Legends and Supporters | Celtic Books
Details
Name: Thomas Campbell
aka: Tom Campbell
Born: 1934
Died: 21 April 2025
Ref: Celtic historian & enthusiast, author of a number of excellent & seminal books on Celtic
Biog
Tom Campbell is a seminal writer whose talent with respect to Celtic history analysis is too great to be able to put into so few words.
Born in Glasgow in 1934, Tom Campbell emigrated to Canada in 1956. After obtaining an Honours degree in English Literature from Ottawa’s Carleton University, he spent four years at St Paul’s in Alliston, southern Ontario as head teacher. He returned to Ottawa to become head of the English department at St Wilfred Laurier High School before taking on a similar post at the city’s largest high school, Glebe Collegiate. He has also taught in El Salvador.
Tom Campbell along with his colleague Pat Woods are the bridge between Willie Maley and today’s array of Celtic writers & historians.
Their early books laid the groundwork that has been invaluable to that of many others, and in many ways the work of all else has been almost a footnote to the incredible work began by both Pat Woods and Tom Campbell. If there is one book that evey Celtic historian will have on their shelves and still regularly thumb through then it is the exception ‘Dreams and Songs to Sing’, a book that was heralded by critics outwith of Celtic circles too for its quality and depth.
He wrong numerous books, often in conjunction with others (notably David Potter & George Sheridan), but also wrote many key books on his own, including the rather controversial & iconoclastic ‘Celtic’s Paranoia…All in the Mind?‘ analysing the often underdog & downtrodden attitude that the Celtic support has identified with over the years.
He also contributed heavily to magazines such as The Celt and appeared on Celtic TV, but also online to TheCelticStar website.
His writing was very academic, often dry but still accessible.
He passed away in 2025, but his written words on Celtic will ensure his name will never be forgotten in Celtic circles.
Links
KDS Forum
Anecdotes
1) Wee Ed KTF of KDS forum
I was fortunate enough to spend alot of time with Tom and his pal, David Potter. And I was honoured and privileged to contribute a chapter to one of Tom’s very many books – Ten Days That Shook Celtic – though my effort required a great deal of editing. Apologies again, Tom.
Tom was a fabulous guy. He and David Potter would spend hours walking the Lomond Hills in Fife and talking about Celtic. Both had encyclopaediac knowledge of the history of our Club. If only their conversations about Celtic had been recorded for us all to hear.
After one such walk in the Lomonds, Tom and David visited my home, to welcome my newly born, baby son into the Celtic Family with a Celtic bib and tales of the exploits of Jimmy McGrory and Henrik Larsson.
However, one story epitomises my recollections of Tom. He’d been invited to a Celtic match at Celtic Park as a guest and post-match was in the Boardroom, enjoying hospitality. He recalled meeting a very attractive woman (Tom had an eye for the ladies), chatting with her and enjoying her company. She then introduced Tom to her husband – Martin O’Neill.
Thanks, Tom.
RIP, old friend.
Articles
TOM CAMPBELL, AUTHOR OF THE GLORY AND THE DREAM, TALKS CELTIC
TOM CAMPBELL, AUTHOR OF THE GLORY AND THE DREAM, TALKS CELTIC
By CQN Magazine on 6th March 2017 Celtic Stories
CQN today announced the release of Tom Campbell’s thirteenth Celtic book. ‘BOBBY EVANS: CELTIC’S FORGOTTEN HERO’ is the long-awaited return of a Celtic author, who is widely regarded as the finest in his field.
The Glory & the Dream – the 38,000-selling unofficial history of the club – was co-written by Tom and Pat Woods, and it is perhaps the finest book ever written on Celtic Football Club.
Paul John Dykes caught up with Tom to find out more about the Ottawa-based historian:
Where did your love of Celtic come from? Was it passed down to you from your father?
“I can remember being a Celtic supporter in Primary School. My grandfather was a keen supporter, as were my cousins; my father less so.”
What are your earliest memories of watching Celtic?
“A New Year’s Day game at Ibrox in 1943 when we lost 8-1. Trudging home in the rain, my grandfather rationalised the defeat: the two Celtic players ordered off were victims of shocking decisions, Miller was fouled for the third goal, the seventh goal was offside… Even at a tender age I was slightly dubious; however, years later, research by Pat Woods and myself suggested my grandfather was right.”
What types of Celtic songs can you remember from the terraces back then?
“Not too many, actually. I remember round about March 17th the supporters used to sing ‘Hail Glorious St Patrick’. Incidentally, years later, when Celtic beat Rangers in a Scottish Cup tie on St Patrick’s Day that generation of supporters were singing ‘Happy Birthday, St Patrick’. I suppose that’s one indication of the decline in religion in people’s lives.”
