Celtic Send Scouts to Watch Striker Ahead of January Transfer Window

Celtic Send Scouts to Watch Striker Ahead of January Transfer Window

Celtic’s scouting network is showing no signs of slowing as the club continues to monitor Danish forward Mathias Kvistgaarden.

According to Danish outlet Tipsbladet, Celtic representatives were at Brøndby’s recent match against FC Nordsjælland, where Kvistgaarden put in another solid performance.

The 22-year-old attacker, who has already notched 10 goals and 4 assists this season, is proving to be a versatile asset capable of playing both on the wing and as a central striker.

Celtic’s interest in Kvistgaarden dates back about two years, a clear sign of the club’s sustained interest in the young Danish talent. Despite bolstering their frontline with the summer signing of Adam Idah and the presence of prolific forward Kyogo Furuhashi, Celtic are seemingly intent on further enhancing their attacking options.

Kyogo has attracted interest from Manchester City, where he’s reportedly on a shortlist as a potential replacement for Julian Alvarez. Although there’s no imminent indication of Kyogo leaving, the prospect underlines why Celtic might be considering future-proofing their attack with the addition of Kvistgaarden.

10th November 2024; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic and Adam Idah of Celtic embrace after the match

If signed, Kvistgaarden would not only add depth but also provide Celtic with tactical flexibility, given his ability to operate across the front line.

The Danish forward’s physicality, combined with a natural eye for goal, makes him a good fit for the Scottish game and a potential successor should Kyogo eventually move on.

Daniel Cummings can become the first since Champagne Charlie Nicholas

Daniel Cummings of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Youth League 2024/25 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Lesser Hampden on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Surely a new improved contract is in the works for Daniel Cummings. We must learn from our past mistakes when it comes letting young talent go…

Daniel Cummings of Celtic scores his team’s third goal during the UEFA Youth League 2024/25 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Lesser Hampden on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Young Daniel Cummings is a player who is becoming well known to the Celtic supporters due to his displays for the Celtic B side.

Impressive 20 goals in just 18 appearances

The young striker has scored an impressive 20 goals in just 18 appearances across all competitions this season, including of course four goals in as many games at UEFA Champions League youth level.

The 18 year old Scottish youth international will no doubt have caught the eye of Brendan Rodgers and will be pushing to make his first team debut at some point this season.

Daniel Cummings of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Youth League 2024/25 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Lesser Hampden on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

On the other hand he will also have a host of other clubs looking at him namely from down south, something that tends to happen to a large majority of our talented youth players.

Cummings is out of contract next summer

Daniel is out of contract next summer and it’s imperative that we offer him a new deal and do all we can to prevent him leaving for next to nothing, the same as the likes of Aidan Borland and Ben Doak. And don’t get me started on Daniel Kelly and Rocco Vata.

Charlie Nicholas comparisons 

It’s been quite some time since we’ve had a talented youngster come through the ranks, especially a striker and we should be doing all we can to keep him at the club. Who was the last striker to make the breakthrough and make a major impact? Charlie Nicholas perhaps.

New Arsenal players Charlie Nicholas (r) and goalkeeper John Lukic pictured with manager Terry Neill on the Highbury pitch after their summer moves from Glasgow Celtic and Leeds in July, 1983 (Photo by Murrell/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive)

I know sometimes it’s out of the hands of the club, but just for once it would be good to see one of our talented youngsters stay put and learn their trade in here in Glasgow.

Transfer Gossip – Celtic set to sign Motherwell star Lennon Miller in £5.3m deal

IMAGO / Shutterstock Greg Taylor of Celtic with Lennon Miller of Motherwell. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Lennon Miller to Celtic for £5.3m is the first major transfer rumour of the January window that we’ve reported on anyway. Here’s the story, make of it what you will…

Lennon Miller in action against Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

The Fitbaw Gospel account on Facebook always coms across as sensible and certainly not sensationalist so when they claim to have an exclusive story it’s worthy of a mention, especially when it all seems to make perfect sense.

They are saying that both Celtic and theRangers want to sign Motherwell’s teenage talent Lennon Miller in January and have supplied details on the valuations that both clubs appear to have for the player.

Apparently theRangers ceiling is £3.5m plus add-ons and they aren’t willing to go beyond that. This appears to be ‘inadequate’ as far as Motherwell position is concerned.

Meanwhile Celtic are apparently preparing a £5.3m bid for Lennon Miller with add-ons that could take the deal up to £6.5m depending on overall appearances, Champions League appearances and title wins. Celtic are also offering a substantial sell-on fee with The Fitbaw Gospel pointing out that Motherwell are well aware that Celtic have a much better record at achieving high transfer fees that the latest Ibrox club.

