Hood, Harry

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Personal

Fullname: Henry Anthony Hood
aka: Harry Hood, Henry Hood
Born: 3 October 1944
Died: 26 May 2019
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
Signed: 16 March 1969 (from Clyde £40,000)
Left: 27 April 1976 (free transfer)
Position: Forward, striker
First game : St Mirren away league 3-0 29 March 1969
Last game : Dundee United away league 2-3 10 April 1976
First goal : St Mirren away league 3-0 29 March 1969
Last goal : Hearts home league 3-1 4 October 1975
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 3 [see notes below]
International Goals: 0

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Biog

“Celtic is so much a part of me that my one aim is to be a success with them and keep at the top as long as I can” Harry Hood, an early quote and he more than achieved that

Harry Hood attended a school where rugby was prominent (St Aloysius College) but that did not stop him from forging out a career in football, moving to Holyrood School where his formal football education picked up.

His first steps into senior football began in 1962 when he signed for Clyde from Burnbank Boys’ Club. He scored 40 goals in 63 appearances for the Bully Wee before a £30,000 move south to Sunderland in November 1964. Harry Hood never really settled on Wearside and after 9 goals in 31 appearances he returned north back to Shawfield for a reported £13,000.

He carried on his fine form with Clyde with the club finishing third in the league in season 1966/67 giving Glasgow clubs the top three positions in the league.

Celtic Career
All this did not go unnoticed at Celtic Park, and Harry Hood duly signed for the Hoops on 16 March 1969 for a fee of £40,000. He soon made a scoring debut days later at Love Street against St Mirren in a 3-0 win.

Harry Hood played in all last seven league games of the 1968/69 season scoring 5 goals in the process. He was in the side that clinched the title at Rugby Park on a night when Tommy Gemmell scored a last gasp dramatic equaliser to give Celtic the point required on April 21st, to claim their fourth successive league. Harry Hood had come in to strengthen what was already considered Celtic’s greatest ever squad of players, and it was clear that he would be in line for a place the next season as he watched Celtic complete the treble with cup wins against Hibs and Rangers.

An odd statistic that might be difficult to beat is that Harry Hood scored on his debuts for Celtic in every competition as well as against Rangers:

• March 29 1969 L St Mirren 0, Celtic 3 League debut away
• April 9 1969 L Celtic 5, Falkirk 2 League debut home
• Aug 9 1969 LC Celtic 6, Airdrie 1 LC debut home
• Aug 13 1969 LC Rangers 2, Celtic 1 LC debut away
• Oct 1 1969 EC Celtic 2, Basel 0 EC debut*
• Jan 24 1970 SC Celtic 2, Dunfermline 1 SC debut

*It should be noted that Hood did actually come on as a substitute against Basel in the first leg of the European tie that ended 0-0.

Although he was primarily a striker, he also played a number of his starts in the outside right position.

Harry Hood started the 1969/70 season in fine form and forever won over the hearts of Celtic fans when he scored the only goal of the game against Rangers art Ibrox on 20th September 1969, a glorious effort in which he tricked McKinnon and lashed a shot past the goalkeeper as John Greig slid by in vain. This was Celtic’s first win at Ibrox for 12 years and Jock Stein’s first win at Ibrox as Celtic manager. Celtic progressed to the League Cup final on October 25th and Harry Hood scored in the 2-1 semi-final win over Ayr United. He kept his place in the final at outside-right, Jimmy Johnstone relegated to the bench, for the occasion. Celtic won 1-0 thanks to Bertie Auld’s early goal and Harry Hood had his first Celtic winners’ medal.

He scored within 45 seconds at Celtic Park on October 1st against Basle in the European Cup second leg to settle the nerves as Celtic triumphed 2-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate. In November he scored Celtic’s crucial third goal in the 3-0 win over Benfica with a lovely glancing header. In the second leg a Eusebio inspired Benfica clawed back the three goal deficit but Celtic went through on the toss of a coin and were grateful to Harry Hood’s effort at Parkhead. After this Harry Hood was in and out of the side and although he came on as a sub for Jimmy Quinn at Tynecastle when Celtic won their fifth successive title on March 28th, he found himself as non-playing sub in the two-legged European Cup semi-final against Leeds and absent from the Scottish Cup final side against Aberdeen, all in April 1970. In the 1970 European Cup final against Feyenoord on May 6th he was on the bench again and one can only ponder what may have happened had he played on that fateful night when Celtic went down meekly by 2-1.

