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Fullname: Douglas John McGuire
aka: Doug McGuire, Dougie McGuire, Douglas McGuire
Born: 6 September 1967
Birthplace: Bathgate, West Lothian
Signed: 1984 (from Celtic BC)
Left: 10 August 1988 (to Coventry City)
Position: Midfield
Debut: Celtic 4-2 Falkirk, League, 22 Nov 1986
Internationals: none
Biog
A product of Celtic Boys Club, Dougie McGuire was a highly sought after youngster. Considered a mazy dribbler he signed for the Bhoys in 1984 directly from his school which was St Michael’s Academy, Kilwinning.
The Bathgate born wide man could look a class act at youth and reserve team level and made a sensational competitive debut as a sub in the 4-2 home league win over Falkirk in November 1986 when he had come on with Celtic 2-1 down and had created two goals to help achieve victory. With Celtic lacking width without Davie Provan, through illness, it was expected that Dougie would progress to first team level as a regular.
In September 1987 he came on a sub against Borussia Dortmund in West Germany but he failed to force his way into the first team picture after Billy McNeill bought Joe Miller for a then massive £650,000 in October 1987.
Dougie McGuire was loaned out to Dumbarton and then Sunderland during the much celebrated centenary year, so he sadly missed out on a great celebratory time for the club.
After just four senior appearances he left Glasgow in a £40,000 move to Coventry City in August 1988 and this player of great potential was lost to Celtic, leaving those who rated him to ponder what could have been.
Post-Celtic
Dougie McGuire also struggled to break through at Coventry, who in their pre-Strachan days were a top division club. He made just four league appearances in 1989-90, after none the previous season, and was eventually released to Cumnock Juniors in his native Ayrshire.
From here he moved on to spells in the SFL with Queen of the South (1991-94), Stranraer (1994-96) and Albion Rovers (1996-97). In August 1996 he scored a hat-trick of penalties for Rovers against Arbroath, which was a Scottish league record until equalled by Aberdeen’s Paul Hartley on the opening day of 2010-11.
Dougie McGuire then enjoyed a long career in the rough-and-tumble of the Ayrshire junior circuit, encompassing spells at Irvine (Meadow and Thistle), Ardeer Thistle, Irvine Meadow again, Winton Rovers, Dalry Thistle, eventually becoming Ardeer Thistle player/manager in February 2004. He had linked up with ex-Celtic Boys Club pal Sandy Fraser in his first spell at Ardeer in 2000-01.
He returned to the Ardeer Thistle hotseat as manager in November 2009.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1984-88 | (2) | 0 | (1) | (1) | (4) |
| Goals: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none
Pictures
Articles
‘It was like big Roy Aitken had killed the guy and they were putting a sheet over him,” former Celt Dougie McGuire
By Editor — 8 March, 2018
Earlier today I met up with former Celtic player Dougie McGuire. Dougie played for Celtic in the 1980s, although he only managed four competitive games for the club. He was a very highly thought of youngster at the time with legends like Bobby Lennox and Jimmy Johnstone happy to voice their support for this young Celt. Dougie was potentially one of the most exciting youngsters at the club at the time but for various reasons that he now shares with us, it just wasn’t to be for him at Celtic.
Sit back and enjoy Dougie McGuire’s very funny #10IAR…as always The Celtic Star Reporter Scott Alcroft is asking the questions.
Dougie McGuire’s #10IAR
How did the move to Celtic come about and was there a link with St Michael’s Academy in Kilwinning with Bobby Lennox and Lou Macari having attended that school?
I don’t think so Scott no, there was a Scout from Eaglesham named Jim McGuire who got me to Parkhead. That was my Father’s name, that’s how I remember that. I had Aberdeen, Liverpool, Man Utd and St Mirren all sniffing about me. I was going to go to Aberdeen for a week but then I had a week’s trial at Celtic at Barrowfield and when they wanted to sign me, that was it, it was no brainer after that being a Celtic Supporter.
What can you remember about the day you signed?
I shouldn’t probably say this but people always say that the best day of your life is when you get married or when your kids are born etc which of course was magnificent but from a selfish point of view I’d have to say that the day that I signed for Celtic was the best day of my life. I was only 13 years old at the time. It was a dream come true, it really was. Me and my Dad with big Billy McNeill in the Manager’s office. It was like I’d genuinely died and gone to heaven.
Who were the players that came through the Boys Club and the Reserves at that time that went on to have big careers?
A guy that stuck out like a sore thumb was Tony Shepherd. He was a magnificent player, he was the stand out. John Traynor was a good player and wee Jimmy Boyle as well who went on to have a good career with Airdrie. Derek Mills, Joe Miller and Stevie Kean. Big Derek Whyte!! What an athlete he was. I could run, in fact I could probably run by anybody but big Derek. He was some athlete.