And there’s more, the Celtic deal will include a loan-back to Motherwell for six months so the player will be able to play for the Fir Park side all season but crucially Motherwell will receive the cash in January.

Lennon Miller of Motherwell hit the post. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

There’s a mention that Celtic are keen on getting this deal done before Premier League interest in the player grows, with both Liverpool and Newcastle quoted.

Motherwell’s valuation according to this account is around £8m but with Celtic offering a 20% sell-on clause and with the Parkhead club’s excellent track record, this deal appears to tick all the boxes. If this deal goes through then it will be the most expensive deal ever between two Scottish clubs, beating the £4.5m Celtic paid to Hibs when Scott Brown was signed.

Lennon Miller of Motherwell hit the bar. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Here’s the text from The Fitbaw Gospel’s Post…

EXCLUSIVE: Celtic FC are set to blow Rangers FC (sic)out the water in the pursuit of Motherwell star Lennon Miller. Both of Glasgow’s big two are keen to sign the highly rated 18 year old.

Rangers have enquired about the midfielder but aren’t willing to go above £3.5m (+add ons), which Motherwell believe to be inadequate.

Celtic on the other hand are prepared to make the teenager the most expensive signing between two Scottish clubs OF ALL TIME.

The Hoops are preparing a £5.3m January bid (including add ons that could take it over £6.5m depending on appearances, Champions League appearances and title wins, as well as a healthy sell-on fee as a sweetener).

They will also offer him back to Motherwell on a 6-month loan deal to get it over the line – meaning he won’t move to Parkhead until the summer but the Fir Park club will get the cash upfront in January
Celtic are keen to get the deal done before next summer when the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle could make a move.

Motherwell believe he is worth around £8m but will likely be swayed by the sell on fee (believed to be around 20%) with Celtic’s recent record of selling players for around £20m+
A £5.3m deal alone would put him ahead of Scott Brown (Hibs to Celtic for £4.5m), Duncan Ferguson (Dundee United to Rangers for £4m) and David Turnbull (Motherwell to Celtic for £3.75m) as the most expensive player ever to move between two Scottish clubs.

Celtic transfer meeting ‘wanted’ as officials fly in

Celtic’s dressing room

Celtic chiefs are reportedly wanted for imminent transfer talks, according to a report.

Internacional officials are believed to be planning face-to-face discussions with the Scottish Premiership champions in order to thrash out a deal for Alexandro Bernabei.

The left-back may have failed to make the desired impact in Scotland, but he’s proving a hit in South America.

Since joining the Brazilian outfit on loan back in March, Bernabei has scored three goals, and made four assists in his 30 appearances.

As a result, Internacional want to turn his loan into a permanent deal.

Celtic aren’t likely to be difficult to deal with, as Brendan Rodgers clearly didn’t fancy the Argentine defender.

That said, it’s believed the Hoops have slapped a valuation of over £8m on his head.

That could be off-putting for the Brazilians.

And the Scottish Sun reports that officials from Inter are due to fly into Europe for several recruitment meetings – some of which will involve discussing Bernabei’s situation.

His Parkhead contract is due to expire in the summer of 2027, with his loan in Brazil up next month.

So, Inter will now attempt to talk the Hoops into cutting their losses on Bernabei, who was signed from Lanus for £3.75m in 2022.

He’s made just 28 appearances in Celtic colours since Ange Postecoglou brought him to the club.

As well as Kuhn: £10m Celtic man wanted by Brazilian giant as talks planned

Celtic could be set for another transfer windfall after it emerged that another of their players is catching the eye across the Atlantic, with talks over a potential permanent exit from Celtic Park now planned.

Nicolas Kuhn a man in demand

Brendan Rodgers’ side have enjoyed an almost perfect start to their season, sitting top of the Scottish Premiership and surprising plenty in the Champions League.

Celtic are yet to lose this season aside from their 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Borussia Dortmund, and are level with Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish top flight, while a famous win over RB Leipzig helped them move into contention for qualification for the next round of Champions League action at the midway stage of the league phase.

Central to their success has been Nicolas Kuhn, who has begun the season in the form of his life. The 24-year-old has grabbed 10 goals and 11 assists in just 17 outings this season, including two against RB Leipzig to help them come from a goal down to win 3-1.

His exploits have not gone unnoticed, with Brentford among the clubs credited with an interest in the forward ahead of a potential January swoop just 12 months on from his arrival at Celtic Park.