The 1970/71 season was probably Harry Hood’s best for Celtic when he finished top scorer with 33 goals. On September 12th he received criticism from Stein when he declined the chance to take a penalty, Jim Brogan instead blasting over the bar, although Celtic were worthy winners by 2-0. Celtic at this time were chasing their six in a row league title and when a fine Aberdeen side under Eddie Turnbull beat them at Parkhead in December and went top they knew they had a fight on their hands. Harry Hood scored 21 goals in 15 league and cup games to keep Celtic in the hunt for the double the most vital goal coming in the cup replay against Dunfermline at East End Park on February 17th. On April 17th the league decider came at Pittodrie when Celtic had to avoid defeat or risk losing their crown. Harry Hood scored the vital opening goal in only three minutes at a packed Pittodrie and although Aberdeen equalised Celtic held their nerve to become champions yet again.

In the Scottish Cup Harry Hood scored in the semi-final and replay, against a spirited Airdrie team, to face Rangers in the final. The game was a disappointment as Celtic allowed Rangers a late equaliser after dominating but they made no mistake in the replay by winning 2-1 with Harry Hood scoring the winner from the penalty spot after Jimmy Johnstone was scythed in the area. Harry Hood had now proven himself as a great Celt by being instrumental in the double winning triumphs. In the European Cup he had scored a hattrick against Kokkola, but Celtic bowed out to the great Johan Cruyff inspired Ajax side by 3-1 on aggregate. He also gained a Scottish League cap against the League of Ireland due to his good form at this time.

After his success of the previous season the 1971/72 season was something of a disappointment for him as the young talents of Lou Macari and Kenny Dalglish burst on the scene making competition for places in the first eleven extremely harsh. Harry Hood was at outside right on 15th April 1972 when Celtic won the league for the seventh successive occasion. The previous month he had an excellent game against Ujpest Dosza in the European Cup in Budapest when a very young Celtic team had a notable 2-1 win, going through to the semis 3-2 on aggregate. Harry Hood received an injury and missed the semi against Inter Milan, a great pity as Celtic lost 5-4 on penalties and Harry Hood, a noted penalty taker, would have been an asset on the night.

By the summer of 1972 Harry Hood was now one of Celtic’s most experienced player in Jock Stein’s regenerated team. Harry Hood was still a regular in the team but now had a deeper more withdrawn role behind the strikers. Celtic won their eighth title under Stein although Harry Hood was not in the team that won it at Easter Road in the last game of the season.

Harry Hood had a more starring role in 1973/74 scoring 18 goals in the process. He had scored against Rangers in the 2-1 League Cup win at Ibrox on August 18th in the group stages and both those teams qualified and proceeded to meet in the semi final at Hampden on December 5th. Celtic thumped Rangers 3-1 with Hood scoring a hat trick, even managing to have a fourth goal controversially disallowed late on. Harry Hood became a legend on that evening becoming one of a select band of Celtic players who have scored a hat trick against Rangers. Celtic were champions again and Harry Hood was in the number 7 shorts when the title was clinched at Brockville on April 27th and Celtic had their 9 in a row. In the 1974 Scottish Cup final win over Dundee United Harry Hood had an excellent match and headed the first goal in Celtic’s 3-0 win and thus another domestic double was won.

Harry Hood is the last Celt to score a hat-trick against Rangers which he achieved in that League Cup semi-final at Hampden in 1973.

By 1974, Harry Hood was on the periphery of the first team although he was still brought in for the big occasions. He had a virtuoso performance in Celtic’s 6-3 thrashing if Hibs in the 1974 League Cup final and was in the side that brought the Scottish Cup to Parkhead on 3rd May 1975 when Airdrie were beaten 3-1.

