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Name: Patrick Dowling
aka: Pat Dowling
Date of Birth: [see notes]
Died: [see notes]
Birthplace: […]
Debut (friendly): 1889-01-03: Celtic 6-2 Corinthians, Friendly
Nationality: Scottish
Position: Defence
Tenure: 1888-89
Biog
Pat Dowling is one of those who have both a fortunate place in the early history of Celtic but unfortunate to not be so recognised for it.
He moved across from Port Glasgow Atheltic to Celtic (“a more distinguished body“), after having played v Celtic in Dec 1888, in a 5-2 defeat to Celtic
He played in a number of matches for Celtic in the early days, but these were mostly friendlies and not competition matches. The league set-up hadn’t yet begun. It has meant that sadly, whilst all his colleagues have their name known about in Celtic history through their participation in the league & Scottish Cup matches, Dowling’s contribution to Celtic was actually sadly mostly overlooked.
His first match was in Celtic’s inaugural full season, playing in a 6-2 home win v Corinthians (Jan 1889), one of the most notable names in the game at the time. He then played throughout the season in friendlies, including two matches in two days when Celtic visited Bolton & Burnley, with a one day break thereafter and then same again in Ireland playing Distillery & United Belfast, so net played in 4 games in five days on this summer tour.
What could have been his best opportunity to play for Celtic in what we now recognise as a major competition was in the Scottish Cup v Queen’s Park in 1889, but Reynolds was preferred, albeit apparently Dowling was cup-tied for the 1888/89 season. Actually the first encounter was voided, and then the replayed match was cancelled, so really he lost out in two opportunities. Similar happened in the earlier Scottish Cup matches in 1889 v Third Lanark, which Celtic actually lose the first match 3-0 but was voided with a replay seeing Celtic lose again. Whether Dowling would have made any positive difference in these matches, we will never know now.
However, he got to play in one major part of Celtic history as part of the squad that led Celtic to their first senior trophy, the Glasgow North Eastern Association Cup. He played in the final, with Celtic winning 6-1 v Cowlairs, so with that he deserves some recognition at least. Quite an honour in that he may have only played one competition match with Celtic, yet he still came up with silverware which is some achievement, and a great landmark achievement to be involved in as it turned out to be for the club. As Celtic had lost 5-2 v Renton in the Glasgow Charity Cup the week before, some could possibly argue that his contribution may have made a difference to help improve the defence.
Celtic did play in some other invitational cup competitions that same year but he wasn’t part of the sides. Maybe he was just always deemed as a reserve.
Despite that, he got to play in a number of matches against teams from across the UK & Ireland in friendlies, some of whom were amongst the biggest football names of the day. Being part of the club at its inception (in what can be taken as being the club’s first full season) and watching it develop in retrospect must have been a humbling experience when he looked back on it in his later days.
After Celtic, he played for Newcastle West End (up to their dissolution in 1892) and Shankhouse, and then had a stint in the army where he fought in the Boer War in South Africa.
Further Links
Notes
- See Twitter link for further info: Link
Articles
Celtic Reserves v QP Strollers, 14/09/1889. (Match report in Glasgow Herald, 16/09)
Greenock Telegraph, 8/03/1900
Port-Glasgow Express, 9/03/1900
Greenock Telegraph, 8/03/1900
Port-Glasgow Express, 9/03/1900