Hazlett, George

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Fullname: George Hazlett
aka: Geordie Hazlett
Born: 10 Mar 1923
Died: 22 Dec 2012
Birthplace: Pollokshaws
Signed: Nov 1945 (loan); 18 Feb 1946
Left: Apr 1948
Position: Outside-left
Debut: Celtic 3-0 Motherwell, Regional League, 10 Nov 1945
Internationals: none

Biog

Pollokshaws-born George Hazlett joined Celtic in February 1946 from the Royal Navy after an earlier loan spell at the Bhoys.

He made his first team competitive debut while on loan in a regional league clash with Motherwell on 10th November 1945, taking the place of the much lauded Jimmy Delaney who was playing for Scotland.

The Celts won that tie at Parkhead 3-0. His biggest run of games was in season 1946-47 which saw him gain a 3-4 month run in the first team, with a notable opening goal in the Ne’erday game v Rangers to gain a draw in Jan 1947. He also scored a goal again for Celtic the next day as Celtic lost 5-1 to Aberdeen (our record domestic post-war home defeat).

Yet it was to be the end of his run in the first team as a regular and he was then only in and out the side (possibly due to his knee problems?), but he did score for Celtic on his return in a 2-1 win over St Mirren in Feb 1947.

He played for Celtic in the 1-0 defeat to Rangers in the Glasgow Charity Cup final in May 1947 which was sadly the nearest he came to silverware at Celtic. He was also in the 1-1 semi-final draw v Third Lanark which saw Celtic win on corner kicks (6-1) after a 1-1 draw.

The next season he had lost his place to John Paton, and played only a few games in what was to be a disaster of a season in 1947-48 which saw Celtic almost relegated, so if anything he at least managed to avoid being wholly connected with that dire season.

A tricky winger George made in total 30 competitive appearances and scored three goals before being released in April 1948.

He was a non-stop trier and a skilful player, but unfortunately a serious leg injury curtailed his Celtic career and sadly his best football was said to be away from Celtic disappointingly. In any case, it was a very poor time to play for Celtic, for during WW2 and for most of the time till the mid-sixties, Celtic were a poorly run club (at team and board level).

Post-Celtic
He went on to join Belfast Celtic and was part of the team which were attacked by Linfield fans during the infamous riot match on December 27th 1948. He is the last player to ever have scored for Belfast Celtic, and it is fitting that a former [Glasgow] Celtic man was the person to have done so for that grand old club.

George Hazlett was one of Belfast Celtic’s heroes of New York, who beat Scotland 2-0 in 1949. However, George did not play in this match due to injury, but was the one who advised the team how to approach the game and how Scotland would play, so was one of the masterminds behind the victory. Scotland apparently stopped playing games against any club sides after this defeat.

He also attended both reunions for that old ill-fated club in 1989 and 1991, as it was a club very close to his heart (as was Celtic), as he put it himself:

“It was the best move I ever made. I got good wages, a job and settled down quickly. Belfast was so like Glasgow — very friendly with the people possessing the same sense of humour.”

George Hazlett later played for Bury, Cardiff City, Millwall and Guildford City.

After football, he still kept ties with both Celtic clubs. In 2001, in honour of Celtic’s N Irish manager (Martin O’Neil) for the title clincher against St Mirren, a host of former Belfast Celtic players were invited which included George, who had the honour of having played for both sides.

He lived a long life, passing away on 22 Dec 2012.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

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Articles

End of an era as last great Celt Hazlett passes on

Belfast Telegraph
Saturday, 29 December 2012

George Hazlett, one of the last surviving members of the renowned Belfast Celtic team, which withdrew from Irish League football in 1949 — leaving a void never adequately filled — has died at his home in Kent. He was 89 — three months short of his 90th birthday.

Hazlett, a Glaswegian, toured the United States with Belfast Celtic just before quitting the game, but injury ruled him out of the 2-0 historic win over Scotland at Randall’s Island, New York.

Yet, he played a major role in that triumph for he knew the Scottish scene and the players and managerial tactics, enabling Celtic manager Elisha Scott and his captain Harry Walker to formulate their plan.

Hazlett joined Glasgow Celtic as a schoolboy but, unfortunately, a knee problem slowed down his progress.

One day he met Walker, who was on a scouting mission in Glasgow. Walker suggested that he should consult Joe Devlin, the Celtic physiotherapist, and ask him to make a diagnosis.

Devlin’s magic with his hands did the trick and, not surprisingly, Hazlett, on recovering, was induced to join Belfast Celtic.

“It was the best move I ever made,” he said. “I got good wages, a job and settled down quickly. Belfast was so like Glasgow — very friendly with the people possessing the same sense of humour.”

His youthful demeanour disguised a solid background and his streetwise qualities, which emerged when he and other Celtic players attempted to protect Jimmy Jones who had been attacked by fans at the end of the 1948 Boxing Day derby with Linfield.

Hazlett then moved to Bury, qualified as an English FA coach and kept active in football. His period with Celtic was most memorable and satisfying of his career. To sum up — George Hazlett, a great Celt in a great team.

George Hazlett

Posted: Thu 27 Dec 2012
Author: © Millwall FC

Untimely passing of former Lion

It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the untimely passing of former Lions player George Hazlett, who passed away on 22nd December aged 89.