The 1975/76 season was Harry Hood’s last in the hoops and it was a difficult one with Sean Fallon in charge after Jock Stein’s car injuries in the summer of 1975. Harry Hood was relied upon for his experience although it was not a successful season as no trophies were won. On April 10th 1976 Harry Hood made his last appearance for Celtic in a 3-2 defeat at Tannadice.

Harry Hood’s signing was a master stroke by Jock Stein, a player who could comfortably play in any of the five forward positions. A versatile player, Harry Hood could be relied upon as an out and out striker, a creator in a deep position or, occasionally in a wide role. Harry Hood was one of that rare breed who was comfortable with either foot and could play on either side of the attack. He was a magnificent finisher, often keeping a cool head and being capable of placing the ball into the net. He played for Celtic during a golden period of the club’s history and made a massive contribution to the success that Celtic enjoyed. Harry Hood is well remembered by the supporters as a great Celtic player.

Alongside Tommy Callaghan, Harry Hood was more than deserving to have represented his country and both of them are two of the best Celts who were never capped for Scotland – for whatever reason – a ridiculous state of affairs.

The fans had several songs with his name in it from pop songs of the period:

‘We’ve got Harry and Lou Macari and Kevin Barry…oh Harry Hood !’,

‘Harry, oh Harry, Harry, oh Harry, Harry…’, to the chorus of George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord.

‘We don’t need your Colin Stein
Joe Harper or Alan Gilzean
We’ve got someone twice as good
We’ve got Harry, Harry Hood’

‘We don’t need your Jairzinho
Beckenbauer or Eusebio
We’ve got someone twice as good
We’ve got Harry, Harry Hood

‘Harry, Harry, Harry Hood
He’s half the price and he’s twice as good !’

‘Oh Harry Hood, Harry, Harry Hood…oh Harry Hood !’, to the tune of Mammy Blue by Roger Whittaker.

International Career

At international level, he was incredibly never capped at full level during his lifetime with Scotland. Harry Hood appeared five times in the unofficial world tour in 1967 by a Scotland squad, in matches v New Zealand (U23s), Hong Kong (scoring once), Australia, Israel & Canada. He scored in his only Under 23 appearance for Scotland against England on 7 February 1968.

However, the SFA announced in October 2021 that some of the tour matches would be belatedly reclassified as full internationals (v Australia, Canada (Olympic team) and Israel), which meant that Harry Hood was posthumously awarded international caps, which was received by his family. He was in good company as also fellow footballers Alex Ferguson, David Holt and Alan Anderson were awarded caps too as they should have been previously given.

His family attended to receive the honours. It was awarded on the same night as Scotland won 3-2 in a thrilling pivotal match v Israel in the World Cup qualifiers for the tournament in Qatar 2022. Harry Hood’s family along with Alex Ferguson were paraded on the pitch in honour of the moment.

Post-Celtic
He moved onto the US and then back to Scotland with Motherwell for a season before a spell with Queen of the South. He tried his hand at management with Albion Rovers in 1981 before a five week stay in the hot seat at Palmerston Park with Queen of the South before resigning.

After football, he moved into the drinks trade and was owner of Scottish company Lisini Pub Co, which owns and runs several pubs and restaurants in the Greater Glasgow Area.

He passed away in May 2019, just one day after Celtic had sealed the historic domestic Treble-Treble, something he would have been very much proud of. He had battled cancer which went into remission, but sadly it returned.

Quotes

“Celtic is so much a part of me that my one aim is to be a success with them and keep at the top as long as I can.”
Harry Hood, an early quote and he more than achieved that.