With so many talented individuals in the 1950s, why were Celtic only sporadically successful during that decade?
“A fatal combination of a ‘weak manager’ and ‘an interfering chairman’. Jimmy McGrory was just too nice to be a hard-nosed manager, and Bob Kelly felt watching Celtic every week made him an expert, especially in team selection.”
How was Jock Stein able to transform the team he inherited in the mid-1960s into the European champions?
“First of all, force of personality combined with a real knowledge of the game – and a ferocious work-ethic. It helped that Celtic were desperate for genuine leadership, and that he had coached several of the players there years before.”
Where were you the day that Celtic won the European Cup?
“Doing my best to concentrate on teaching English to a class obviously wondering why I was so distracted. The phone in the class rang, and the vice-principal intoned, “Inter Milan won…” I hung up on him utterly dejected, and the phone rang seconds later. “I hadn’t finished, and Celtic two.” He told me later he was worried I would jump out of the third-storey window, if he hadn’t phoned back.”
What do you miss most about the football of your youth?
“I don’t miss that much. After all, I have those memories: standing on the terracings, getting soaking wet (and not caring), walking miles to the city centre, rejoicing in famous victories.
I sense that supporters were more attentive then. There was no football on television; so, you had to pay attention or you would miss things. Nowadays, you can relax more, knowing there’ll be endless re-runs on television.”
What prompted you to write your first Celtic book? How did you approach the research, writing, and publishing process from Canada?
“A longish story, but here goes… I hurt my knee skiing and was off school for three days; my Canadian wife was a librarian and knew I was interested in ‘soccer’; so, she borrowed a couple of books from the library for me. I devoured them, and she asked if I had enjoyed them. I said something like: ‘Very much, but there were lots of mistakes. This game was at Hampden, not Ibrox… that was a free-kick and not a penalty etc.’ She was a bit miffed, and said something like: ‘Well, if you know so much about it, why don’t you write a book yourself?’
“The book was Glasgow Celtic (1945-1970). I used to have an excellent memory, and had seen a lot of those games and remembered them… I found out that the National Library in Ottawa (where I lived) had micro-film collections of The Glasgow Herald and The Scotsman and they were most helpful. They provided a little room, with a machine, and put aside the rolls of film I asked for; I used to go along every night about 8 o’clock and work there til midnight. It would take about three such nights to take notes on each season. The writing took place usually at the week-end and I found that much easier. When I finished it, I didn’t quite know what to do with it.
“Eventually, I plucked up enough courage to write to Cyril Horne of The Glasgow Herald and he volunteered to read it, and give me his thoughts. He also told me that Celtic would be on tour in Canada, and that I should drop in and see Jock Stein. Cyril offered to tell Jock that I’d go along to meet him, and that the Celtic boss would be very happy to deliver the manuscript back to Scotland in person.
“It all worked out; Jock Stein saw me, spoke for about an hour, explained various formations very patiently to me, and (as Cyril Horne had said) was pleased to deliver the manuscript: ‘No bother at all, son’. I was very impressed with the Big Man, especially as he must have still been reeling after losing to Feyenoord in Milan about a week before!
“I met up with Cyril Horne in Glasgow in July during the school holidays, and found him a delightful character; he was the Chief Football Writer for The Glasgow Herald, an Elder in the Church of Scotland – and the only journalist in Scotland who regularly took Rangers to task for their sectarian policies and over-physical approach. He put me at ease right away when we met up at Vesuvio’s Restaurant: ‘Before you ask, let me tell you that I read the manuscript thoroughly and I have to say this is the best book I’ve ever read about Scottish football. Living in Canada, how did you do it?’ I have to admit I was surprised; my wife, I think, was astonished.
“Why Vesuvio’s? I think there was a reason for that. I mentioned to Cyril that I had still not come to terms with Celtic’s success and that I was still scarred with numerous defeats inflicted by Rangers over the years. He surprised me: ‘If Celtic were to play Rangers in any other city than Glasgow, any European city, they would win regularly by 3-0… but here’s somebody who can answer that.’ Guess who had just come in? ‘John, I was just telling Tom here that Celtic would beat Rangers by three clear goals if you played them anywhere else but Glasgow.’ Jock Stein smiled, rubbed his chin thoughtfully, shook his head and said: ‘No Cyril, I don’t think so. It would only be 2-0′.”
How well received was your debut?
“It was astonishingly well received, and sold out two editions very quickly.”
How did you meet Pat Woods, and how did your first collaboration materialise?
