Crossan, Bernard

Biog

Bernard Crossan made 15 appearances for Celtic and scored seven goals during two spells at the club in the 1890s.

The left-sided forward first arrived from Benburb in August 1890 and played his first recognised game in Celtic’s first ever league match – a 5-0 victory over Hearts on August 23rd.

He was “a bow-legged little man, hen-toed, strongly built with a pleasant face and a stutter“.

He had a rich run of form in the first half of season 1890/91, scoring three doubles (a double each in the league, Glasgow Cup and Scottish Cup), with a total of nine. This included two goals in the matches v Royal Albert in the cup to help take Celtic through to the next round.

With that record, it is unsurprising that suitors would be around for his signature, and Crossan was tempted south by the lure of the cash rich professional league in England, signing for Preston in January 1891.

He returned to Celtic in June 1895 via Third Lanark and Scottish Cup holders St Bernards but by then was regarded as past his best. He played a handful of games in the first part of 1895/96 and scored a goal v Rangers in a 4-2 victory (“Celtic found an opening, Crossan doing the needful“).

However, he did not play again till the next season, when he played his return match on the day of the Three Players’ Strike by Meechan, Battles and Divers (28 Nov 1896) in a 1-1 draw with Hibs.

His next and final part was to be in the Celtic team to suffer a humiliating shock Scottish Cup exit at the hand of lowly Arthurlie in January 1897, which was to be his last match for Celtic. It is still regarded by many as the lowest point in Celtic’s match records, although there are others that can fairly be argued to challenge it. The first team was to be shaken up after this debacle.

He left the club soon after the Arthrulie debacle, so it looks like he maybe shouldn’t have bothered returning to Celtic.

A bit of a character, he once used a chair as an opponent once to demonstrate his innocence of foul play to a Referees Committee: “Just tell us in your own words, Crossan!“.

After football on retirement he ran a grocer’s shop in Glasgow High Street.

It is believed he passed away in 1917.

Quotes & Anecdotes

(Anecdote from ‘A-Z of Celts’ by McBride et al)
Barney was involved in what must rank as one of the strangest events in Scottish football.

Renton protested the result of the 1895 Scottish Cup final (won by St Bernards) on the grounds that Barney had participated in an unauthorised match: Edinburgh Fish Merchants v Butchers in the summer of 1894. Why? Because admission money had been charged.

Renton produced witnesses stating a case of mistaken identity, and produced the lookalike who was being confused with Barney. Appeal dismissed! (Fact: Barney did actually play for the Fishmen!)

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Scottish League

• 1895-96

• 1895

Pictures

• Player Pics