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Fullname: John Connor
aka: Jack Connor
Born: 7 Sep 1911
Died: 28 June 1994
Birthplace: Garngad, Glasgow
Signed: 6 June 1932 (permanent); 18 Aug 1931 (trial)
Left: 30 Apr 1934 (free); 6 June 1934 (Airdrie)
Debut: Queens’ Park 4-1 Celtic, League, 17 Sep 1932
Position: Centre-Forward
Internationals: n/a
Biog
Centre-forward John Connor was born in the Celtic heartland of Glasgow’s Garngad district. He was mooted as a possible replacement for the great Adam McLean but that was quite a tough ask of anyone.
At St Roch’s it was said:
“a very useful head near goal…shapes well in the outfield“.
John Connor arrived at Celtic as a trialist in 1931, and was signed permanently by the Bhoys from St Roch’s in June 1932 and made his competitive first-team debut in a 4-1 league defeat at Queen’s Park on 17th September 1932.
Good in the air and capable of playing with both feet, John enjoyed a very successful and free scoring loan spell at Airdrie later that season but following his return to Glasgow injuries restricted his opportunities at Celtic Park. Having competition from fellow Garngad Bhoy Jimmy McGrory didn’t help John Connor’s chances either.
He was released by Celtic in April 1934 after four league appearances and one goal. where curiously he had the poor luck to not have played for a winning Celtic side in a league match. His one goal came in a 4-3 defeat to Kilmarnock in the league. His only victories in the Hoops were in the Glasgow Charity Cup and Glasgow Cup tournaments.
Airdrie were delighted to snap up the hard-working Connor who found a rich scoring vein for the Lanarkshire side, and was nothing less than a phenomenal scorer, scoring 47 goals in 70 appearances and finishing second to his friend Jimmy McGrory in the Scottish League goalscorers in season 1935-36. He repeated this at his later clubs (Albion Rovers & Plymouth Argyle). While at Plymouth, ‘Jack‘ had a fair record and played along with John ‘James‘ Foley.
Maybe in John Connor’s case Celtic lost out on something special, but then again Celtic already did have the greatest of them all, Jimmy McGrory.
“Yet what was so typical was that he [Jimmy McGrory] remained a good friend of Connor all his life and they never lost touch. Neither ever forgot their Boys’ Guild and St Roch’s roots and both men took pains not to lose touch.”
He later served with the Black Watch (army) in 1946, and played for “Celtic Old Crocks” from 1949-59. He has also one of the longest list of clubs played for of anyone ever at Celtic, with numerous loan spells across many clubs.
John Connor was one of Jimmy McGrory’s final visitors into his last days.
John Connor passed away in 1994, and like so many Celts, is buried in St Peter’s, Dalbeth.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1931-34 | 4 | – | – | – | 4 |
| Goals | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
Honours with Celtic
none