“Some years afterwards I was back in Glasgow on holiday and at the airport going back to Canada I bought a wonderful little book by Bob Crampsey called ‘The Scottish Footballer’. I read it cover to cover, and spotted that Bob was headmaster of St Ambrose, and I wrote to him. Bob wrote back, thanking me for my comments and asking if I were the same Tom Campbell who had written Glasgow Celtic and, if so, could he pass on my address to Pat Woods who had also liked the book. The rest is history; in fact, more than one history.”
The gap between your first and second books was quite substantial. Was there any specific reason for that?
“I rather thought that one book was enough. I was married and had a family; I was teaching and had been promoted… However, Celtic’s centenary was coming up in a couple of years and I wrote to the club and offered to write it (the official history). I think that, two years before the event, Celtic had not thought too much about it. Well, they declined my offer and I wrote to Pat Woods about it; he thought I should still write it, and volunteered his help in the research. Encouraged, I started the book and Pat started to send me stuff, tons of stuff… and brilliant stuff. There was no way I could use this material without acknowledging it in more than the usual way. So, I suggested to Pat that we do the book as co-authors. Pat was a bit reluctant; he’s very modest, and shy, and he needed encouragement from me before agreeing. Incidentally, the title was his idea – and, in view of the club’s early history, entirely apt: Where has it fled, the visionary gleam? Where is it now the glory and the dream?”
Tell me more about The Glory & the Dream. How did you approach the process, how did the club help or otherwise, and how well received was the book?
“The Glory & the Dream was a genuine collaboration. You could say that Pat did the research, and I did the writing… but that’s not entirely accurate. Often, I would recollect certain incidents or references and Pat would be on the trail like Sherlock Holmes and fill in the specific details, and frequently Pat would spot what he called ‘Americanisms’ in my writing and hasten to correct them.51FfpdupanL._SL500_SX335_BO1,204,203,200_
“The publisher was Mainstream, located in Edinburgh. Bill Campbell, the managing director, interviewed us and insisted he did not want ‘puff’; he wanted a genuine history, warts and all – and we were happy with that. Pat and I both agreed that Celtic was founded in 1887 (November 6th, to be exact) and Mainstream, aware that Celtic had finally realised the centenary was approaching, wondered if we could have it finished in advance. We were well ahead of schedule, and were quite happy to finish it in time for the club’s 99th anniversary.
“It was, as you point out, a critical success. A commercial success too as it was probably the first best-seller Mainstream had had up to that point. In fact, they later acknowledged that in an interview.”
How does it feel to now know that The Glory & the Dream is widely regarded as the greatest history ever written about the club?
“In a recent visit (November 2016) I attended a book launch at Celtic Park, and was genuinely touched by the comments of so many. About a year ago I had some health issues, and I appreciated the best wishes of so many of my peers.”
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When did you decide to write the biography of Bobby Evans, and how has the process progressed to the point of release?
“Bobby Evans has always been a particular hero of mine, and I had often wondered at the lack of recognition he has received. I started writing segments of the biography about three years ago. If you are interested in the process, sometimes I don’t work chronologically (from the beginning to the end, as it happened). Instead, frequently, I treat a book like a jigsaw puzzle and do various sections as much as I can… and then at a later date join them all up. That’s what I did with this book: I started with his brief wartime period with St Anthony’s… and then went into the scandal he endured at the time he joined Chelsea in 1960… and then his squabble with the SFA round about 1950. After that, I was able to get back to a chronological order more or less. I should say that once again I got a lot of help (and material) from Pat at different times and had to go back and forth to insert that seamlessly if possible. Too often football biographies are merely a recounting of the highlights of famous players’ careers, complete with well-rehearsed anecdotes. I think that they deserve a bit more than that, and also (with my own advancing years) I’m aware that many readers are not old enough to remember the times or conditions Bobby Evans played in. So, there was an obligation, I felt, to attempt to provide a background for Bobby’s story.”
What are the main differences between the world of publishing now, compared to when you released your first book?
“The first book I wrote back in 1969 was written by hand, and I remember that one of my classes was Business English, consisting of fifteen young ladies all aged eighteen. They knew more about Business English than I did, and had few problems with grammar. So, I suggested tentatively they might like to type out my handwritten manuscript. They were delighted to do this to improve their typing, and were paid by having a pizza party at the end of the project.
“I’ve always been impressed with the typesetters the various publishers have provided. At Mainstream in particular there was a lady named Judy Diamond who acted as a self-appointed editor (and was invariably right to do so); she could point out when we had repeated an anecdote (or even a phrase).
“I suppose personal computers have speeded up the process considerably but in the old days there was probably more thought put into writing things out by hand.”
What other projects are you currently involved in?