Should he depart, Celtic would likely demand close to a record fee to allow him to leave mid-season – a figure that currently stands at the £25m they received for Matt O’Riley over the summer.

Now, there is another deal that they could look to strike in January.

Brazilian giant planning talks over Celtic outcast

That comes as per a report from The Scottish Sun, which reveals that Brazilian giants Internacional are plotting talks over a move to sign Celtic outcast Alexandro Bernabei on a permanent deal.

Bernabei joined Celtic in the summer of 2022, but never managed to nail down a starting spot for the Bhoys and was quickly shipped out on loan to Brazil. Still just 24 years old, the Argentina U21 international revitalised his career on loan with Internacional in South America, becoming one of the best full-backs in the division and turning plenty of heads.

Alexandro Bernabei in Brazilian Serie A 2024

Appearances

19

Goals

3

Assists

4

Yellow Cards

3

Now, Internacional want to sign him permanently, and are ready to open talks with Celtic to do so. Indeed, it is claimed that “they are due to fly to Europe for several recruitment meetings and want to discuss Bernabei’s situation with the Parkhead side”, with Bernabei’s deal set to expire in the new year when the Brazilian season comes to a close.

It is added that Celtic have slapped a mammoth £10m price tag on his head – something that would be a record signing for the Brazilian side, suggesting that a compromise may be needed to reach an agreement.

On Monday, social media was ablaze with a video that allegedly showed English referee Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former boss, Jurgen Klopp.

Unless you have been living under a rock or you don’t use the crazy world of social media, then it has taken the football media by storm in the last 24 hours.

What’s interesting is that Coote officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday evening at Anfield.

The video itself hasn’t been verified, nor does anyone know any background to it or when it was possibly filmed, but it has been widely criticised.

McCoist was sharing his thoughts on the matter by taking the debate ‘north of the border’ between Celtic and Rangers.

The Glasgow derby is one of the biggest games in football, McCoist was part of it for several years as a player and now he watches it from afar as a supporter.

Ally McCoist defends referees supporting Celtic or Rangers amid David Coote Liverpool video

Whether in England or Scotland, the media or the fans don’t know who officials support or grew up following as a kid – this isn’t made public by the people in charge.

As a result, it opens up the door for conspiracy theorists to guess and they normally go down the road of that particular ref supporting their rivals because he might have made glaring errors against them.

McCoist feels it ‘isn’t important’ to know who a referee supports and he ‘doesn’t have a problem’ with a referee from Scotland supporting either Celtic or Rangers, as he told talkSPORT.

“I don’t think it’s important,” responded McCoist on if it’s important to know who a referee supports. “Correct (because we are talking about integrity).

“Let’s take it north of the border, you would suggest that there would be numerous officials either supporting Rangers or Celtic, as they are the two biggest clubs in the country. Don’t have a problem with it. It wouldn’t interest me who they support. If they wanted to tell you who they supported or asked who they supported, and they told you. I wouldn’t have a problem with it.

“Once you start questioning the integrity, honesty and decision-making of the officials, that’s where you have a problem.”

McCoist dismisses suggestion referees favoured Rangers against Celtic

Celtic will meet Rangers in the Scottish Cup final on December 15 at Hampden, before their Premiership showdown on January 2 at Ibrox.

Expect fireworks during both of those matches because Celtic are flying high and only Aberdeen have been able to keep up with their relentless pace so far.

McCoist was asked when he was playing if he ever felt that an official was favouring Rangers over Celtic and he was pretty clear in his response.

“No, no. Never,” insisted McCoist. “Never. Never. I might have had referees where I felt they hadn’t given us a fair crack of the whip with decisions. But I never believed for a minute that they were supporters of the opposition.”

Celtic told they’ve landed a Champions League upgrade as Rangers warned over possible UEFA punishment

The latest headlines from Premiership heavyweights Celtic and Rangers

Scottish champions Celtic are in scintillating form, both domestically where they sit top of the table with a near perfect 10 wins and one draw from 11 matches, and in Europe where they have also managed seven Champions League points from a possible 12, leaving them on course to achieve a play-off finish at the half-way stage of the league phase.

In years gone by, Celtic have often struggled to translate their dominant domestic form onto the European stage, but pundit man Michael Stewart believes it is a very different story this season due to the club’s astute business in the summer transfer window.

Overall, boss Brendan Rodgers brought in eight new recruits, with Stewart describing former Sheffield United man Auston Trusty as the pick of the bunch to elevate the club’s European hopes.

