Joe Dodds played 378 games for the club in major competitions and Celtic historians including the late, great David Potter, say that they can find no account of him ever having had a bad game.
Joe was part of the ‘holy trinity’ the others being the great Alec McNair and shot stopper Charlie Shaw. A defensive unit that was said to be the best in the UK at the time.
Joe was described as swift and athletic and although a right back by trade he was also just as comfortable at centre back. His pace and strength meant that few forwards if any were able to get the better of him. He also wasn’t afraid to venture forward and possessed a tremendous shot, while also being handy at free kicks, and these attributes made him a terrific footballer, one of the best of his era.
Joe spent 14 years at the club in two different spells whilst also having a stint as an assistant trainer alongside Jimmy McMenemy in 1936. He was a major contributor towards the clubs success in the second decade of the twentieth century despite missing several years after serving on the front line in World War One.
Joe helped the club win eight league titles and three Scottish Cups yet despite this he didn’t receive the international recognition he deserved, much like a lot of Celtic players in various eras.
Dodds earned only three caps despite being one of the best defenders in Britain, something that irked a lot of his fellow professionals. The Celtic supporters though knew how talented Joe Dodds was and were privileged to have him as part of the team. Even to this day he’s still regarded as one of our best ever players, a fine accolade indeed.
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