You made your first team debut as a Sub against Falkirk in November 86. We were 2-1 down when you came on and changed the game completely creating 2 in a 4-2 win. What do you remember about the day of the game and how did it feel when you knew you were going on?
Back in those days the crowds weren’t like anything you get these days. Probably 15-18000 that day. The Jungle were singing my name and I couldn’t believe it. I remember just putting the ball low into the box and Mo Johnston just being clever and getting on the end of it. What a smashing feeling it was. There was a big fight after the game in the dressing room. Not fisticuffs or that, just Roy Aitken and Pat Bonner going at it. We’d conceded a late goal and they were arguing about whose fault it was. Davie Hay just came in and surveyed the scene. No punches were thrown but it was close.
You played against Borussia Dortmund in what was then, West Germany, what was that experience like?
I came on as a late sub, a kinda last throw of the dice thing. A magnificent Stadium. Apparently Ibrox was designed on that one at the time. Murdo MacLeod played for them that day. He came in to the dressing room after the game and wished all the boys all the best. One thing happened during the game that made us all laugh. I was on the bench at the time and Roy Aitken kinda halved this guy. It must’ve been a German thing but the medics came on and put a blanket over the guy that was injured. We’d never seen that before, it was like big Roy had killed the guy and they were putting a sheet over him haha.
You made 4 appearances for Celtic, did you feel that your time at Celtic was up when Billy McNeill bought Joe Miller, for a then huge sum of £650,000 in Oct 1987?
I thought long before that to be honest. Big Billy was a legend. I was a talented boy just my mental strength probably wasn’t good enough if I’m being honest. I think if Davie Hay had stayed I’d have probably got a few more chances to play. Bobby Lennox liked me and Jimmy Johnstone did too. I’m not saying they picked the team cause they never but their influence was there. They were wingers so knew I was a good wee player. I got a mention in both their books so that’s something I hold dear. Probably the best wingers the club have had so I’m happy with that.
You used to travel to training in the same car as Roy Aitken, Mark Reid and Bobby Lennox, what was that like and what were those 3 guys like to travel with on a daily basis?
Back to what I said to you earlier Scotty, it was like I’d died and gone to heaven. Big Roy Aitken, Captain of Celtic, Bobby Lennox a legend and Reidy. The patter in the motor was second to none. We had John Traynor in the motor as well. I was kinda cheeky so they liked me, I’d give it back anyway and I think they liked that. It was an education for life you know travelling with these guys.
Who were the Characters in the dressing room in your time at Celtic? Any funny stories?
In the Reserves, there was a guy called John Halpin. He was a natural comic, so funny. We had Roy Aitken, Bobby Lennox, Tommy Burns, Graeme Sinclair and Davie Provan.
Neilly Mochan though, being 16 you thought you were the **** of the walk at Celtic. Neilly as you’ll know was the kit man so you’d go to him for boots and that. If you were a good player you got the Coppa Mundial’s and if you weren’t that good, you got mouldies or that. I went to see Neilly one day and said to him, “Can I get new boots please Neilly”? He says to me, “Do you think you’re going to be here that long son”? I remember Scotty, I was nearly greeting. He then goes, “Son, I’ve been in big Billy’s office, what’s your name again”? I goes, “Dougie, Dougie McGuire”. He says, “Aye Dougie, Dougie McGuire, they were talking about you, I don’t think you’re going to be here that long”. See going hame on the bus, I’m nearly greeting thinking Celtic are going to release me, but that was just Neilly.
Who was your biggest influence at the Club and why?
Bobby Lennox. I seem to remember when he did a report in the programmes and that, he’d give me a good mention. He stuck by me. You don’t realise until you leave Celtic, the stuff he and Jinky for example said and did for me.
What do you think of the current Celtic side the job Brendan Rodgers is doing?
Well I think Brendan Rodgers has brought pride back to Celtic. The way he speaks, he’s a very humble man. His persona is different class!! I think we should play with two up front at Celtic. Griffiths and Dembele. I would like to see us being a bit more gung ho. I can see how he’s trying to build something though with the way we’re playing with Europe in mind, I just think in Scotland though we should play with the two. I love big Rogic, he’s my favourite. I’d have him in the team every week. See for Ibrox on Sunday, get big Rogic on cause see if he’s playing, something will happen.
Dougie that was outstanding. Thank you very much for sharing those stories with us. I know Roy and Bobby being a Saltcoats boy myself so that for me was a cracking trip down memory lane as well. One of my colleagues Paul Dykes wrote a book about Neilly Mochan and the stories in it are incredible.
Talking about patter with that car load you went to training with? Neilly sounded as though he had that in abundance with all the stories that come out about him. He did the same to one of my other previous #10IAR guests Brian McClair with the boots. Brilliant!!
You lived the dream Dougie and wore that sacred shirt. Nobody can take that away from you ever. Thanks once again for taking part and we hope to see you at Paradise soon for a game. HH
Interview for the The Celtic Star Magazine by Scotty Alcroft
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