McPherson, Andrew

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Fullname: Andrew Forbes McPherson
aka: Andrew McPherson
Born: 22 September 1879
Died: […]
Birthplace: Greenock
Signed: 19 May 1902
Left: 22 Apr 1904
Position: Goalkeeper
Debut: Celtic 3-1 Hearts, Charity Cup, 19 May 1902
Internationals: Scottish League XI
International Caps: 1
International Shut-outs: 1

Biog

Goalkeeper Andrew McPherson was signed by Celtic from Morton in May 1902 as the successor to Bob McFarlane. He had played for the Scottish League XI in Feb 1902 v Irish League XI in a 3-0 victory which highlights that he was rated by some.

Greenock-born Andrew McPherson came to Celtic in an exchange deal which saw outside-right John Hodge move in the opposite direction.

His first game was in a 2-0 defeat of Rangers in the Inter-City league, and then a 3-1 Charity Cup win over Hearts at Parkhead on May 19th 1902.

He had a difficult time against Hibernian in the Charity Cup on 31st May 1902 which saw Andrew McPherson lose six goals in a humiliating 6-2 defeat. However, he went on to win a medal in the 3-2 win over Rangers in the Ibrox Disaster British Championship match on 17th June 1902. He also played v Rangers in the August/September 1902 Ibrox Disaster Benefit Fund Tournament which Celtic won, defeating Rangers 7-2 in one match and winning the final 4-2 v Morton.

His league debut was in August 1902 v Hibernian, and he was said to be “nervous and excited at crucial moments“. No surprise as he had lost six goals to them not far off back in May 1902 in the aforementioned Glasgow Charity Cup match. Celtic drew 1-1 on this debut so an improvement for him.

On the other hand, Hibernian once again trounced Celtic by 4-0 in the return league meeting on 2nd Jan 1903. Celtic had played Rangers in the increasingly traditional New Years Day Derby the day before, drawing 3-3. So he had conceded seven goals in two days. In fairness, Hibernian were the dominant team that season, winning the league at a cantor with only one defeat, whilst Celtic were fifth in the league well behind them.

One of his greatest hours was a display against St Mirren that inspired the first team to a 4-0 win in the Scottish Cup replay, only to then lose 3-0 to Rangers in the next round. He also played in the Glasgow Cup final in October 1902, with Celtic losing by 3-0.

In light of some of the poor results, his greatest claim to fame is probably more that he was the first Celtic goalkeeper to wear the hoops as opposed to the stripes on 15th August 1903.

He never got to win a major medal with Celtic, the record six-in-a-row league titles began after he left, and he never played in any of the matches on the road to the Scottish Cup title in 1904.

He did finally manage to play in a victory over Hibernian in September 1903, in a 2-0 victory away. Hibernian actually had a very poor season in 1903/04, collapsing to tenth after having won the league the season before.

At times an erratic keeper Andrew McPherson made 32 league & Scottish Cup appearances for Celtic (playing in every match in season 1902-03) before departing for Hibernian in April 1904, a curious transfer after having lost so many goals to them for Celtic.

He went on to only play in one league game for Hibernian, a 2-0 defeat to Third Lanark, which makes you further wonder what Hibernian were thinking when they took him on.

He later ended up in court action v Celtic over claims on unpaid wages.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

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