“When he left Celtic, the team’s flair went with him. A magnificent club servant.”
Celtic historians McBride et al on Harry Hood in their book An Alphabet of the Celts

“Harry has all it takes; control, physique, know-how but he must force himself into the action.”
Jock Stein

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Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Scottish League

• 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1973-74

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Pictures

• Harry Hood Pictures

Books

• Books: Harry Hood: Twice As Good (2021)

Songs

• Harry Hood Song

KStreet

• Harry Hood Thread & Memories
• Harry Hood – Passing(2019)

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Notes

• In October 2021, Harry Hood was posthumously awarded Scotland caps. The SFA announced that some of the tour matches would be reclassified as full internationals (v Australia, Canada Olympic Team and Israel), which meant that Harry Hood was posthumously awarded international caps, which was received by his family. He was in good company as also fellow footballers Alex Ferguson, David Holt and Alan Anderson were awarded caps too they should have been previously given. His family attended to receive the honours.
• There is some argument if the Canada Olympic Team match should count as a cap but an official SFA news article on their site says caps awarded for that match. It was a Canadian amateur select, preparing for the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg. Canada doesn’t even count the competitive Pan-Am matches as official, let alone the warm-up v the Scots.
  https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/former-scotland-players-to-be-recognised-with-international-caps-including-sir-alex-ferguson/

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Articles

From E-tims (Lachiemor)

Source: E-tims article

One of the tasks I have inherited as part of the grandparent package – Oh joy – is that of taking care of my daughter’s two wee ones on a Thursday as she teaches part time. On such days I walk for miles, and we are on nodding acquaintance with every horse and pony for miles around with our seemingly inexhaustible supply of old carrots and apples.

As an aside, have you ever noticed dear reader, how smartly packaged vegetables and fruit from our various supermarkets go off very quickly once you have them home, even if kept in a cool and dry place. One consequence of this phenomenon is that our various equine buddies gallop towards us as soon as the buggy hoves into sight.

This week the weather has not been so brilliant and we – I – decided to pass on our afternoon perambulation. but to attempt to entertain the troops at home. Since Balamory was not on T.V. we were listening to a c.d. called ‘Hello Children – Everywhere’.

Those of my own generation will recognise these words as the introduction to ‘Children’s Favourites’, a programme hosted by ‘Uncle Mac’, in which children could write in and request music every Saturday Morning – I think on the BBC Home Service. In these days of wall to wall audio and video entertainment it is hard to imagine a much simpler world, in which tunes such as ‘The Deadwood Stage’, ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett’, or ‘Nelly the Elephant’ would compete for air time with ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’.

A programme regular at the time ‘The Ballad of Robin Hood’, a tune which is on the c.d. brought to mind a Celtic player of no little ability who was one of my own favourites whilst he graced the Hoops. A small group of my friends, who attended most matches when not playing, would parody this song to the effect:

Harry Hood, Harry Hood running down the wing
Harry Hood, Harry Hood makes the fans all sing
Feared by the bad,
Loved by the good
Harry Hood, Harry Hood, Harry Hood.

When I went to college in Manchester, Harry Hood was a Sunderland player. He had played for Clyde and Celtic tried to buy him, but for some reason he signed for Sunderland – the so-called ‘Bank of England Club’ of the period and that – it appeared – was that.

My room-mate in the hostel was a guy called Peter Wright, who had been on Sheffield United’s books as a youngster, and had played trials for England Schools before suffering a bad injury which put an end to his prospects of a professional career. He remained an amateur footballer of real talent, whose game was all about touch and skill, and who appreciated these qualities in other players.

One of the stories he told me of his footballing exploits concerned a visit to Glasgow with Sheffield Schools to play a match against Glasgow Schools. To his disgust, it transpired that the match was to take place on a red blaze pitch, so beloved of the Scottish amateur game. As the teams lined up he noticed that one of the opposition was wearing sandshoes and his growing contempt for Scottish Football went up another notch – or at least it did for ninety minutes.

When the final whistle blew, Glasgow Schools had recorded a victory, which according to my friend was entirely down to the efforts of Sandshoe Sammy, otherwise known – he later discovered – as Harry Hood. He told me that Harry had run rings around the English boys, who according to my friend, had a terrific team with several schoolboy caps in their midst. They could do nothing with Harry, whose ball skills were unrivalled even on a crap surface and Peter said that he was the best player he ever played against by a mile.

