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Fullname: Thomas Kiernan
aka: Tommy Kiernan
Born: 20 October 1918
Died: 26 June 1991
Birthplace: Coatbridge
Signed: 11 July 1945
Left: 25 September 1947
Position: Inside-right
Debut: Hearts 2-2 Celtic, Regional League, 22 Sep 1945
Internationals: Scottish League 1
International Goals: none
Biog
Coatbridge born Thomas Kiernan was an inside-right who signed for the Bhoys for £4,000 in July 1945 from Albion Rovers after spending the war years guesting for English clubs while serving as a Royal Engineer.
His debut came in a 2-2 Regional League clash at Hearts on 22nd September 1945. He followed that up with some impressive displays in the Hoops which saw him earn a deserved League representative honour against the English League (3-1 defeat).
A gifted two footed ball player Tommy Kiernan was eventually moved from his inside position to centre-forward and in the process his guile and inventive was viewed as being compromised.
He was a certain starter in the side for all of 1945-46, and most of 1946-47 until a 1-0 win over Queen’s Park on Xmas day in 1946. Thereafter he was competing for a place with McAloon and Rae.
He remained a fans favourite and the support were bewildered at his sale to Stoke City for £8,500 in September 1947.
Tommy Kiernan played a total of 64 competitive first team games for the Bhoys and scored 19 goals. As Celtic were poor during this era, the nearest he got to silverware was losing in the Glasgow Charity Cup final 1-0 to Rangers in May 1947.
When you look at the state of the first team in the next season when they only just escaped relegation, then possibly the fans’ fears over Tommy Kiernan’s loss were justified. McAloon and Rae, who seemed to be challenging for the same team spot as Tommy Kiernan, hardly played the next season.
He is among the exclusive set of ex-Celtic players with an incredible number of clubs on his playing CV.
He had one interesting note that he had an article printed in the inaugural Celtic Supporters Association magazine.
Numerous war-time loans and deals meant he has played or guested for (or at least been on the books of):
Viewpark Celtic, Clydebank Juniors, Albion Rovers, Royal Engineers, Chelsea, Southampton, Brentford, Fulham, Aldershot, Celtic, Stoke City, Luton Town, Gillingham, St Mirren, Barry Town, Alloa.
Later he was to become a coach at Albion Rovers.
He passed way in 1991.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | REGIONAL LEAGUE | REGIONAL LEAGUE CUP | TOTAL |
| 1945-47 | 23 | 1 | 8 | N/A | 26 | 6 | 64 |
| Goals: | 9 | 0 | 6 | – | 0 | 4 | 19 |
Honours with Celtic
none (we were poor)
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