McGhee, Jospeh

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Fullname: Joseph John McGhee
aka: Joe McGhee, Joseph McGhee
Born: 12 July 1901
Died: […]
Birthplace: Galston, Ayrshire
Signed: 12 Oct 1929
Left: May 1932 (free)
Position: Winger, Midfielder
Debut: Celtic 4-2 Ayr Utd, League, 24 Oct 1931
Internationals: none

Biog

Joseph McGhee signed for Celtic in October 1929 from Hurlford Juveniles.

Capable of playing in almost any attacking role he was used mostly by Celtic on the wing. After being farmed out to Maryhill Hibs his Celtic first team debut came in a 4-2 league triumph over Ayr at Parkhead on October 24th 1931 when Joe McGhee netted twice.

Despite not playing much for Celtic he did go on the famous away tour with Celtic to the US & Canada in 1931 (see link) scoring at least three goals, on what must have been a great adventure for him as well as the rest of the party.

There is some doubt as to how many goals Joe McGhee scored in North America. He scored one against the Chicago Bricklayers, and two in the final game of the tour against Canton S.C (Baltimore), but he may have also scored against Michigan All Stars in a 5-0 win on 25 June at the University of Detroit Stadium (Celtic’s first match played under floodlights).

The Scotsman reported that Willie Hughes was at outside-left and took a pass from Peter Scarff before going on a run and scoring the opening goal, while the Glasgow Herald reports the scorer of the first goal that Peter Scarff supplied, as Joe McGhee. The Herald published: “The opening goal came after 17 minutes’ play when McGhee, the outside left, took a pass from Scarff, and dribbling through the entire American defence, beat Sproat, the opposing goalkeeper, with an unstoppable shot.” Both papers got their information from the same source, the Press Association, and to confuse matters further the local Canadian paper, The Montreal Gazette, gave the scorer as Peter Scarff. Whoever scored the goal, it sounds like a beauty.

Joe McGhee never scored again for the Bhoys after his brace against Ayr in October 1931, and was released in May 1932 after a total of six league & Scottish Cup appearances.

From an “Alphabet of the Celts”

A painter by trade, Joe McGhee was a versatile junior. “His adaptability should prove an asset to Celtic with their proclivity with experimenting with players out of position…”

Celtic experimented very little with Joe McGhee. He was tried on both wings and then discarded.

Blackpool were said to be offering very attractive wages but Joe did not want to go to England. Next thing he gave the Owls (Sheffield Wednesday) a try, and then later had a spell with Airdrie.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

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