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Fullname: James Devlin
aka: Jim Devlin, Jimmy Devlin
Born: est 1876 (TBC, see CGS Forum)
Died: […] (TBC, see CGS Forum)
Birthplace: […] (TBC, see CGS Forum)
Signed: October 1890; September 1894 (from Paisley Celtic)
Left: May 1895 (to Royal Albert)
Position: Outside-Right
Debut: Dumbarton 0-2 Celtic, League, 9 Mar 1895
Internationals: N/A
International Caps:N/A
Biog
*Note: Following investigation by members of this site & CGS forum, it is thought that possibly the ‘James Devlin’ who was with Celtic in 1890, is a different one to that who signed for Celtic in 1895, all to be confirmed, see CGS forum. Until otherwise, we have assumed they are the same person but have split the two periods up.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/celtic_graves/devlin-james-1890-91-1894-95-t818.html
James Devlin (1890-91)
Outside-right James Devlin first signed for Celtic in October 1890 from Blackstoun Rangers but never played a competitive first team game in his first spell. However in those early days, the Scottish Cup was the only truly competitive organised competition, with most matches being friendlies or exhibition matches.
He was the inside-right that helped Celtic reserves with the 2nd XI Cup 13-1 v St Mirren (21 Feb 1891).
He played v Blackburn (then then FA Cup holders) in a friendly on 1 Oct 1891, Celtic winning 3-2, and the reports stated positively on Devlin:
“Devlin with a scorcher, placed the teams level, and to the close of this half neither team could claim any superiority, the teams crossing over 1 goal each.
“Dowds, Reynolds, Madden, Cunningham, and Devlin deserve special mention for their grand play, and in them is due to a great extent the bringing about the downfall of the English Cup Holders.”
Despite that good performance he moved on to Abercorn but then to Paisley Celtic in 1893.
James Devlin moved to Parkhead in September 1894, and his brother John Devlin came in to trial for Celtic a week later.
James Devlin made his competitive debut for Celtic in a 2-0 league win at Dumbarton on 9th March 1895. He then played a week later in a 4-0 home win against Leith Athletic. His brother (John Devlin) also played in the Celtic side in this match and scored a debut goal. The following week Celtic played Rangers in a 1-1 draw, but only John Devlin was played out of the two brothers.
However he left the club for Royal Albert May soon afterwards and never made another appearance for the Bhoys. Celtic didn’t win the league in 1894/95, but had won it the season before and the season after, so James Devlin was a touch unfortunate in his timing to miss out on those successes.
Neither he nor his brother made it at Celtic.
Post-Celtic
James Devlin moved around a number of clubs, including Chorley, Dundee, Sunderland, Arsenal and Airdrie, and in time to link up again with his brother at Third Lanark and then Albion Rovers.
Got into trouble for assaulting an ice cream vendor whilst at Dundee and was charged for it. He had thrown a tumbler at the ice cream vendor and cut him on the head. Devlin stated that Valente had put his money in the drawer and refused him ice cream for it. The Sheriff allowed him to go on paying a fine of £1.
At Arsenal, his career was blighted by illness.The centre forward had joined from Sunderland for £80 in December 1897 but was struck by pleurisy soon after arriving. Devlin made a goalscoring league debut against Blackpool in January 1898 but did not play first-class football for the club again. He moved to Airdrie in exchange for another player (John Dick).
Later he & his brother joined the Army in December 1899, undergoing training at Maryhill barracks with the Scottish Rifles, and then fought in the tragic Boer War in South Africa. Both he and his brother thankfully survived that war, and on their return home they went on to play again for Albion Rovers.
James Devlin appears to have returned to Third Lanark in 1900, and spent a few years with them.
Playing Career
APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
1890-91 &1894-95 |
2 | 0 | N/A | N/A | 2 |
Goals: | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none
Pictures
Forum
Articles
Dundee Courier-Tuesday 11 August 1896
Talking about Dundee’s new signings
and later in the same article.
Scottish Referee-Monday 20 May 1895
Glasgow Evening Post-Monday 02 December 1895
Dundee Courier-Friday 29 May 1896
“James Devlin, a member of the Dundee Football Club, was at Airdrie yesterday, fined for assault.”At Airdrie Sheriff Court yesterday, James Devlin, prosesaional football player, who is in the Dundee team for next year, appeared before Sheriff Mair charged with assaulting Valente. an Italian icecream maker at Whifflet. He had thrown a tumbler at Valente and cut him on the head. Devlin stated that Valente had put his money in the drawer and refused him icecream for it. The Sheriff allowed him to go on paying a fine of £1.
Dundee Courier-Wednesday 23 February 1898
Scottish Referee-Monday 05 September 1898
James Devlin |
Season |
John Devlin | |
Blackstoun R | ||
Celtic | 1890/91 | |
Abercorn | Mossend Celtic | |
Paisley Celtic | 1894/95 | Celtic |
Celtic | 1895/96 | Airdrie |
Royal Albert | Chorley | |
Chorley | ||
Dundee | 1896/97 | Tottenham H |
Sunderland | ||
Woolwich Arsenal | 1897/98 | Millwall |
Airdrie | 1897/98 | |
Third Lanark | 1898/99 | Third Lanark |
Albion Rovers | Albion Rovers | |
Army | Army | |
Albion Rovers | 1901/02+ | Albion Rovers |
Nithsdale W | ||
Lanesmark |
Scottish Referee-Monday 08 November 1897
on Ancestry
Notes
James and John Devlin both ex Celts. Joined the army together in December 1899. By January they were undergoing training at Maryhill barracks with the Scottish Rifles. I believe they later served in South Africa.
What is important, is that this means the Devlin brothers who go to Chorley, and later meet back up again at Albion Rovers, ARE the same brothers who trialled for Celtic in 1895.
And as we know that James Devlin is 21 in 1896, it’s very, very likely that 1890 James Devlin (from the 2nd XI cup final picture) isn’t the same James Devlin as the 1895 one. UNLESS we did sign him as a 14/15 year old, and play him in the reserves.
Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 29 June 1901