“I’ve completed two novels and they’re sitting on the shelf awaiting further revision. I’m actually quite pleased with them. One is a murder mystery, set in Canada and the other might interest you more. It’s a speculative novel with the premise that Matt Busby actually played as a guest player for Celtic during World War II and later became their manager. It’s a blend of fact and fiction; well, I’m pleased with it.”
If you were to name a Celtic team made up of the finest players you have witnessed, who would make your greatest XI?
“An all-time Celtic team that I’ve seen? Almost impossible but here goes…
Goalkeepers: Willie Miller and Artur Boruc;
Right-backs: Danny McGrain and Didier Agathe;
Left-backs: Tommy Gemmell and Danny McGrain;
Central defenders: Billy McNeill, Marc Rieper, Alan Stubbs and Johan Mjallby;
Sweepers: John Clark, Neil Lennon and Paul Lambert;
Right-half or Midfield: Bobby Evans and Bobby Murdoch;
Left-half or Midfield: Bertie Peacock and Lubomir Moravcik;
Right-wing: Jimmy Delaney and Jimmy Johnstone;
Centre-forward: Joe McBride and Henrik Larsson;
Left-wing: Bobby Lennox and Charlie Tully.
Final Selection:
Miller, McGrain, McNeill, Mjallby, Gemmell, Evans, Lennon, Moravcik, Delaney, Larsson & Lennox.
That’s an almost impossible task.”
How do you watch Celtic these days?
“Usually at the James Street Pub along with the other members of the Ottawa CSC. It can be a chore in mid-winter, getting up at 6 a.m. with temperatures of -20 degrees outside and snow-bound streets… but it’s worth it.
In all your years of watching Celtic, how does the current manager and team compare?
“This is a wonderful season so far, despite a couple of blips in Europe. The manager seems to have everything in hand and knows what he’s doing; the players are co-operating. So, everything is going well.
“To be honest, it’s almost too easy domestically (and that doesn’t mean we’re going to get through the season undefeated). I would love to get a treble but you never know in cup football.”
An Interview with Tom Campbell
by The ShamrockPosted on 20/09/2019
Born in Glasgow in 1934, Tom Campbell emigrated to Canada in 1956. After obtaining an Honours degree in English Literature from Ottawa’s Carleton University, he spent four years at St Paul’s in Alliston, southern Ontario as head teacher. He returned to Ottawa to become head of the English department at St Wilfred Laurier High School before taking on a similar post at the city’s largest high school, Glebe Collegiate. He has also taught in El Salvador.
Tom has combined his literary interest with a lifelong support of Celtic to become the author/co-author of 13 books on the history of the club, including The Glory and the Dream (with Pat Woods), Jock Stein: The Celtic Years (with David Potter), Tears for Argentina (a project which involved interviews in Buenos Aires with Racing Club players who took part in the infamous 1967 World Club Championship games), Charlie Tully: Celtic’s Cheeky Chappie and Bobby Evans – Celtic’s Forgotten Hero. He has also contributed to magazines such as The Celt and appeared on Celtic TV.
Tom (left) with his friend and long-time co-author Pat Woods
The Shamrock caught up with Tom on the line from his home in Ottawa, Canada to ask about his love for Celtic and football and the ‘golden’ post-war period of the late 1940s and early 1950s which forms the backdrop to his new book A Very Different Paradise.
What are your earliest memories of Celtic games?
I had a cousin (Eddie) four or five years older than me, and he was a fanatic. He used to go to games at Celtic Park with his father … and then tell me about them, suitably embellished. I actually remember going to one match with them, and recall moping outside a pub in the Gallowgate for an hour with Eddie while his old man (a wild Irishman) refreshed himself inside.
My initiation and education as a Celtic supporter followed well-defined lines: as a small boy I was taken by my father to Moore Park in Govan several times to see St Anthony’s (who also wore the Hoops), two or three times to see Celtic Reserves, and finally to graduate on special occasions to see ‘the big team’. I have met another Celtic supporter of about my age who had a similar introduction, except in his case the junior team was St Roch’s.
In retrospect during those days Celtic were a poor team … but they were my team. My grandfather told me stories about the great days of the past: Jimmy Quinn’s heroics against Rangers, Patsy’s miraculous goal against Dundee, John Thomson’s last fatal save at Ibrox … and the most recent triumph (the Empire Exhibition Trophy) in 1938. Even I (about five years old) could sense those days were past. After all, my first experience of a Rangers-Celtic game was at New Year’s in 1943 and Celtic lost 8-1 at Ibrox! I had the consolation of seeing Celtic win at the same ground a year or so later when George Paterson scored from thirty yards on a frozen pitch. Incidentally, I watched both those games from the Rangers’ End as my father was concerned about the sporadic outbreaks of hooliganism and bottle-throwing that marred some Celtic seasons back then. No trouble at all from the Rangers’ supporters around us, by the way.
