McKeown, Michael – The Celtic Wiki

Personal

Fullname: Michael McKeown
aka: Mick McKeown
Born: 24 January 1869
Birthplace: Dalmellington, Ayrshire
Died: 25 October 1903
Signed: 1888
Left: 25 August 1891 (to Blackburn Rovers)
Debut: Celtic 5-1 Shettleston, Scottish Cup, 1 Sep 1888
Position: Defender/Left-back
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 2
International Goals: 0

Biog

One of the very earliest Celtic players, Michael McKeown was lured by the ambitious Celtic from Hibernian in 1888.

The Ayrshire-born left-back had played for the Edinburgh side against Cowlairs in the opening of Celtic Park. His competitive Celtic debut came at the same ground in the 5-1 Scottish Cup victory over Shettleston on September 1st 1888.

He was to play for Celtic in the Glasgow Exhibition Cup final (the club’s first ever final), which Celtic lost 2-0 to Cowlairs, then regarded as a shock result as Celtic entered this hyped up as supposedly to be “invincible“. A real comedown and lesson learnt, although the tag like was PR hype to help sell tickets for the event. In any case, it was a minor set-back for the then new club.

Capped by Scotland, Mick McKeown was a fine and much sought after talent but he was also an outspoken and fiery character who was only too happy to offer his considerable skills to the highest bidder.

During his stay at Parkhead he made it be known that if Celtic weren’t prepared to recognise his worth then he would be on the move. It was rumoured that during one such discussion that McKeown was so incensed by the club’s offer to him, he struck club secretary John O’Hara. In many ways, he was possibly the first true modern player by attitude alone (and likely a further indication of the changing nature of sport at the time).

In January 1892, Celtic played a league match v Vale of Leven with 10 men as Mick McKeown failed to turn-up, and lost 3-1. Vale of Leven were a poor side, so his absence had a major impact that day. It was the inaugural league season, and Celtic finished third well behind joint title winners Dumbarton & Rangers.

He had several fall outs with other key players and officials, and at one time declared to the press he was leaving Celtic to play for the breakaway Glasgow Hibernian – a club formed by some disaffected conservative/parochial folk who wanted an all Catholic & amateur selection policy as was the case with the original (Edinburgh) Hibs. He was even offered captaincy of the new club. The majority of those at Celtic thankfully were against any such idea of following the Edinburgh club’s policy, and it has been a proud statement of Celtic’s to support or employ any man regardless of their creed, despite the actions of those who wanted to thwart it. It’s also a curious note that this Glasgow Hibernian side being setup by some claiming the moral highground and a conservative ethos, were choosing Mick McKeown for the side, as he hardly reflected it.

Celtic refused to release his kit, and he was to remain with the Bhoys after his issues were resolved. In August 1891, Mick McKeown did finally depart Celtic Park when he moved to England and Blackburn Rovers.

He was soon back at Celtic, playing in a friendly v Celtic for Blackburn Rovers, with Celtic winning 3-2.

That move away proved to be the beginning of the end for the player. A heavy drinker, his problems with alcohol worsened, and his stay in Lancashire lasted less than a year. He returned to Scotland and had brief and unsuccessful spells at a number of minor clubs. He had became a rather poor sight, living day to day dependent on charity & handouts. He was also a regular at court for various frequent drink related misdemeanours. A spell in the army lasted less than a year when he was dismissed and described as being “worthless”. Michael McKeown died on 25th October 1903. He was aged just 33. His body was found lying in a lime kiln just a short stroll away from Celtic Park in Camlachie. He had died from asphyxiation. A pauper’s grave awaited the former Scotland star, but Celtic did not forget their former player despite past run-ins. Celtic did the decent thing, and arranged the funeral and burial to give him at least an honourable send-off. It was a sad end for the player, and a bleak warning to others. Football may have given the opportunity to the few to escape the drudgery of other lines they may have been driven into (such as working down the pits) but some mishandled the chance or couldn’t live up to it. It was to be a story that would repeat itself too often in the history of football even to today.	The Dundee Courier & Argus(Dundee, Scotland), Wednesday, September 28, 1898

That move away proved to be the beginning of the end for the player. A heavy drinker, his problems with alcohol worsened, and his stay in Lancashire lasted less than a year. He returned to Scotland and had brief and unsuccessful spells at a number of minor clubs.