Stewart waxed lyrical about the USA international’s defensive qualities and told the Scottish Football Social Club: “The beauty about Trusty as well, (he’s) predominantly left-sided, but we’ve seen him with Scales, he is comfortable enough to go and play on that right-hand side.

“Liam Scales has done brilliant; you’d have no qualms about him playing because you look at him and Trusty playing together in Bergamo against Atalanta, and they were both outstanding.

“But, you’ve got to say that as good as Scales has been, it was the area where people were looking at and saying, Celtic, if they could upgrade in that position, it would be hugely beneficial for Europe.

“At the moment, that athleticism from Trusty certainly suits that Celtic side and looks like it’s going to help them in Europe.”

Trusty has started 10 league matches for the Hoops since arriving from Bramall Lane and has been on the winning side on eight occasions. In that time, his team have kept five clean sheets while also recording a memorable victory over RB Leipzig in Europe.

Rangers ‘at risk’ of UEFA punishment

Football expert Dan Plumley has told Ibrox News that Rangers must take better control of their outgoing costs after publishing a £17.2m pre-tax loss.

Plumey believes Rangers are steering dangerously close to breaking UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules and has urged the clubs to act with caution.

As it stands, European football’s governing body currently Financial Fair Play rules allow 85 per cent of revenue of outgoing revenue to be made as player wages and amortisation but are looking to cut that down to 70 per cent in their updated guidelines.

The governing body gives clubs a maximum of five years to amortise transfer fees in their account. Possible penalties for breaching UEFA’s FFP rules currently include fines, the withholding of prize money, transfer bans or disqualification from European competitions.

Plumey told the outlet: “One other interesting takeaway linked to the European side of things and UEFA’s new regulations. Their football cost at the minute loosely from what we can see in the accounts, player wages and player amortisation is about 85 per cent of revenue, and we know that UEFA are looking at getting that marker down to 70 per cent by the 2025-26 season. So, there is a little bit of work to do there and be mindful of the cost.”

There was really no need for the Northern Irishman to consider if his side would have prevailed at the Ayrshire venue a year ago had they played within themselves as they did on Sunday. The record books show that twice, in fact, they did not.

You look back at those losses away to Kilmarnock in the Premier Sports Cup in August and in the Premiership last December now, though, and they say much about the evolution of the side under the manager.

Even allowing for the exertions of beating RB Leipzig last Tuesday, the visitors were unconvincing at the weekend. Kilmarnock played better than they had done in any match against the Parkhead side in recent memory. Still Celtic found a way to get the job done.

In every conceivable sense, Rodgers’ men are in a better place from this point last season. They had 29 points in the Premiership after the first round of fixtures. Now they have 31. By this juncture in 2023, they’d one point from four Champions League games. This time they have seven.

That painful early exit from the League Cup summed up a difficult start to Rodgers’ second spell in charge. On December 15, Celtic will hope to extend their sparkling start to the campaign by defeating Rangers at Hampden.

Brendan Rodgers salutes the travelling fans after a hard-fought encounter at Rugby Park

McGregor’s goal set Celtic on their way to victory on the back of midweek European success

Nicolas Kuhn continued his electric start to the season by scoringCeltic’s second at Kilmarnock

There’s no great secret to why the Scottish champions have kicked on. Throughout a fraught but ultimately productive summer transfer window, Rodgers repeatedly made the case for better players.

In landing Kasper Schmeichel, Adam Idah, Auston Trusty, Alex Valle, Arne Engels and Luke McCowan, the manager got the desired backing of his board.

He’s already justified that faith. With the final international break of the year now upon us, Rodgers has lost just one of 18 matches.

And as brutal as that reverse in Dortmund was, the way the side bounced back by taking four points from Atalanta and Leipzig underscored the improvement.

The Champions League table presently has them sitting in 15th place — ahead of behemoths like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and AC Milan. It makes a welcome change from the past two seasons which have seen the final group stage match classed as a dead rubber.

It was instructive that with the game in the balance on Sunday, Rodgers brought on McCowan, Bernardo, Kyogo Furuhashi and James Forrest.

Schmeichel and Trusty are just two of the summer recruits who have strenthened Celtic

When he lost his first domestic cup tie in Scotland 15 months previously at the same venue, his starting side included Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki and Odin Thiago Holm. You do indeed get what you pay for.

With the first track of the Premiership track only just complete and Aberdeen lasting the pace, no one within Lennoxtown will welcome comparisons to Rodgers’ Invincibles side of 2016-17. In all likelihood, they’ll come a cropper at some point.

