I was shown a photo yesterday of Celtic skipper Jimmy McStay and the Hakoah All-Stars captain meeting before a game played in New York City in 1931 and asked if I knew anything about that match.
Well, the short answer is yes, as it’s included in a book which I’ve been working on for several months covering Celtic in the 1930s, a fascinating period in the club’s history, with so many triumphs and tragedies featuring some of our greatest-ever players.
This 1931 photo is from “Football Under The Yellow Star” by Frantisek Steiner. The book is on the league that was organised between 1943 and 1944 in the Theresienstadt Ghetto. Mahrer survived the Holocaust although his brothers Kurt and Otto were murdered in Auschwitz. pic.twitter.com/p4YQmabkAY
— pat don (@patdon801) June 28, 2022
“This 1931 photo is from “Football Under The Yellow Star” by Frantisek Steiner. The book is on the league that was organised between 1943 and 1944 in the Theresienstadt Ghetto. Mahrer survived the Holocaust although his brothers Kurt and Otto were murdered in Auschwitz,” pat don tweeted.
I’ve attached an extract from the manuscript which covers that game in some detail, but I’d also like to put something out there. The book is a work in progress but already it includes anecdotes from friends and family about events and characters of the time.
For example, a city centre vigil on the night John Thomson fought for his life and recollections from the grandson of a Celt who played beside the great McGrory and indeed became his lifelong friend. Anecdotes such as these add real value to any historical account and ensure that events are captured forever. It is my intention to ensure that every Celt who pulled on the famous Hoops during that decade is mentioned so if you have memories of hearing stories from perhaps your dad or grand-dad or have any photographs to share from Celtic in the 1930s then please email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and we will endeavour to include them.
As a taster, here is an extract from the famous summer tour of 1931.
My grandfather was part of the crowd who gathered at the dockside to wish Celtic well as they left to go on this tour.
There is a wonderful photograph of him with the team resplendent in plus fours and bunnets emblazoned CFC.