A couple of other war-time games stick in my memory. I watched both of them from the Jungle and both were won thanks to Celtic comebacks: down 0-2 at halftime to struggling Albion Rovers, Celtic fought back to win 4-2 … and, trailing to Hamilton Accies, Celtic scored twice in the last five minutes to win 2-1. Both goals against Hamilton were scored by Gerry McAloon, and he always was a favourite of mine. Gerry actually played in the Empire Exhibition Cup for Brentford, played for Celtic during World War 2, and went back to Brentford afterwards but re-joined Celtic in the trade for George Paterson. I also have the vague impression he was used as make-weight in Charlie Tully’s arrival from Belfast Celtc in 1948. In later life Gerry McAloon worked as the janitor in Sacred Heart in the Calton, but sadly died of hyperthermia after collapsing in the street in mid-winter.
Such a contrast in life to the stars of today. Slightly better than a journeyman player, Gerry McAloon deserves a greater recognition. I think that’s why I started to write about football — to pay tribute to often neglected performers who contributed so much to brighten up otherwise dark days
In those days factory-workers often often worked over-time in mid-week and usually till noon on a Saturday. So, my father did not go to many games but one of his mates was ‘Big Hughie’, also the bus-convenor for Penilee & Cardonald CSC. My dad arranged for me to become a member of that club, and for a number of years (1947 to 1952) I travelled to almost every Celtic game … and I was well-looked-after: I was subsidised on the bus, somebody paid for me to get into the grounds, and always there was a member nearby to ensure I didn’t get lost, and could find my way back to the bus safely. Thank you, gentlemen …. a bit belatedly.
At present I am a member of the Ottawa CSC, and I find it hard to realise that the youngest member of Penilee & Cardonald is the oldest member of the Ottawa club. Time passes, and I have noticed that my recollection of past, long-ago players and matches is much sharper than recent games. For example, I can recall every nuance of John McPhail’s thrilling gallop through Motherwell’s defence to win the Cup in 1951, but my memory of last season’s winner against Hearts is less clear. I suppose that is a benefit for a historian.
What are the main differences between Scottish football then and now?
Bob Crampsey once described the toilet facilities in many Scottish grounds as “worthy of eliciting comment from the more fastidious tribes of the Amazon”. He was right. It was picturesque squalor for the most part. And, because we love the game, we tend to remember the ‘picturesque’ and forget the ‘squalor’.
I remember getting the tram-car to Bridgeton Cross, trudging up London Road in the rain, standing in an open terracing in a downpour for ninety minutes, and then having to walk back into Argyle Street and St Enoch’s subway in that same rain to get home. And, if we won, it was well worth it!
I don’t think the average supporter of today accustomed to present standards would (or could) accept what we did in the past without complaint,
All-seated stadiums? Definitely, a great improvement in every way.
Cover from the elements? Surely, it’s basic common sense?
Playable pitches? Compared to the past, the playing surfaces are almost ideal. Look at the old videos and you can see that, even as recently as the Lisbon Lions, football matches were frequently played on pitches bereft of grass and often just mud-bowls. Brendan Rodgers’ complaints about the grass at Tynecastle would have been scorned back in 1950.
The ball? The all-weather ball came into use around 1953, replacing the traditional leather ball (that got heavier and heavier as the game progressed on rainy days and muddy pitches). Astonishingly, many football people objected to the new ball; Rangers threatened to walk off the pitch at Celtic Park in 1954 when the referee (Jack Mowat) opted to play with the ’new’ ball.
An aerial view of Celtic Park in the 1950s
Substitutes? If a player was injured and unable to continue, he was not replaced. It was considered ‘character-building’ to play short-handed. To have a player substituted for tactical reasons was laughable. Substitutes (only one player) was introduced into Scottish football around 1966.
Back then, change was suspect. The Hungarians who defeated England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953 and 7-1 in Budapest a year later were described by a Scottish selector (and incidentally the headmaster of a Scottish secondary school) as ‘freaks’. Training was designed principally for stamina or strength. Footballers were denied access to a ball to make them “hungry for it when Saturday comes round”.
Tactics were predictable: teams employed a static formation of two full-backs, three half-backs, and five forwards … full-backs early ventured into the opposing half of the field, only wing-halves took throw-ins, sides made changes only for injuries or suspensions. I can still run off Rangers’ regular side of the late 1940s and early 50s: Brown;Young and Shaw; McColl, Woodburn and Cox; Waddell and Gillick; Thornton; Duncanson and Rutherford.
Of course, players were mere chattels, tied to a club for life and limited to salaries decided upon by the clubs. For example, the great Bobby Evans, in a football career of twenty-odd years, probably earned a TOTAL of around £26,000!