But after seeing them dig so deep to get the job done again, it would be a brave man who’d predict when that might happen.

After a difficult first season, Rodgers’ Celtic are absolutely flying. Where it all might lead to is the intriguing question.

Report: £16m Liverpool star could be ‘on his way’ out unless things ‘drastically’ change with Celtic ‘interested’

Transfer rumours are starting to surround Liverpool’s potential 2025 transfer business.

After a quiet year on the transfer front, Liverpool could spring into life in 2025 with some significant changes to their squad. Arne Slot inherited a strong team following his arrival at Anfield and saw just two new signings made, with only one actually arriving at the club.

A lot of discussion is being held regarding how the Reds will look this time next year and there is speculation regarding both potential incomings and outgoings. While Liverpool have been linked with a number of exciting transfer targets, there is a list of players who could be moved on in 2025.

The obvious talking point remains the three players approaching the end of their contracts but there are some fringe players who could be headed for the door in search of new opportunities. Wataru Endō ‘could be on his way out if his current does not change ‘drastically’ between now and the end of the season.

That’s according to CaughtOffside, who report that the midfielder is being monitored by a number of clubs who could provide him with an exit route next year. Endō is said to be ‘seeking a new club’ due to his lack of time on the pitch under Slot.

The Dutch manager has established his favourites in midfield and despite being Liverpool’s only natural senior No.6, Endō has played just 19 minutes of Premier League action this season. The 31-year-old is looking for a more regular role, which is not something Liverpool will likely be able to offer him as Ryan Gravenberch has started all of this season’s Premier League and Champions League fixtures in the defensive midfield role.

The report claims that Liverpool could accept offers in the region of €15-18 million (£12-15m) for Endō. A number of clubs have already been credited with interest in him, including AC Milan, Celtic, and Premier League rivals Fulham, Ipswich Town and Wolves.

Liverpool brought Endō to Anfield just last summer in a £16 million move from VfB Stuttgart. Following the departures of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho, the Reds were in desperate need of a new defensive midfielder but their pursuit of other targets fell flat. After failing to sign both Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia, Liverpool quickly turned to Endō instead, but he was viewed by many as a stopgap signing.

The midfielder played a key part under Klopp last season, making 44 appearances across all competitions. Since Slot’s arrival though, he has slipped significantly down the pecking order and is eager to pursue the chance of more regular football.

Brendan confirms reason for Carter-Vickers absence at Rugby Park

Celtic v RB Leipzig, 05 11 2024, Celtic Park, , UEFA Champions League, Matchday 4 , Celtic Glasgow vs RB Leipzig Greg Taylor and Cameron Carter Vickers. Photo Imago (The Celtic Star)

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has said that he decided against risking Cameron Carter-Vickers for the win over Kilmarnock. The Scottish Champions had to be robust at the back as their defensive stalwart was omitted from the Matchday squad as a precaution.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Irishman confirmed that there was no fresh injury but some fatigue in his hamstring which made the manager decide against playing him on the Rugby Park astroturf.

“He’s ok, clearly not perfect unless he would have been here today. But had three games over a short period of time after being out for a little period.

“So he had Dundee, Aberdeen and Red Bull Leipzig in close proximity in terms of games. He just felt a little bit of fatigue in his hamstring in terms of the work we have put into him.

“But nothing serious but we didn’t want to risk anything today and he’ll be ready for Hearts when we get back.”

🗣️ “Adam [Idah] was outstanding here last season, we’ve got Kyogo to come into the game”

Brendan Rodgers on his team selection & the absence of Cameron Carter-Vickers ahead of today’s game at Kilmarnock

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 10, 2024

Celtic won 2-0 but conceded a number of chances at the back, requiring the woodwork and Kasper Schmeichel to keep Derek McInnes’ side at bay.

While Trusty goes away on USMNT duty, Carter-Vickers will be looking to continue working towards the meeting against Hearts at Tynecastle, which will be closely followed by the game against Club Brugge at Paradise.

Living the Dream in the 1950s – Celtic’s Billy Craig who recently turned 90

Living the dream in the Fabulous Fifties!

Peter Goldie (left) – Billy Craig (right). Photo The Celtic Star

A slightly belated happy 90th birthday, Billy Craig, Celtic’s eldest cup-finalist.

Well, that was a huge weekend for those of us with Celtic in our blood, as the Hoops turned in a sensational display to tear previously unbeaten Aberdeen apart with a 6-0 win at Hampden and qualify for a seventh League Cup final in nine years.

