando Ugolini to equalise at Tannadice against a Dundee United side featuring recent recruit from Parkhead Neil Mochan. The match ended 1-1.

Haffey; MacKay & Kennedy; Crerand, McNeill & Peacock; Conway, Chalmers, Hughes, Divers & Auld.

First Scottish Cup goal – Saturday, 11 February 1961

Yogi hits a first-half double, as Celtic destroy Second Division Montrose 6-0 in the second round tie at Celtic Park.

Haffey; MacKay & Kennedy; Crerand, McNeill & Peacock; Gallagher, Divers, Hughes, Chalmers & Byrne.

First goal at Hampden – Saturday, 1 April 1961

Yogi grabs another first-half brace as Celtic finished the semi-final clash with Airdrieonians before half-time, scoring four goals without reply.

Haffey; MacKay & Kennedy; Crerand, McNeill & Clark; Gallagher, Fernie, Hughes, Chalmers & Byrne.

First major cup final – Saturday, 22 April 1961

Not a happy occasion as Jock Stein leads Dunfermline Athletic to a 2-0 victory in the midweek replay following a goalless draw at Hampden on the Saturday.

Haffey; MacKay & Kennedy; Crerand, McNeill & Clark; Gallagher, Fernie, Hughes, Chalmers & Byrne.

First hat-trick – Saturday, 14 October 1961

Yogi’s first hat-trick helps Celtic to a 5-0 win over Stirling Albion in a one-sided League clash at Celtic Park on the day Glen Daly’s ‘Celtic Song’ is first played by the stadium announcer.

Haffey; MacKay & Kennedy; Crerand, McNeill & Price; Chalmers, Jackson, Hughes, Divers & Carroll.

European debut & first goals – Tuesday, 17 September 1963

Celtic’s first match in the European Cup-Winners’ Cup against FC Basel in Switzerland is a personal triumph for Yogi as he becomes the first Celt to hit a hat-trick in continental competition. John Divers and Bobby Lennox are also on target in a 5-1 win.

Haffey; MacKay & Gemmell; McNamee, McNeill & Clark; Lennox, Divers, Hughes, Chalmers & Brogan.

European clincher in Bratislava – Wednesday, 4 March 1964

With five minutes remaining in Bratislava and Celtic hanging desperately on to a 1-0 lead from the first leg, Yogi picks the ball up on the halfway line, outpaces the Slovan defence and slots home the winner to send the Hoops into the semi-final of the European Cup-Winners’ Cup at our first attempt.

Fallon; Young & Gemmell; Clark, McNeill & Kennedy; Johnstone, Murdoch, Chalmers, Divers & Hughes.

White Sannie Day – Saturday, 30 January 1965

One of the most memorable Yogi days of all, as wearing ‘white sannies’ on the icy Parkhead surface he scores five goals in Celtic’s 8-0 win over Aberdeen.

Fallon; Young & Gemmell; Clark, McNeill & Brogan; Chalmers, Murdoch, Hughes, Lennox & Auld.

First major winner’s medal – Saturday, 24 April 1965

The day it all changed. Two goals from Bertie Auld and a late winner from Billy McNeill secure Celtic’s first major trophy since October 1957, as Dunfermline Athletic are beaten 3-2 in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden.

Fallon; Young & Gemmell; Murdoch, McNeill & Clark; Chalmers, Gallagher, Hughes, Lennox & Auld.

Yogi’s double wins the League Cup – Saturday, 23 October 1965

Two first-half penalty conversions from Yogi bring the League Cup home for the first time since ‘Hampden in the Sun’ back in October 1957. Rangers are again the opposition in a match often remembered for the pitch invasion by their supporters which marred Celtic’s lap of honour after the final whistle.

Simpson; Young & Gemmell; Murdoch, McNeill & Clark; Johnstone, Gallagher, McBride, Lennox & Hughes.

The Road to Lisbon – 1966/67

Yogi plays his part in Celtic’s most famous success, with appearances against Zurich, Vojvodina and Dukla Prague on the road to Lisbon. Below, Yogi heads to congratulate Jimmy Johnstone after the winger has given Celts the lead against Dukla at Celtic Park in the semi-final first leg.

Simpson; Craig & Gemmell; Murdoch, McNeill & Clark; Johnstone, Wallace, Chalmers, Auld & Hughes.

Another League Cup final goal – Saturday, 28 October 1967

Yogi scores Celtic’s second goal in a 5-3 win over Dundee which saw the Hoops retain the League Cup for the third successive season.

Simpson; Craig & Gemmell; Murdoch, McNeill & Clark; Chalmers, Lennox, Wallace, Auld (O’Neill) & Hughes.

Yogi scores his only international goal – Saturday, 24 February 1968

Yogi scores Scotland’s equaliser from a Bobby Lennox cross after Martin Peters had given world champions England the lead in a crucial European Championship qualifier at Hampden.

Simpson; Gemmell & McCreadie; McNeill, McKinnon & Greig; Cooke, Bremner, Hughes, Johnston & Lennox.

The Road to Milan – 1969/70

Yogi plays a huge part in Celtic’s second European Cup final run, three years after Lisbon, with appearances against Basel, Benfica, Fiorentina, Leeds United and Feyenoord. Highlight was his stunning flying header in the semi-final second leg which brought Celtic level on the night and put us ahead overall in the tie in front of the biggest crowd ever to watch a European club competition match.

Williams; Hay & Gemmell; Murdoch, McNeill & Brogan; Johnstone, Connelly, Hughes, Auld & Lennox.

Final goal for Celtic – Saturday, 21 August 1971

Yogi breaks the deadlock as Celtic beat Ayr United 30-0 at Somerset Park in a League Cup sectional match.

Williams; McGrain & Hay; Murdoch, McNeill & Connelly; Johnstone, Lennox, Dalglish, Callaghan & Hughes.

Final game for Celtic – Wednesday, 29 September 1971

Yogi comes off the bench for the second half of the European Cup first round second leg against B1903 Copenhagen at Celtic Park to make his final appearance for the club before a move to Crystal Palace. With the tie level at 2-2, Yogi sees his penalty kick saved before late strikes from Tommy Callaghan and Willie Wallace seal Celtic’s place in the next round.

Williams; Craig & Brogan; Hay; McNeill & Connelly; Johnstone, Lennox (Hughes), Wallace, Callaghan & Macari.

Thanks for the memories, Yogi. May you rest in peace.

Matt Corr

Photos courtesy of The Celtic Wiki.

About Author

Having retired from his day job Matt Corr can usually be found working as a Tour Guide at Celtic Park, or if there is a Marathon on anywhere in the world from as far away as Tokyo or New York, Matt will be running for the Celtic Foundation. On a European away-day, he's there writing his Diary for The Celtic Star and he's currently completing his first Celtic book with another two planned.

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