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From 9th April 2011
The Celtic Graves Society marked the life of Sandy McMahon with a ceremony at his resting place, with a new headstone.
2020
Since the above ceremony an additional headstone has also been added.
Celtic Player, 1890-1903
The first legendary Celtic striker – with an incredible strike rate of 181 goals in 219 appearances. Member of the first Celtic team to win the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League.
at St Peter’s The Good Shepherd Cemetery, Dalbeth, near Celtic Park on Saturday 9th April at 12 noonAttendees at the event will include:
- A representative from Celtic Football Club
- Steve Chalmers, Celtic striking legend
- Jim Craig, Celtic Graves Society Patron
- David Potter, Celtic Historian
- Members of the McMahon Family
A blessing will be given by Msgr Canon. Bradley of St. Matthew’s Church, Bishopbriggs
All Celtic supporters are welcome to attend the event and flowers/tributes can be laid at the graveside
“One of the Club’s earliest stars and certainly one of its brightest” – Willie Maley
Sandy ‘The Duke’ McMahon was the club’s first star forward and the first Celt to epitomise an era – like Jimmy Quinn who came after him. His swashbuckling style of play as an old-fashioned inside left-led to him being nicknamed ‘The Prince of Dribblers’ by the support. He established a phenomenal partnership with Johnny Campbell (109 goals in 215 appearances – and also buried in Dalbeth) on the Celtic left wing which lasted over a decade and propelled the new club to its first great successes.
Sandy’s first moment of glory came when his two goals in the 1892 Scottish Cup Final replay v Queens Park set up a 5-1 victory and for the first time the famous trophy went to Celtic Park. Sandy went on to score again in the 1899 and 1900 cup finals winning two further medals.
“Sandy was the leading goalscorer in season 1892-93 when his 12 goals saw Celtic secure the League Championship for the first time. He was the first Celt to score over 100 goals and remains in the Top 10 Celtic goalscorers of all time (currently ranked 8th). In 1893-4 Celtic made it two league flags in-a-row with Sandy scoring a phenomenal 31 goals in 30 games in major competitions – a Celtic record unbroken until ‘Sniper’ Jim McColl over two decades later.”
Sandy McMahon was capped six times for Scotland and it was often remarked that, rare for a footballer, he was as intelligent off the pitch as on it. When the Celtic side he led routed Rangers 4-0 in a Scottish Cup replay in 1900 Sandy declared to the press after: “We have taken Kruger’s advice! We have staggered humanity!” When leading English clubs sought to tempt him south the Celtic committee moved heaven and earth to entice him back because, in Willie Maley’s words, “he was soo o’ anither sort.” Sandy died at the young age of 45, less than thirteen years after leaving Celtic Park.
Ceremony to mark final resting place of Sandy McMahon
By: Newsroom Staff on 06 Apr, 2011 09:20 THE latest Celtic Graves Society event takes place this Saturday, April 9 at St Peter’s Cemetery, Dalbeth (London Road).
The special ceremony at 12noonwill mark the final resting place of Alexander ‘Sandy’ McMahon, one of Celtic’s first great players, who played for the club between 1890-1903, scoring an incredible 177 goals in 217 appearances.
And this event is on the 119th anniversary of Celtic’s first major trophy triumph – the 1892 Scottish Cup final victory over Queen’s Park, when McMahon scored two goals in the 5-1 win.
All Celtic supporters are welcome to attend the event at 12noon and flowers/tributes can be laid at the graveside.
Sandy ‘The Duke’ McMahon was the club’s first star forward and the first Celt to epitomise an era – like Jimmy Quinn who came after him. His swashbuckling style of play as an old-fashioned inside left-led to him being nicknamed ‘The Prince of Dribblers’ by the support.
He established a phenomenal partnership with Johnny Campbell (109 goals in 215 appearances – and also buried in Dalbeth) on the Celtic left wing which lasted over a decade and propelled the new club to its first great successes.
Sandy’s first moment of glory came when his two goals in the 1892 Scottish Cup Final replay versus Queen’s Park set up a 5-1 victory and for the first time the famous trophy went to Celtic Park.
He went on to score again in the 1899 and 1900 cup finals winning two further medals. Sandy was the leading goalscorer in season 1892-93 when his 12 goals saw Celtic secure the League Championship for the first time. He was the first Celt to score over 100 goals and remains in the Top 10 Celtic goalscorers of all time (currently ranked 8th).
In 1893-94 Celtic made it two league flags in-a-row with Sandy scoring a phenomenal 30 goals in 30 games in all competitions – a Celtic record unbroken until ‘Sniper’ Jim McColl over two decades later.
Sandy died at the young age of 45, less than thirteen years after leaving Celtic Park.
A commemorative booklet in Sandy McMahon’s honour has been published. A booklet about the Celtic connection with Dalbeth Cemetery is also now on sale. All proceeds from the publications go towards the purchase of memorial stones and refurbishments.
Please visit www.celticgraves.com join the Society and consider making a donation.
Pre-2011
Sandy is buried in Section 15 – Lair No.1864 in Dalbeth Cemetery in an unmarked grave
