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Fullname: Peter Dowds
aka: Peter Douds, Peter Doud (Family name of Douds on Birth and Douds on Marriage and Death Certificate)
Born: 24 August 1871
Died: September 1895
Birthplace: Johnstone
Signed: February 1889 (from Broxburn Celtic); 5 May 1894 (from Stoke City)
Left: May 1892 (to Aston Villa)
Position: Utility
Debut: Hearts 0-5 Celtic, League, 23 Aug 1890 (he scored one of the goals)
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 1
International Goals: 0
Biog
“To the present generation Peter Dowds is not even a name, but to old-timers he was the greatest-ever.”
Willie Maley
Peter Dowds was a great Celt who was willing to play anywhere and in any place for the Bhoys.
The Johnstone born man was brought to the then still fledgling Parkhead club in February 1889 from Broxburn Celtic. His competitive debut for Celtic saw him on the score sheet as the Bhoys won 5-0 at Hearts in the league on August 23rd 1890.
Although predominantly a left-sided player Peter Dowds was capable of playing all over the park and was often asked to do just that. Quick, strong and sure footed he was instrumental to the early successes of Celtic and was part of the first Bhoys side to lift the Scottish Cup. During the 1891-92 season, Peter Dowds became the first Celtic player to play in every single match of one season. While the Bhoys finished second in the league to Dumbarton (champions alone this time), Celtic won their first Scottish Cup, as they defeated Queen’s Park 5-1 in the second of two finals, on the 9th April 1892.
Comically, Celtic were going for the double but Dowds missed his train and Celtic two vital points and ultimately the league flag too at Leith on 18 April 1892.
Shortly after a voided Scottish Cup Final in March 1892 (the game, which Celtic won 1-0, was made void as a result of crowd encroachment among the 40,000 spectators in attendance), Johnstone Celts alerted the local Johnstone Vigilante Committee (a unit of passionate fans, who would defend the club from the scourge of English agents) to the fact that Peter Dowds had been spotted getting in to a car with officials from Everton. The Committee sprang into action and chased the vehicle, before running it off the road and into a hedge. Two men emerged and pretended to have pistols in their possession. They retained Dowds and ordered the Evertonians away.
In May 1892 – with the Scottish game still amateur – he was tempted south by Aston Villa to play in the professional English league but he would return to Parkhead via Stoke City in May 1894. Effectively, he missed the chance to play in the first Celtic squad to win their first league titles (1892-93 & 1893-94). Celtic had wanted to desperately keep him, offering a pub and thirty bob a week, to which one English response was:
“See the height to which these amateur clubs go”.
One archaic point about his career is that according to Col John Chaughnessy (Celtic director), Peter Dowds used to be a tobacco-chewer during matches, where he used to remove the wad before going for high balls. Thankfully we will never see that sight ever again in senior football on the pitch.
However it soon became clear that Peter Dowds was an ill man. He played for Celtic in a friendly against Manchester City in December 1894 in what would prove to be his last appearance. It was played in what was thick fog to which experts attributed to the rapid decline of his health. He would die in September the following year after his health rapidly failed through the effects of consumption (also known as tuberculosis).
He died prematurely at around the age of 24. A sad loss to his family, friends and the Celtic support. A remembrance was held in his honour by the Celtic Graves Society in March 2014.
Peter Dowds played 49 times in the league & Scottish Cup for the Bhoys and scored 21 goals.
Quotes
“To the present generation Peter Dowds is not even a name, but to old-timers he was the greatest-ever, at home in any and every position, the equal of a Doyle or Kelly in defence, of Madden on the right, Campbell on the left, Cassidy at centre…”
Willie Maley drawing on sentiments expressed at Peter Dowds funeral.
‘Some Famous Celts’
Peter Dowds, a Johnstone lad, was generally regarded as the greatest all-round player we had seen at Celtic Park; he could step into any position and fill it not only satisfactorily but with distinction. He was probably, however, seen at his best in the intermediate line, where his intuition made the robbing of opponents look simple. After a short spell with the Club he allowed himself to be persuaded to go South, where he assisted Aston Villa and Stoke, but returned to us in 1894. The old ability was still in evidence, but his health had suffered and lung trouble developing he died at an early age. Only one honour came his way, a cap against the Irish League in 1892.
Willie Maley, The Story of the Celtic (1939)
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1889-92 & 1894-95 | 36 | 13 | N/A | N/A | 49 |
| Goals | 18 | 3 | – | – | 21 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish Cup
Pictures
Links
Articles
The Story of Peter Dowds
Source: http://maleysbhoys.com/2012/05/14/the-story-of-peter-dowds/
May 14 2012
Peter Dowds
Nowadays, when the Celtic support think of versatility in the current squad, two or three names spring to mind, namely those of Joe Ledley, Charlie Mulgrew, and perhaps even Victor Wanyama. One well known online dictionary describes “versatility” as “having varied uses or serving many functions”. Now, while none of you reading this were around to see the player who’s name tops this article, the word “versatility”, and it’s meaning, were around in the 1890’s, and so was Peter Dowds.
