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Personal
Fullname: Paul Joseph McGugan
aka: Paul McGugan
Born: 17 July 1964
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: April 1980 (prov); 9 October 1982 (full)
Left: 15 October 1987 (to Barnsley)
Position: Centre-half
First game: Hibs 3-2 home 28 April 1984 league
Last game: Dumbarton 5-1 away 26 August 1987 league cup
First goal: St Mirren 2-0 home 5 October 1985 league
Last goal: Rangers 2-0 home 1 January 1986 league
Internationals: none
Biog
Highly rated imposing centre-half Paul McGugan signed for Celtic from Eastercraigs Amateurs in April 1980.
The big defender worked his way through the Parkhead ranks and after some very impressive reserve appearances he made his debut for the Bhoys in a 3-2 league over Hibernian on 28th April 1984. He had played in a Glasgow Cup final v Rangers on 13th May 1982 and scored the winner seven minutes from time, however this was regarded as a reserves match.
He was at centre half for the first league game of the 1984/85 season at Easter Road but injuries meant that it was nine months until his next appearance in May against Rangers in a 1-1 draw in a meaningless league game at Parkhead.
At the beginning of 1985 Celtic were having problems in the centre half position. Pierce O’Leary had injury trouble and Tom McAdam was in the last stages of a fine Celtic career. Paul McGugan was recalled for a fine 5-0 win at Easter Road against Hibs on September 7th. One week later he played his part in a fine 2-1 victory over Aberdeen at Parkhead and played on bravely after having blood pouring from a head wound. Four days later he earned rave review for his part in Celtic’s 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the Vincente Calderon stadium.
On October 5th he scored his first Celtic goal against St. Mirren in a 2-0 win at Celtic Park. He had mixed fortunes on January 1st 1986 when he scored the opening goal from an Owen Archdeacon cross against the Huns in a 2-0 win but broke a bone in his foot in the process, although he bravely played on. He lost his place to O’Leary because of this injury but was recalled before the end of the season and was in the side which leapfrogged Hearts to take the league title when Celtic thrashed St Mirren 5-0 at Love Street on 3rd May 1986 to cue joyous celebrations amongst the Celts in the 17,000 crowd and long beyond those gates too.
Into the next season, he still played a number of games, but Scottish football was entering a new era, with Rangers high-spending model revolutionising & disjointing the game. Celtic lost the league, and subsequently Davie Hay lost his job as manager.
Although a steady performer, Paul McGugan was sold to Barnsley for £55,000 by the newly returning Celtic manager Billy McNeill in October 1987 after just a brief run of four games in the centenary season.
He had played in 59 appearances with the Bhoys, and so had played his part in two league title runs.
He left Barnsley for Chesterfield in 1990 and ended his career with them in 1994.
We wish him the best.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1980-87 | 49 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 59 |
| Goals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish Premier Division