Matt Busby – what do you consider to be his unique strengths that brought him success as a manager?
Jock Stein was asked once if he had ever discussed football tactics with Matt Busby and his answer was significant: “No, I wouldn’t want to embarrass him”.
Tactics in those days were simple and uncomplicated, and Busby, a Scottish internationalist wing-half, was a product of his times. Everybody who met Busby spoke of his dignity and natural gravitas; he invoked respect automatically and without effort. He was recognised as an intelligent man, an honourable man, and a thoroughly decent human being. People wanted to work for him; players wanted to play for him … Sensibly, he knew which players could complement each other; he may have fielded Best, Law and Charlton up-front but he had grafters like Styles and Crerand to support them.
You have been based in Canada for many years now – has the experience of supporting Celtic from that distance changed over time?
I went to Canada in October 1956 and quite a few of my friends thought I would be back in Scotland to watch Celtic within a year. Well, it didn’t work out like that: for one thing, I didn’t have enough money to come back … and I had enrolled in a university programme, a completely new direction for me. By the time I was earning enough to return, I had become more settled in Canada. Admittedly, I was homesick at times but not quite enough to seriously consider going back.
Celtic? I always knew how they were doing (unfortunately, sometimes). There is a five-hour time-difference between Glasgow and Ottawa. In the early days, I could buy the Toronto newspapers in Ottawa on a Saturday night and get the results. The most memorable was on Saturday 19th October 1957 when I read that Celtic had beaten Rangers 7-1. Jubilation turned to doubt when I thought it might have been a misprint. Eventually, I phoned the Toronto Telegraph and asked for the Sports Desk. It was a long-distance call, and in 1957 it was expensive. A tired voice at the other end confirmed the score, adding the information he had received ‘hundreds of calls’. I remember to this day his closing words: “I guess it was an important game, eh?”
In later years, the CBC picked up segments of the BBC World Service at noon on Saturdays and included all the British football results. That’s when I fell out of bed in January 1967 when the announcer calmly intoned “Berwick Rangers 1, Rangers 0”.
Much later around 1998, I became one of the founding members of the Ottawa Celtic Supporters Club, and spent Saturday mornings twiddling the dials on a Short-Wave Radio; across the city, Ronnie Campbell (also of the CSC) was doing the same and we phoned each other several times, to check that we had heard things correctly; reception was very intermittent at times. Our club met about once every three weeks, sometimes in the basement of my house, and sometimes at Hughie Campbell’s. This was to watch videos of Celtic games. The Hamilton (Ontario) CSC was one of the largest and most prosperous in Canada. Every week they got the skimpy BBC coverage of Scottish football and transcribed (sic) them into a North American format. Once they had about an hour’s worth they would copy it, put it on to a Greyhound Bus and send it to Ottawa (about 260 miles away); one of our members would pick it up at the Bus Station, and guard it with his life till we had our meeting (where it was shown, discussed with Jesuitical detail, and then shown again) …
Tom and the Ottawa CSC celebrate the 4-0 goal defeat of Rangers in the Scottish Cup in 2018
A word about the Ottawa CSC. It still flourishes and we now watch almost every Celtic game live, home and away. For the past eighteen years we have met in the James Street Pub on Bank Street but only recently that tavern has closed down: we have relocated to The Heart & Crown, a more palatial ‘howff’ in Ottawa’s gentrified Market area. Another indication of how time passes: one of our members, recently retired, is Art McKenzie. Art is Canadian-born, and has no previous connection with Celtic, but he liked the look of their jerseys, found out about our club and eventually joined it. I thought he looked vaguely familiar and, when I quizzed him, he replied: ‘I look a bit different now, but you were my English teacher back in High School.” And now he has just retired!
Fanatical Cetic supportersl, yes … but, in much the same way that Celtic is more than a football club, the Ottawa CSC has other attributes. Last year the Ottawa Mission (an organisation that caters to the homeless) received the princely sum of $7,000 from the CSC … and the club’s principal charity (MS) received handsome donations. Not too shabby from a club with about 20 members! The money is raised, mainly from four well-attended quiz nights throughout the year, raffles, and donations from the members. Brother Walfrid would have approved.
Who do you consider were the best players in Scottish football in the immediate post-war era when you followed Celtic home and away?
I have a preference for skilful players who give 100% but who remain sportsmanlike. Here are some I remember.
Two great goalkeepers, Miller (Celtic) and Cowan (Morton). Willie Miller, although very young, was an outstanding keeper for Celtic during the War. He was incredibly brave and suffered several injuries by diving courageously at opponents’ feet. A stylist, he was immaculate in dealing with cross-ball from either wing. Jimmy Cowan, who succeeded Miller as Scotland’s keeper, was an excellent shot-stopper and acrobatic in making miraculous saves. Sadly, Jimmy died at the early age of 42, shortly after retiring from football.
