McGuire, James

M | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

---

Personal

Fullname: James C McGuire
aka: Jimmy McGuire, Killer, James McGuire
Born: 1927
Died: […]
Birthplace: Plains, North Lanarkshire
Signed: 10 August, 1948
Left: 1950 (Free); 1950 (Shamrock Rovers)
Position: Full-back, right back
Debut: v Hibernian (League) (a) 2-1 30/10/48
Internationals: None
International Caps: None
International Goals: None

---

Biog

Tough-tackling full back Jimmy McGuire was signed by Celtic in August 1948, in the wake after the debacle of the 1947/48 season when Celtic came perilously close to relegation, and sweeping changes were needed at Celtic.

The Plains-born defender was brought to Parkhead after being freed by Aberdeen. He made his first team debut in a league tie with Hibernian on October 30th which Celtic won 2-1.

One notable game for him was the victory over Rangers in the league cup at Celtic Park, Celtic winning 3-2 (remembered best for it being Bobby Collin’s debut). In that era, victories over Rangers by Celtic were often rare events.  Jimmy McGuire did concede the penalty that had given Rangers a lead but thankfully Celtic still won, but apparently he was “lucky to escape punishment for a more serious offence a few minutes earlier“.  The match reporter wrote on him caustically that: “McGuire must discipline himself, or others will do it for him“.

Jimmy McGuire’s robust approach to defending didn’t really fit well with Celtic’s more supposed aesthetic approach to the game and his uncompromising tackles were so fierce that he was nicknamed ‘Killer’ by the support. The problem was that despite all this, the defence was little improving and still leaking too many goals. His penultimate match was a 4-0 drubbing by Rangers in the league, and Celtic had conceded 8 goals in the three games to Rangers that season in which he had played, plus another three in the other matches. After that match he was dropped, and only played once more that season.

Jimmy McGuire did get to play for Celtic in the Glasgow Charity Cup final post-season in 1949, but lost 2-1 to Partick Thistle in extra-time.

Saying that, Celtic were poor in this time coming sixth in the league in season 1948/49, so not utilising Jimmy McGuire properly due to the ‘aesthetic’ reason is possibly an excuse. Maybe the first team needed some more steel and could have used him more. The club was poorly run during this time. On other hand, sympathisers could point to that Celtic actually conceded only 40 goals in the league (second lowest of any side that season). It was actually the scorers who were failing, scoring only 48 goals, the lowest tally for sides in the top half of the division. The following season, in which he played little, Celtic conceded 50 goals.

Jimmy McGuire made a total of 18 league & Scottish Cup appearances for Celtic before being released in 1950 when he went on to join Shamrock Rovers in Ireland.

---

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

---

Pictures

• Player Pics

---