He had became a rather poor sight, living day to day dependent on charity & handouts. He was also a regular at court for various frequent drink related misdemeanours. A spell in the army lasted less than a year when he was dismissed and described as being “worthless”.

Michael McKeown died on 25th October 1903. He was aged just 33. His body was found lying in a lime kiln just a short stroll away from Celtic Park in Camlachie. He had died from asphyxiation.

A pauper’s grave awaited the former Scotland star, but Celtic did not forget their former player despite past run-ins. Celtic did the decent thing, and arranged the funeral and burial to give him at least an honourable send-off.

It was a sad end for the player, and a bleak warning to others. Football may have given the opportunity to the few to escape the drudgery of other lines they may have been driven into (such as working down the pits) but some mishandled the chance or couldn’t live up to it. It was to be a story that would repeat itself too often in the history of football even to today.

The Dundee Courier & Argus(Dundee, Scotland), Wednesday, September 28, 1898

Playing Career

APPEARANCES (goals)	LEAGUE	SCOTTISH CUP	LEAGUE CUP	EUROPE	TOTAL
1888-91	14	16	n/a	n/a	30
Goals	0	0	–	–	0

Honours with Celtic

Glasgow Cup

1891

Pictures

Player pics

Articles

MR [MICHAEL] McKEOWN, CELTIC F.C.

“Behind yon hills, where Lugar flows,” the crack back of the Celts learned to peg the game. At the pretty little Ayrshire village that takes its name from the stream that Scotia’s Bard, has immortalised in deathless song, Mr McKeown kicked away his first football boots. Under the genial “generalship” of James McLaren with whom he came from the Cronbery Club, on the Eglinton Estates, he joined the Lugar Boswell, and his name has to be added to the brilliant galaxy of talent this Ayrshire club has produced. This includes such names as Maggin, McGhee, Lundy, Maclaren, and Auld — grand players all of them, and men beside whom Mr McKeown takes his place and need not blush, for in pluck and ability be gives way to none of them.

When the “Grand Old Gineral” left Lugar for the Edinburgh Hibernians, Mr McKeown followed him. Whilst in the east he played against Glasgow and Dumbartonshire. On the formation of the crack Celtic combination in Glasgow last season, McLaren and McKeown joined Mr Tom Maley’s team of all the talents, and here both of them are likely to remain. Since coming to Glasgow Mr McKeown has had his share of football honours. He has played for Glasgow against London and Edinburgh, and he played at Sheffield in the recent match against the cutlery town.

Mr McKeown is a great player, and he looks like one; he is as firm on his feet as a sailor in a sou’-wester and can kick as strong as a Clydesdale colt. He is not a “fiddle-faddler” on the ball like dashing Willie Groves, but with one of his huge punts he will have the ball at the goal sooner than the Celts fast centre forward. Mr McKeown has a calf development that a lady of the Corps de Ballet might well envy, and chest proportions within which there beats a heart fit for a lion tamer.

He is splendid company at the social board, and when his team are down in their luck he takes to the boards like Macarthy of Enniscorthy, sets the floor a spring and dispels dull care. He has just completed his majority, a fact which he has recently celebrated by taking to himself a partner for life. With the poet, he believes there’s nothing in a name, and so he spells McEwen with an o. He will not go down to football posterity, however, on a few letters of the alphabet, but on his merits as a player; these are of an order that should readily admit him into any company, and secure him reward from any association.
[Scottish Referee 3 February 1890]