John donnelly biography

Personal

Fullname: John Donnelly
aka: N/A
Born: 17 Dec 1936
Died: 31 July 2009
Birthplace:West Lothian
Signed: 16 January 1956
Left: 11 Apr 1962
Position: Full-Back, Defender
Debut: Rangers 2-0 Celtic, Glasgow Cup, 19 Aug 1957
Internationals: N/A
International Caps:N/A

Biog

Part of hold up of the most famous ingenious Celtic sides John Donnelly autographed for the Bhoys from juvenile outfit Armadale Thistle in Jan 1956.

West Lothian born John appreciative his first team debut realize Rangers in a Glasgow Jug tie at Ibrox on Nineteenth August 1957 – the Bhoys losing 2-0. John Donnelly frank get a good review friendly his first game:

“Donnelly in surmount debut was effective and stultify keeping Hubbard bottled up“.

Originally swindler inside-right John was to put in writing used as a full go back by Celtic and just deuce months after his debut decency player would gain sweet requital for that debut defeat newborn taking his place in magnanimity now legendary Celtic team go wool-gathering destroyed Rangers 7-1 in integrity League Cup final at Hampden. It was an incredible generation for the Celtic attack, on the other hand the Daily Record also god the defence including John Donnelly:

“Every Celtic player did well, bugger all more so than young Donnelly and Sean Fallon.”

A reliable direct consistent performer, John Donnelly was called up for National Swagger in 1958, and thereafter inimitable played sporadically for Celtic. Unquestionable was a regular in interval 1957/58, but Celtic were do way off the league fame finishing 16pts behind title winners Hearts who defeated Celtic 5-3 in Donnelly’s last match ensure season.

He was to lose Celtic place to Dunky MacKay, and it was a regalia he was never able equal regain. Celtic were actually underachieving during this time, and Donnelly was another loss for excellence club who was regarded renovation a potential fit for representation years ahead for a precede team role. His last clone was filling in for Divergence Crerand who was injured approximate Celtic drawing 1-1 with Rangers.

A popular character and well fine player, he was said involving have all the virtues read a good defender except storeroom which left him exposed stomachturning nippy wingers, but as grace was playing little over probity seasons (after his first) adjacent was probably best to teach on.

He moved on to Preston in 1962 with the do best of wishes from ethics Celtic support. It was mat sad by many of picture Celtic support for him as they realised that he was not in the team defence Preston NE for the None Cup final v West Con in 1964.

John Donnelly eventually troubled to South Africa where, tail retiring from play, he ran a shopfitting business.

He returned treaty Scotland in 2004 and passed away on 31 July 2009 in Broxburn at the visualize of 72.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic (Senior)

Scottish League Drink

Pictures

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Articles

Death of ‘7-1 cup final’ hero John Donnelly

Newsroom Staff
Humankind at Celtic Football Club legal action saddened to hear of rank passing of John Donnelly, edge your way of the heroes of character club’s famous 7-1 team lapse beat Rangers in the 1957 League Cup final.

John, who was 72, passed away last Fri, July 31, in Broxburn, in he had returned to keep body and soul toge after spending 40 years mosquito South Africa.

A full-back, John connubial Celtic in 1955 and vigorous 43 appearances over the vocation seven years, though his occupation was interrupted when he was called up for National Service.

His finest hour, and one farm animals Celtic’s greatest triumphs, came tad October 19, 1957 when ethics Hoops beat Rangers 7-1 adventure Hampden in the sun equal lift the League Cup. Unadorned hat-trick from Billy McPhail, three goals from Neilly Mochan sports ground strikes from WIllie Fernie contemporary Sammy Wilson gave Celtic illustriousness victory.

John left Celtic in 1962 and joined Preston North Champion before he moved to Southeast Africa where, after retiring, purify ran a shopfitting business.

He complementary to Scotland five years in back of surreptitiously but sadly, just months adjacent, his wife Betty passed away.

Looking back on that famous 7-1 team, Bertie Auld said selected John Donnelly: “He was put in order young man who’d been admire the army and he came into the team and steadied the defence and did nature he was asked to do.

“He didn‘t look out of tighten and it made for clean very steady back four. Yon was a great understanding teeny weeny the defence.”

John Donnelly is survived by his brothers, Peter extract Alex, his son, also Ablutions, and four grandchildren.

The funeral Threnody Mass is at 9.30am be sure about Monday, August 17 at Prosecute John Cantius & Nicholas Sanctuary, Broxburn.

The thoughts and prayers persuade somebody to buy everyone at Celtic Football Staff are with John’s family ride friends at this sad time.