The incredible story of Alec McNair, Celtic’s Icicle

Perhaps McNair was best suited to hoops, rather than vertical stripes. In August 1903, the Bhoys made the switch to their now famous green-and-white hooped tops, and the following April, Alec McNair signed on as a Celt.

By May 1904, McNair was wearing this shirt in different friendly games, including in Aberdeen and Inverness, and also participated in a European tour. But in a competitive sense, he made his debut for the Bhoys later that year. This was a significant season for the Celts, and a notable part of Scottish football history too.

In September 1904, the Hoops welcomed Queen’s Park to Celtic Park for a Glasgow Cup tie. The home men comfortably disposed of the Spiders with a 3-0 win. Unusually, McNair featured on the left-wing, which was not the position for which he would be known.

This win set the Bhoys on a path to claim the Glasgow Cup, beating Rangers 2-1 the following month to win the trophy for the first time since 1896. It was something of an omen for the season that Celtic were looking to break losing runs.

The Celts had last been Scottish League champions in 1898, meaning they were yet to taste twentieth-century title success. By the end of the league campaign, Celtic and Rangers sat tied on 26 points, unable to be separated.

Unlike now, goal difference or head-to-head records were not used. Instead, a playoff match was held to decide the outcome of that season’s championship. McNair was part of the Celtic team that went to Hampden in May 1905 for this special fixture.

So tense was the game that an English referee – Fred Kirkham – was drafted in to ensure no bias. And it was the Celts that celebrated after a remarkable six minutes in the second half. The Bhoys scored twice in a minute before Rangers quickly halved the deficit, but no equaliser came.

Celtic had won their first title since 1898. And it was a notable moment as the only time that the Scottish League has been decided by a playoff. The one other time that a playoff occurred – in 1891, the League’s first season – a draw between Rangers and Dumbarton led to the title being shared.

This title was certainly not be the last that McNair and the Bhoys enjoyed. In fact, the Celts went on a six-in-a-row League winning run, claiming all leagues up to 1910. This was then a world record, and it would be 1972 before the record was beaten in Scotland, as part of Celtic’s first famous nine-in-a-row run.

During this record-making run, there were numerous notable Celtic moments in which Alec McNair featured.

In April 1907 came a piece of Scottish football history. The Bhoys won the Scottish Cup by beating Hearts then four days later, a victory away to Partick Thistle gave Celtic the title. This was the first time any team had won the League and Scottish Cup double.

In 1909 there was a much more notorious event. The Celts met Rangers in that year’s Scottish Cup Final. After a 2-2 draw, a replayed game also ended in a draw. Fans assumed there would be extra time but instead another replay was ordered. This led to a riot that caused huge damage at Hampden and saw that year’s cup being withdrawn and won by no-one.

In this very successful and celebrated era for Celtic, McNair was an essential part of the team. He was known for his fitness and stamina, and as a strong figure at the heart of Celtic’s defence. So calm and assured was he that he was given a nickname which exemplified this: ‘The Icicle’.

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