Three outstanding full-backs: Jimmy McGowan (Thistle), Sammy Stewart (East Fife) and Willlie McNaught (Raith Rovers). McGowan was a whole-hearted defender, and always committed to Thistle’s cause; despite that, he was as clean as a whistle, rarely called up for foul play… because of his premature baldness Sammy Stewart always looked old. Another no-nonsense defender, he was always reliable for the unfashionable Fifers … Willie McNaught also played for an unfashionable club but he earned several Scottish ‘caps’ despite that. Always composed, he never looked flurried or rushed.
Harry Mooney (Third Lanark), John McPhail (Celtic) and Tommy Gallacher (Dundee) were typical Scottish wing-halves. Harry Mooney of Thirds was a left-half and about the same height and build as Bobby Collins. He had a long throw-in, and tackled like a tiger but nobody could complain of his sportsmanship … John McPhail was a talented player and eventually appeared as a starter in eight different positions (every half-back and forward position) but he started off as a right-half. He had a rolling gait and received his nickname by easing past a defender and ‘hooking’ the ball into the centre from the bye-line … Tommy Gallacher (Dundee) was Patsy’s son and joined Dundee from Queen’s Park. Dark-haired and handsome, Tommy was a highly popular player at Dens Park and, after retirement, was a respected journalist for a long time.
John McPhail takes the Scottish Cup won with Hooky’s famous goal in the 1951 final to his old school, St Mungo’s, to show to headteacher and Celtic’s first official historian Brother Clare (James Handley)
Scotland was famous for decades for producing an assembly-line of inside-forwards such as Tommy Orr (Morton), Willie Sharp (Thistle) and Jimmy Mason (Thirds). Bob Crampsey once claimed that Tommy Orr was always so cool that, if he played with an ice-cube tucked into his oxter, it would not have melted by full-time. An elegant player!… Willie Sharp would have been a regular for Scotland had he played for Rangers (or perhaps Celtic). Always intelligent, he could anticipate events inside the penalty area and was a frequent goalscorer – including the quickest goal ever scored in Scottish football…Jimmy Mason spent his whole career with Third Lanark but earned ‘caps’ for Scotland. He was industrious and an excellent distributor of the ball and, although not noted as a scorer, netted one of Scotland’s goals in a 3-1 win at Wembley in 1949.
Willie Waddell of Rangers expressed surprise that he had been given so many ‘caps’, considering the opposition from Jimmy Delaney and Gordon Smith. Waddell described Delaney as ‘the bravest of the brave’ and that was exemplified by Jimmy coming back from a horrendous arm-injury that side-lined him for almost two seasons. Matt Busby signed him for Manchester United for £4,000 and described him as ‘my best-ever signing’. After joining Aberdeen later in his career, Jimmy was made captain for the Dons’ visit to Celtic Park; a crowd of 61,000 turned up for the former Celtic favourite and his immediate opponent Alex Rollo was booed unmercifully for fouling him; Aberdeen won the match by 4-3 and Delaney scored the third goal, and received an ovation for it. A beloved Celtic player.
And lastly, perhaps my favourite player of all time — Gordon Smith of Hibernian. Smith at outside-right and ‘poster-boy’ of the Edinburgh side’s ‘Famous Five’ forward-line, was an elegant winger who had everything: speed and skill, courage and sportsmanship, a creator of goals and a prolific scorer… He also has an unusual distinction in that he was a valuable member of three league winners other than Rangers or Celtic; the ‘Gay Gordon’ played for Hibs, Hearts and Dundee when they won the championship. I have a personal memory of Gordon Smith from the time I was a net-boy at St Mirren; the only two players who thanked me for retrieving the ball were Bobby Brown, Rangers’ goalkeeper, and Gordon Smith.
Finally, what is Tom Campbell’s greatest-ever Celtic 11?
An almost impossible task, and it’s better to go with first impressions rather than agonise over it.
MILLER: McNAIR, McNEILL, EVANS, McGRAIN: MURDOCH, DELANEY, LENNON, COLLINS: GALLACHER, LARSSON
Subs: BORUC, GEMMELL, McGRORY, DALGLISH, NAKAMURA
I have picked Bobby Evans (recognised as a right-half or centre-half) out of position but I have always felt that he would have made the ideal sweeper because of his anticipation. Bobby Murdoch and Bobby Collins would have been formidable, skilled and hard, in any midfield. Neil Lennon could read the game perfectly behind them and Jimmy Delaney, always full of running, would have been adept at linking defence and attack. Patsy Gallacher, a genius, could flit between the midfield and attack, and link up with the incomparable Henrik Larsson. And this is a side with considerable versatility: McNair could play any defensive position, McGrain could be fielded as full-back on either the right or left, Collins could star in four forward positions and also in midfield. Give Patsy a jersey and lt him do whatever he wants…
And that’s a pretty decent bench, isn’t it?