It was also a very special weekend for a man who knows all about Celtic, Hampden and cup finals. Billy Craig turned 90 years young on Friday, 1 November, 48 hours before that thrilling performance from Brendan Rodgers’ men. Since New Year’s Day 2019, Billy has been the sole survivor of the 22 players who ran down the Hampden tunnel in front of 133,000 spectators for the Scottish Cup final of April 1956 between Celtic and Hearts.

As often happens, I stumbled upon Billy’s story almost by accident. Back in the spring of 2023, I was working on a book covering Celtic in the 1930s, with the unmatched combination of triumphs and tragedies that involved, which was actually published last week. With the main block of research and writing complete, I was adding a few finishing touches, one of which involved compiling a list of ‘future Celts’ who were born in that decade. I picked up on Billy, who was shown in reference books as being born in 1936 but that didn’t quite fit in with the timeline.

I was aware that Billy had married Sean Fallon’s sister Myra, so I checked with Sean junior, a friend of mine from his time at Celtic FC Foundation. Sure enough, Sean confirmed with his Uncle Billy that his correct date of birth was 1 November 1934 and said he would be up for a chat about his time at Celtic. I’m also friendly with Peter Goldie, a contemporary of Billy’s at Celtic Park, and thought the two gents might enjoy a wee catch-up together. A few phone calls and e-mails later, we have a lunch date at Billy’s Ayrshire home, the outcome of which was an article for The Celtic Star headed When Peter met Billy…a tale of two Celts reunited.

William Paul Craig was born in Shettleston in the shadow of Celtic Park on Thursday, 1 November 1934. He was educated at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries, the final resting place of Brother Walfrid, where he built up a reputation as a fantastic sprinter. Billy was playing with St Anthony’s when he was given a trial and signed provisionally by Celtic at the end of September 1953, the 18-year-old winger staying with the Govan junior side until the summer of 1955 when he received the call-up to senior football at Parkhead. He would meet Peter Goldie for the first time as the squad assembled for pre-season, both young hopefuls captured together in an iconic photo taken before the public trial match at Celtic Park in August 1955.

Billy would receive his first-team debut the following month, as Celts opened up their League campaign against Falkirk at Brockville on Saturday, 10 September 1955. That would be the first of nine competitive appearances he made in the Hoops, so one for each decade so far. Let’s take a look at how Billy lived the dream in those Fabulous Fifties.

Game 1: Saturday, 10 September 1955; Scottish League; Brockville; Falkirk 3 Celtic 1

Falkirk v Celtic, 10 September 1955. The Celtic Wiki

Just seven days earlier a League Cup match between the sides at the same venue had been marred by trouble both on and off the pitch, the resulting fallout from that seeing many official Celtic supporters’ clubs boycott the League match. And the previous night, Celtic had defeated Partick Thistle 2-0 at Firhill to knock the holders out of the Glasgow Cup and set up a final with Rangers later that month. Unsurprisingly, Celtic made five changes from the Firhill line-up for the following afternoon’s match in Falkirk, lining up on Billy’s big day as follows.

Dick Beattie, Mike Haughney & Frank Meechan;
Bobby Evans, John Jack & Bertie Peacock;
Billy Craig, Alex Boden, John McPhail, Eric Smith & Neil Mochan.

Neil Mochan opened the scoring for Celtic, but the Bairns hit back to win 3-1. In an era of somewhat bizarre selection decisions at Parkhead, defender Alex Boden was Billy’s right-wing partner, the first but not the last time that would happen that season.

Game 2: Saturday, 10 March 1956; Scottish League; Bayview; East Fife 3 Celtic 0

Press cutting

Billy’s second Celtic appearance came at Bayview exactly six months after his debut and again ended in defeat, despite the inclusion of some of the greatest players in our history in the following line-up.

Dick Beattie, Mike Haughney & Sean Fallon;
Alex Boden, Bobby Evans & Bertie Peacock;
Billy Craig, Willie Fernie, Neil Mochan, Charlie Tully & Bobby Collins.

Game 3: Wednesday, 28 March 1956; Scottish League; Love Street; St Mirren 0 Celtic 2

Press cutting

Peter Goldie and Billy Craig played together four times competitively, the first of those being in a League match against St Mirren at Love Street on Wednesday, 28 March 1956. Four days earlier, Celtic had taken a degree of revenge for their Scottish Cup final defeat by Clyde the previous season by beating the Bully Wee 2-1 at Hampden to qualify for a third successive final, this time against either Hearts or Raith Rovers.