When Celtic went back for Harry in the late 1960’s it was a second chance which he did not turn down and they acquired a classy player whose career to that point was really unfulfilled. He had gone back to Clyde, and it looked as if he would play out his days there, but following a couple of brilliant displays against the Hoops, Stein paid Clyde £40,000 in March 1969, thereby recruiting a player whose skills were undeniable but who had yet to fulfil what many saw as his potential. Whilst it would be stretching the truth to suggest that Harry took on the mantle of players such as Bertie Auld or Joe McBride, he became an important part of the team for the next few years playing his part in many great wins and scoring freely, while never really a striker in the Lennox or Wallace mould.

Amongst the highlights of his time at Celtic were a brilliant hat-trick against the FOD in the semi-final of the league cup at Hampden, the winner at Ibrox for a ten-man Celtic following Jim Craig’s dismissal, and a beautiful headed goal against Benfica at Celtic Park which we all confidently thought had put the tie out of reach of the Portuguese champions. He was never an automatic choice but when he played brought a touch of class to the party and few more graceful players have donned the Hoops in my lifetime.

In the recent reminiscences about Mr. Stein, Bob Crampsey recalled a discussion which he had during a question and answer session which they both attended in Dunfermline. He quoted Stein as saying that you would not win many leagues with a team composed entirely of Charlie Gallaghers and Harry Hoods. Crampsey’s reply that any team which did not have at least one such player would be unlikely to win many either, received a grudging acknowledgement from our gruff genius. It is interesting that even Stein, for all the aesthetic brilliance of his teams, was slightly suspicious of players who offered little in terms of the broadsword, but rather who depended on the rapier.

As a footnote to this homage to one of Celtic’s less celebrated, but certainly most skilful players, I would like to relate a short tale of my period as a conductor on Glasgow Corporation’s buses. There used to be small fittings above the seats which held adverts for various goods and services.

In very fine pencil – tiny letters – barely visible, I used to write ‘Viva Harry Hood’ on the sign above the conductor’s seat on every bus I took out. One night whilst having my tea in the garage canteen, my driver (a fellow Tim) and I were greatly amused when one of the more rabid follow followers stormed into to begin his break exclaiming: ‘If ah ever go oan another bus wi’ that Viva f$%”*’n Harry f$%”*’n Hood am gonnae go f$%”*’n mental’.

Cue our quiet departure, containing our hilarity until we were out of earshot, but if ever a slogan was appropriate it was Viva Harry Hood.

Herald Scotland

Celtic star Born: October 3, 1944; Died: May 26, 2019

HARRY Hood, who has died aged 74, was a star of Celtic who made 310 appearances for the club after joining them in 1969. The same year Beatle George Harrison started writing My Sweet Lord and the fans were quick to adapt the song as a tribute to their 25-year-old centre forward. Harrison’s lyrics were “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna, Krishna … Hare Hare” but hey soon became “Harry, Harry; Harry, Harry, Harry Hood.” Hood won many great matches for Clyde, Sunderland, and Celtic but this week lost his battle against cancer.

His death comes only weeks after those of Celtic legends Billy McNeil and Steve Chalmers – a sad and poignant time for the Celtic family.

Born Henry Anthony Hood in October 1944 in Stobhill Hospital with the Second World War still raging, Harry went on to become a fan favourite and one of soccer’s most successful businessmen after hanging up his boots. He grew up in his Garthamlock home with parents Mary and Harry, alongside brothers George, Jack and Peter and sisters Irene and Patricia.

He was educated at Saint Aloysius College, playing rugby until 15, only taking up football when he moved to Holyrood Secondary School. Playing in a team alongside Celtic giants like Jimmy Johnstone, Kenny Dalglish, Danny McGrain, John Clark, Lou Macari, Billy McNeil and Dixie Deans, Hood finished as Scotland’s top scorer in 1971. His most stunning feat was a memorable hat-trick in the 1973 League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

After leaving Celtic he plied his trade in Texas playing for the San Antonio Thunder alongside England’s iconic captain Bobby Moore, and Scots exiles, Bobby Clark, Jim Forrest and former Celtic team-mate Tommy Callaghan. In 20 games in the scorching heat he found the net ten times.

