Muir, Robert

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Personal

Fullname: Robert Muir
aka: Bobby Muir
Born: 23 Sep 1876
Died: 1953 (in Toronto)
Birthplace: Kilmarnock
Signed: 1 May 1903 (to Bristol Rovers)
Left: 20 Apr 1904 (to Notts County)
Position: Outside-Right
Debut: Celtic 2-1 Partick Thistle, League, 15 Aug 1903
Internationals: none

Biog

Kilmarnock-born Bobby Muir was a gifted outside-right who joined Celtic from Bristol Rovers in May 1903.

He made his competitive first team debut for the Bhoys in a 2-1 league win over Partick Thistle at Parkhead on 15th August 1903. That game is best remembered as being the occasion Celtic wore the now world famous green and white hoops for the very first time.

He was said to be “the best man in his position since Neil McCallum… a bewilderer with lean and clever footwork“.

He should be best recalled for being a hero of the run to the Scottish Cup title in 1904. He firstly scored a double v Dundee in a 5-0 victory in a third round replay. He then scored a late equaliser v Third Lanark in the semi-finals on the 75 minute mark that set up Celtic for another goal a few minutes later that took Celtic to the 1904 Scottish Cup final. Third Lanark were the best side in Scotland that season and Celtic had lost three times to them already, and this was the first and only victory against Third Lanark by Celtic that season, so a big achievement.

Bobby Muir was in great form during the 1904 Scottish Cup final when he helped Celtic come back from two down to defeat Rangers 3-2. The match report is dotted with references to him on the day, and he was even unlucky to not score as when he had a chance he was then “forcibly bowled over by [Rangers’] Drummond“. For the second goal, he was pivotal in the assist:

“Towards the interval, Muir ran up the wing at a great rate, and when approaching goal he was met by Robertson and Drummond. He succeeded in evading both these players, and from the corner flag centred with fine judgement. Quinn, who was in front of goal, met the ball, and sent it past Watson for the second time.”

It’s fair to say that he was a key man for that title, which in retrospect became a pivotal moment as it signalled a new golden era as Celtic were to then dominate Scottish football over the remainder of the decade with six league titles in a row.

His greatest moment outwith of the Scottish Cup can be argued to having scored a hat-trick v Morton in the league on 23 January 1904 in a 5-1 victory. The problem is though that he little repeated this great form in the league, although Celtic did win in all four of the games he scored in.

In the league, things were more difficult than in the Scottish Cup, and Celtic finished in fourth place, joint on 38pts with Rangers as Third Lanark took the title five points ahead.

However after just one season he was tempted back to England and joined Notts County in April 1904. He had hit seven goals in 25 league & Scottish Cup appearances for Celtic.

In retrospect, if he had remained at Celtic he could potentially have become another hero in Celtic’s first golden era winning six-in-a-row.

He was to retire in 1908 due to back problems.

He later moved to Canada, and met the Celtic team on tour in 1951 and wrote a piece for the Celtic Football Guide of 1951-52. He kept up in football in Canada, becoming associated with Eaton FC for 30 years as player-secretary-manager, as well as being secretary and treasurer of the Ontario FA.

He passed away in 1953.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Pictures

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