Peter and Billy stepped in for injured duo Sean Fallon and Jimmy Walsh as the Celts won 2-0 in Paisley on the night a young Tommy Bryceland made his St Mirren debut, thanks to second-half goals from Bertie Peacock and Neil Mochan. Hearts beat Raith Rovers 3-0 in their semi-final replay at Easter Road the same evening to set up a clash with Celtic in the final.

The Celtic side at Love Street that evening was as follows

Dick Beattie, Mike Haughney & Peter Goldie;
Alex Boden, Bobby Evans & Bertie Peacock;
Billy Craig, Bobby Collins, Neil Mochan, Willie Fernie & Charlie Tully.

Game 4: Tuesday, 10 April 1956; Scottish League; Celtic Park; Celtic 1 Aberdeen 1

The duo appeared together again two weeks later, this time against defending champions and League Cup-holders Aberdeen at Celtic Park on Tuesday, 10 April 1956. Billy replaced the injured Bobby Collins at inside-right to make his home debut in the following line-up.

Dick Beattie, Mike Haughney & Sean Fallon;
Peter Goldie, Bobby Evans & Bertie Peacock;
John McAlindon, Billy Craig, Neil Mochan, Willie Fernie & Charlie Tully.

A disappointing match ended 1-1, John McAlindon having opened the scoring for Celtic early in the second half.

Peter and Billy then appeared for 45 minutes together in a very special match on Monday, 16 April, five days before the Scottish Cup final, a 2-2 draw with newly crowned English champions Manchester United at Celtic Park. The ‘Busby Babes’ were in Glasgow to play a charity fundraiser, the Hoops lining up as follows.

Dick Beattie, Mike Haughney & Frank Meechan,
Peter Goldie, Bobby Evans & Bertie Peacock,
John Higgins, Jim Sharkey, Neil Mochan, Willie Fernie & Charlie Tully.

Celtic’s plans to use the match as a warm-up for the upcoming Scottish Cup final were thrown into disarray by the interval, as Dick Beattie and Charlie Tully limped off to join Sean Fallon and Bobby Collins on the doubtful list for the big game. John Bonnar and Billy Craig were the replacements, as Celtic’s 2-0 lead courtesy of Neil Mochan and a Mike Haughney penalty was cancelled out by headers from Albert Scanlon and John Doherty in the closing quarter of the match. Billy recalls making a challenge on Duncan Edwards which he did not take too kindly to, the powerful Englishman threatening “to break me in half next time.”

There would be the saddest of footnotes to that night. Within two years, six of that United team would perish in the aftermath of the tragic air crash at Munich Airport, captain Roger Byrne, the entire half-back line of Eddie Colman, Mark Jones and Edwards, plus forwards Tommy Taylor and David Pegg.

Goalscorer Scanlon was one of three players from that evening who miraculously survived the crash, goalkeeper Ray Wood and striker Dennis Viollet being the others. Almost 67 years later, the events of 6 February 1958 in Munich still bring a chill to the heart.

Game 5: Saturday, 21 April 1956; Scottish Cup Final; Hampden Park; Hearts 3 Celtic 1

Hearts’ Freddie Glidden shakes hands with Celtic’s Bobby Evans before the Hearts v Celtic Scottish Cup Final at Hampden in April 1956.

Billy was included in the cup final line-up a few days later, replacing the injured John Higgins, but another bizarre team selection saw left-back Frank Meechan picked at right-back, whilst the normal occupant of that slot, Mike Haughney, was listed at inside-right to partner Billy on that flank! It was yet another example of the haphazard management style of the era, which would cost Celtic a realistic chance of success. Billy remembers it well.

Match ticket

“It was a warm, warm day at Hampden but there was no water, and my tongue was hanging out racing up and down that flank. We all expected Jim Sharkey to be playing at inside-right. He was a smashing player. Looking back, presumably Mike Haughney was stuck up front as he had a powerful shot, and perhaps the idea was that I would get to the line to pull the ball back for him to strike, but we didn’t really have any tactical discussions or explanations back then. You sort of just went out and got on with it. It was a difficult afternoon.”

Programme

For completeness, the Celtic team at Hampden on Saturday, 21 April 1956 was as follows.

Dick Beattie, Frank Meechan & Sean Fallon;
Eric Smith, Bobby Evans & Bertie Peacock;
Billy Craig, Mike Haughney Neil Mochan, Willie Fernie & Charlie Tully.