His swansong years followed with spells at Motherwell and Queen of the South and short spells managing Albion Rovers and Queen of the South. The two colourful characters running the Rovers and Queens in those days were Willie Harkness and Tom Fagan, men who thought they were kings of wheeling and dealing, but they hadn’t met Harry Hood, one of the sharpest brains in football.

Deciding football chairmen had all the talent of Pinocchio when it came to keeping a football promise, Hood turned his energies to his fledgling leisure business. With Harry at the helm and accompanied by his wife Kathleen, the Lisini Pub Company has grown into a multi-million pound business. The portfolio in the family-run business has expanded with top quality restaurants, hotels, function suites and bars. Throughout these years Lisini have been great supporters of a variety of charities raising big amounts for a range of good causes including the Beatson Cancer Charity.

The name Lisini comes from daughters Lisa and Siobhan and son Nicholas who have all played their part in the group along with Harry’s nephew Grant Hood. But Lisini’s greatest accolade has been the ever-expanding clientele, many of whom hoped to meet Harry who always found time to chat and recount football yarns with clients.

In 2018 Harry Hood was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by his old friend and leisure entrepreneur James Mortimer at a Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality ceremony. There were tears that night, some of pride, but many of the tears amongst those who knew the battle Harry was fighting. Perhaps one story sums up the fun and laughter behind Harry Hood. In 2017 his Angels Hotel was reopened after a facelift. There to open the new “Harry’s Bar” was the then Celtic superstar Moussa Dembele. After 50 odd years Moussa had joined Harry as only the second Celtic player to score a hat-trick against Rangers in a cup game. Harry said, “Moussa was such a nice lad, I didn’t have the heart to tell him I actually scored four goals in that game against Rangers. The linesman decided to call one offside. It was never offside.”

While his wife, children, six grand-children and immediate family mourn in private, remembering a warm hearted man who cared passionately about his family there will be a wider audience who will shed a tear or two. Lisini has lost their team captain; football fans of a certain genre have lost one of the most flamboyant players of the sixties and seventies; Scotland’s leisure industry has lost a great champion and the thousands of people who came to know Henry Anthony Hood have lost a great friend.

JIM CASSIDY

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Moussa Dembele via twitter

“What you achieved will last in history forever”. Kinds words from a kind and humble gentleman. Another Celtic legend left us today… Sad to hear the passing of my fellow derby hat-trick scorer Mr Harry Hood . Condolences to his family and friends. #RIPLegend https://t.co/HDJsRsmIsy

Harry Hood Sun, 26th May 2019 11:48am All connected with Clyde FC are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Harry Hood. Harry joined the club in the Summer of 1962 and made his debut against Rangers at Ibrox in November of that year. A week later he scored his first goal for The Bully Wee, against Aberdeen at Shawfield.

Unfortunately, at the end of that season Clyde were relegated to the Second Division, but were to come straight back up the following season as runners-up to a rampant Morton side. Harry ended that successful 1963-64 season as top scorer, with 37 goals from 45 appearances.

His skill and goalscoring prowess continued to shine through in the First Division, with Harry scoring 11 goals in his 19 appearances up to November 1964.

Almost two years to the day that he made his Clyde debut, Harry made the big move down South, joining Sunderland for a fee of £30,000. It didn’t go completely to plan for Harry down at Roker Park and in October 1966 Clyde manager Davie White brought Harry back to Clyde from Sunderland for a reported £13,000 fee.

Harry’s form with Clyde effectively continued where he had left off and he certainly played his part in Clyde’s magnificent 1966-67 season. In the following two seasons, Harry finished as the club’s top scorer, which is all the more creditable given that he didn’t complete the latter season.

In March 1969, Harry was on the move again; this time it was the much shorter journey to Celtic Park, with the fee reported as £40,000. At the end of his second spell with The Bully Wee, Harry had featured in 197 matches for Clyde, scoring an outstanding total of 96 goals.

In recent years Harry was given the honour of being inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame twice; the first occasion in his own right, the second occasion coming as part of the entire 1966-67 squad.

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