Legendary Celtic Historian Tom Campbell has passed away
By David Faulds 21 April, 2025 2 Comments
Tom Campbell
Tom Campbell, Celtic Historian. Photo The Celtic Star
Sad news, reported by Ottawa’s Celtic Supporters Club, that Tom Campbell author of so many Celtic books including The Glory and The Dream which he co-wrote with Pat Woods, has passed away in hospital after a short illness.
Tom Campbell and Pat Woods
Tom Campbell (left) and Pat Woods, co-authors of The Glory and The Dream. Photo The Celtic Star
A member of Tom’s CSC posted this on Kerrydale Street.
“Some sad news that well known Celtic historian Tom Campbell passed away in hospital in Ottawa on Thursday aged 92 after a short illness. Tom was a founder member of our wee CSC here in Ottawa and was a regular attender at games right up until he entered hospital a couple of weeks ago, he will be sadly missed.”
Some of the comments on Kerrydale Street on the passing of Tom Campbell.
“Very sad news. I was fortunate enough to spend alot of time with Tom and his pal, David Potter. And I was honoured and privileged to contribute a chapter to one of Tom’s very many books – Ten Days That Shook Celtic – though my effort required a great deal of editing. Apologies again, Tom.
“Tom was a fabulous guy. He and David Potter would spend hours walking the Lomond Hills in Fife and talking about Celtic. Both had encyclopaediac knowledge of the history of our Club. If only their conversations about Celtic had been recorded for us all to hear.
“After one such walk in the Lomonds, Tom and David visited my home, to welcome my newly born, baby son into the Celtic Family with a Celtic bib and tales of the exploits of Jimmy McGrory and Henrik Larsson.
“However, one story epitomises my recollections of Tom. He’d been invited to a Celtic match at Celtic Park as a guest and post-match was in the Boardroom, enjoying hospitality. He recalled meeting a very attractive woman (Tom had an eye for the ladies), chatting with her and enjoying her company. She then introduced Tom to her husband – Martin O’Neill. Thanks, Tom. RIP, old friend.”
“He was a fantastic researcher who wrote some phenomenal books recording Celtic’s post War ascendancy to the top of Europe.”
“Sad news, a huge contributor to chronicling our history. RIP.”
“That is sad news, always worthwhile reading on Celtic. Actually was just thinking it had been a long while since I have gone through The Glory and The Dream, surprised my copy hasn’t fallen apart as I was reading so often. Also enjoyed Rhapsody in Green and Tears in Argentina.”
“Sincerest condolences to his family and friends. The club and support owe him a huge debt of gratitude for all his tireless work in chronicling the history of our club. It’s contributions like his which help make our club both a family and something unique in an increasingly commercialised sport. Thank you for all your hard work on our behalf.”
“Not just a great historian of our club but also one the oldest supporters at 92.”
“That is very sad news. His book, ‘Celtic’s Paranoia – All in the Mind’ is a wonderful piece of writing. RIP.”
“Sad news indeed. His ‘Glory and the Dream’ brought alive the early years of the club, and beautifully portrayed an idea of Glasgow Celtic that will live forever.”
“RIP Tom. People will be reading your books as long as there’s a Celtic football club. Not a bad legacy.”
“That is desperate news. I loved his books. The Glory And The Dream by Tom and Pat Woods is my favourite history of the club. RIP Tom. Go ndéana an Tiarna trócaire ar d’anam.”
“Wrote some amazing books on our history. RIP Tom.”
Fernie, McPhail, Mocham and Wilson
(L-R) Willie Fernie, Billy McPhail, Neilly Mochan and Sammy Wilson. Photo The Celtic Wiki
Tom was an early contributor on The Celtic Star and we’ll re-publish some of his contributions to celebrate the life and works of a great Celtic man. As mentioned above Tom was a great friend of David Potter and he was delighted to write a foreword and book review for David’s book on Willie Fernie.
The Glory and the Dream remains the iconic Celtic book. There have been hundreds, maybe thousands published over the years that tell the story of Celtic but if you had to narrow it down to just one you would surely selected The Glory and The Dream. Indeed every Celtic support should read it at least once.
Rest in peace Tom and thanks for writing for The Celtic Star, no doubt urged on to do so by your great pal David Potter.
Hail Hail