Game 6: Monday, 23 April 1956; Scottish League; Firhill; Partick Thistle 2 Celtic 0

Press cutting

Celtic’s visit to Firhill on League duty two nights later saw Mike Haughney restored to right-back, Eric Smith to inside-right and Peter Goldie at right-half! With Sean Fallon and Frank Meechan both hurt at Hampden, former Duntocher Hibs defender Jim Kennedy made his debut at left-back. Haughney sent a passback beyond his own keeper Dick Beattie six minutes from time for Thistle’s second goal in a 2-0 defeat. The Celts team that night was as follows.

Dick Beattie, Mike Haughney & Jim Kennedy;
Peter Goldie, Bobby Evans & Bertie Peacock;
Billy Craig, Eric Smith, Neil Mochan, Willie Fernie & Charlie Tully.

Game 7: Wednesday, 25 April 1956; Scottish League; Celtic Park; Celtic 0 Hibernian 3

A League campaign which had earlier promised so much concluded with a whimper 48 hours later. John Bonnar made his comeback from injury as Hibs ensured they would finish above Celtic in the League table by winning 3-0 at Parkhead, ‘Last-minute Lawrie’ Reilly becoming one of the select group of players to net a hat-trick for a visiting team at the old ground. This would be the last time Peter Goldie and Billy Craig appeared in a Celtic first team together.

John Bonnar, Mike Haughney & Sean Fallon;
Peter Goldie, Bobby Evans & Bertie Peacock,
Billy Craig, Willie Fernie, Jim Sharkey, Jimmy Walsh & Neil Mochan.

Billy did not feature in the Charity Cup campaign which followed, but he was part of the Celtic party which travelled to Ireland for a short tour. He set up John McAlindon’s second goal in a 2-1 win over Coleraine on Monday, 15 May 1956, a match which saw Jock Stein stretchered off with a bad knee injury.

Billy played two matches in Celtic’s 1956/57 campaign, both in October, the month in which the Hoops would finally lay their League Cup bogey to rest by defeating Partick Thistle 3-0 in a Hampden replay. The first of those was at Brockville, where Billy’s senior career had commenced the previous autumn.

Game 8: Saturday, 13 October 1956; Scottish League; Brockville; Falkirk 0 Celtic 1

Press cutting

The only goal of a tough, end-to-end battle came with 20 minutes remaining, great work from the man who would become Celtic’s League Cup-winning hero Billy McPhail setting up Bobby Collins for a tap-in. The team had lined up as follows.

Dick Beattie, Mike Haughney & Sean Fallon;
Bobby Evans, John Jack & Bertie Peacock,
Billy Craig, Jimmy Walsh, Billy McPhail, Bobby Collins & Willie Fernie.

Game 9: Saturday, 20 October 1956; Scottish League; Celtic Park; Celtic 1 Raith Rovers 1

With Willie Fernie and Bobby Collins on Scotland duty in Cardiff, Jimmy McGrory reshuffled his attack for the visit of high-flying Raith Rovers to Celtic Park. The Kirkcaldy side had won all of their previous away matches that season but had to settle for a draw in Glasgow’s east end, Billy McPhail having opened the scoring midway through the first half. The Celtic sidethat afternoon was as follows.

Dick Beattie, Mike Haughney & Sean Fallon;
Bobby Evans, John Jack & Bertie Peacock,
Billy Craig, Eric Smith, Billy McPhail, Charlie Tully & Jimmy Walsh.

The international duo would return for the League Cup final the following Saturday, Billie and Eric Smith the players making way. Indeed, the draw with Raith would prove to be Billy’s last first-team appearance for Celtic, the speedy winger being freed in April 1957. Two months earlier, he had gone with teammate Sean Fallon to the Irishman’s sister Myra’s 21st birthday party, the subsequent introduction and romance ending with the marriage of the couple in 1959. By that time Billy had enjoyed a successful two-year spell with Third Lanark before joining Morton. He would end his senior career at Berwick Rangers before following in his father’s footsteps by becoming a bookmaker.

As an author, this story brings it home to me yet again how important it is that we cherish and share these memories from our club’s past and acknowledge those who created them. Peter Goldie and Billy Craig are just two of around 300 Celts who will feature in my book on the 1930s, published today, from those who signed for Celtic but perhaps never received a first-team opportunity to the legends we already revere. Those who were part of the backroom team or served on the board. It will also include those who came into the world during that time, including Billy, Peter and the first batch of Lisbon Lions, or who sadly bade farewell, either as young men in their prime or as older Celts who had played their part in our incredible history many years earlier.

Who knows, we may even have marked the 90th birthdays of Billy and Peter in a rather special way in the book!

Matt Corr’s wonderful new books, Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One & Two are both out now on Celtic Star Books and you can order a signed copies by clicking on the links below…