George, an outside-right, had the unique distinction of playing professional football in four home nations. After national service in the Royal Navy, he signed for Glasgow Celtic in early 1946 for whom he appeared in the “Old Firm” derby games.

After a couple of years George moved to Northern Ireland where he assisted Belfast Celtic for a further 12 months.

Following Celtic’s demise, he came back to England to link up with Bury in June 1949, for whom he made over 100 appearances.

After leaving Gigg Lane George had a brief stay at Cardiff City, where he made just seven appearances, before arriving for a five year-stint at Millwall in May 1953.

George was able to operate on either wing and could deliver the ball at pace when supplying strikers like John Shepherd, George Stobbart, Johnny Summers, and Dennis Pacey with his precision passes.

He went on to make 131 appearances for The Lions and scored 10 goals. After leaving Millwall in 1958, George lived in New Cross Road before moving to Kent.

Our sincere condolences to George’s family and friends at this sad time.

George Hazlett – 1923-2012

Mon 31 Dec 2012
Author: @buryfcofficial
source: http://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/article/george-hazlett-1923-2012-568914.aspx

It is with deep regret that we announce the death of former player George Hazlett, aged 89

Glasgow born George Hazlett arrived at Gigg Lane in June 1949, a £2,500 signing from Belfast Celtic and would spend the next two seasons as a Shaker. During his time at Gigg Lane, George made 103 appearances, scoring 11 goals before leaving for Cardiff City for a £5,000 transfer fee.

His time at Bury was to be a good time for George as he met his wife and settled into the area. George sadly died on Saturday 22 December, aged 89.

The club would like to send their deepest condolences to the family and friends of George at this sad time.

GLASGOW HERALD OBITUARY

George Hazlett Footballer;
Born: 10 March 1923; Died: 22 December 2012.

George Hazlett, who has died aged 89, was a real Scottish footballer – a tricky winger whose career spanned the British Isles, playing for the Navy, guesting for Plymouth Argyle during the war and then continuing at Glasgow Celtic, Belfast Celtic, Bury, Cardiff City and finally Millwall.

He was born in Pollokshaws, Glasgow, a miner’s son, brother to Francis, Cathie, John and Helen. He was attached to Celtic from the age of 17, a product of St Mary’s Boys Club which was a rich source of talent for the club. He made his first team debut in 1945 substituting for Jimmy Delaney who was playing for Scotland against Wales. Celtic asked permission from the Navy for Hazlett to be available for the Celts and he was flown in from Scapa Flow. The game was against Motherwell; Celtic won 3-0 victory.

After the war, Plymouth Argyle were keen for Hazlett to continue his football career with them, although he wanted to return to Glasgow and play for the team he had supported since his childhood. He was signed full-time for Celtic by Jimmy McStay and his second debut was at Ibrox in front of 85,000 fans who were attending the Ne’erday Old Firm clash in 1947. Hazlett scored the opener in a 1-1 draw and this was a personal highlight in his playing career.

Unfortunately a serious leg injury curtailed his Celtic career and he was signed by the “Grand Old Team” Belfast Celtic in 1948. This was a cataclysmic season in Belfast Celtic’s history. Hazlett played in the Boxing Day match against Linfield which ended when a mob attacked and seriously injured Celtic legend Jimmy Jones.

Belfast Celtic disbanded at the end of that season after sailing to the USA for a 10-match tour. During that tour Belfast Celtic had a historic 2-0 victory over Scotland, a game which Hazlett unfortunately missed with an ankle injury. He played and scored in Belfast Celtic’s last ever Irish League match, a 4-3 victory over Cliftonville on the 21st April 1949.

Hazlett then moved back to the mainland where he played for Bury, Cardiff and Millwall. The dockers at Millwall were enthusiastic and sometimes intimidating supporters, but liked their football and insisted their players were totally committed. Hazlett fitted the bill and played five seasons for The Lions and had many great memories, including victories over Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Millwall also knocked Newcastle, the FA Cup holders, out of the competition 2-1 in front of a record crowd of 48,000.

Hazlett set up home in South London with his wife Shirley, and their children Lynne and John. He became a PE teacher and then an education welfare officer for the Inner London Education Authority.

Initially living in New Cross, he maintained his love for football by taking his FA coaching badges at Lilleshall in the company of coaching giants Malcolm Allison and Bobby Robson. He continued coaching local youth and senior teams into his late 70s. As he said many times: “I was brought up in Glasgow and all I ever wanted to do was kick a ball.”

Latterly, Hazlett and his wife moved to Farnborough in Kent, still only a train stop from Millwall, and welcomed a grandson, Oliver, into their lives. Visiting Hazlett was always a great experience with photos, mementoes and stories about Bury, Cardiff and Millwall , but the two grand old teams – Belfast and Glasgow Celtic –- were always close to his heart. Generations of family and friends loved to visit the Hazletts in London.

One of his proudest moments was in 2001 when, along with other Belfast Celtic legends, he was invited to meet Martin O’Neill to celebrate the book launch of Paradise Lost and Found: the History of Belfast Celtic. Hazlett was introduced to the Celtic fans at half-time and noted how lucky players are today to play in front of fantastic fans, in a brilliant stadium and to be handsomely paid for the privilege.

He is survived by his wife Shirley and family, Lynne and Stuart, John and Jill and grandson Oliver.