Believed to have been born in 1871, Peter Dowds grew up in the Renfrewshire town of Johnstone, and joined Celtic Football Club in its earliest days, in February 1889. Peter made his debut in both of Celtic’s first ever league matches. I say “both” because although he played in a 4-1 home defeat to Renton on the 16th August 1890, this match was later declared void as Renton were later expelled from the league by the Scottish Football Association, for alleged “illicit professionalism” (Scottish Football was, of course, still officially an amateur affair at that time). St Bernard’s were also banned from football for a time for this offence, but as they were not part of the league they were not expelled as Renton were.
Peter made his “official” league debut a week later, as Celtic defeated Heart of Midlothian 5-0 at Tynecastle. Peter, to his credit, even managed to get his name on the score sheet, as he grabbed the fourth of five goals that day. However, the two points the club picked up that afternoon would later be taken away from them, as Celtic were deducted four points for fielding an “ineligible player” in the form of goalkeeper, James Bell.
In all, three teams were deducted points in the inaugural season of the Scottish Football League, as Celtic, Cowlairs and Third Lanark were punished for fielding unregistered players. Celtic finished third that year, with Dumbarton and Rangers being declared “joint champions” after finishing the season on level points, and drawing the subsequent play off tietwo each. For the record, Celtic’s point deduction made no difference to where they would have finished in the league. They would simply have finished closer to second than they did, but would have remained in third place regardless.
As time passed, and Celtic continued to progress as a Football Club both on and off the field, Dowds also grew as a footballer, and began to show off his “versatility” by performing competently in any position in which he was asked to play. During his time at Celtic Park, this included virtually every position excluding that of the goalkeeper.
During the 1891-92 season, Peter Dowds became the first Celtic player to play in every single match of one season. While the Bhoys finished second in the league to Dumbarton (champions alone this time), Celtic won their first Scottish Cup, as they defeated Queen’s Park 5-1 in the second of two finals, on the 9th April 1892.
The first final, held at Ibrox Park, was declared “a friendly” by the S.F.A. after both teams registered complaints due to “crowd encroachment”. In fact, even in over an inch of snow, over 40,000 spectators travelled to Ibrox that day, and due to the unexpected large numbers, it was almost impossible to keep the crowd off of the playing surface during the match. Celtic won “the friendly”, refereed by the then head of the S.F.A., Mr Sneddon, 1-0.
Peter Dowds played in both matches, in different positions, alongside Willie Maley, the man whom this website is named after. Dowds also had the honour of kicking off the second match, as Queens Park won the coin toss, and elected they would like to play with the wind behind them in the first half, leaving Celtic to start the match with the ball. The wind played a big part that day, as Queens Park when in 1-0 up at half time, only to concede five in the second half when shooting the other way.
“The Scottish Referee”, a publication from the 11th April 1892, describes the celebrations around the country as follows, firstly referring to those in Coatbridge, and then those in the East End of Glasgow:
“In the second half, when it was intimated that the Celts had scored three goals in ten minutes, you might have heard the cheers at Ibrox.”
“Truly the East End was a perfect turmoil until the very early hours of Sunday, and many of the crowd won’t be able to get over the rejoicing racket for days to come.”
At the end of the 1891-92 season however, Dowds moved south to the professional leagues in England, and played for a time with both Aston Villa and Stoke City. In May 1894, Peter returned to Celtic Park and re-signed for Celtic, who had just become Scottish League Champions for the second consecutive season.
Sadly though, Dowds was not the player he was previously, as his health began to deteriorate rapidly. Despite featuring in his first match since his return to the club against St Mirren at Love Street, he faded almost entirely out of the side thereafter, until Celtic announced he had “chest trouble” in November. He played his final match for Celtic in a friendly against Manchester City, before retiring from the game soon after with consumption (also known as tuberculosis). Ironically, “experts” later claimed that the thick fog which surrounded the match against Manchester City had somehow added to the severity of his illness.
Peter Dowds died less than a year later, in September 1895, in only his mid-twenties, having played forty nine times in total for Celtic Football Club, and having scored twenty one goals during his spells there. He also picked up one international cap for Scotland during his short career.
In 1931, Willie Maley lamented “To the present generation, Peter Dowds is not even a name, but to old timers he was the greatest ever, at home in any and every position, the equal of a Doyle or a Kelly in defence, of Madden on the right, of Campbell on the left, Cassidy at centre…” He is buried in an unmarked grave in Abbey Cemetery, Elderslie.
Family name of Douds and not Dowds :
I think its a crying shame that Peter is not being recognised by his real name of Peter Douds. The poor man was Born, got married and was buried with the name Douds.
Peter was only giving the name Dowds once he became a footballer, it was obviously a typing error and a very easy mistake to make but one that should have been corrected at the time but for whatever reason it was not.An assistant Hairdresser when he married aged 20, four years later aged 24 he is dead. There is no official document naming him or his parents with the spelling Dowds.
Peter Dowds – The Greatest Ever All Round Celtic Star
By Editor 10 June, 2020 No Comments
Peter Dowds of Irish parentage and the son of an iron miner was born and died in the same house at 27 Graham Street, Johnstone in the space of 25 years. It is what he packed into those years that will be of interest to Celtic fans.
He was a hometown football player with Johnstone Harp before arriving at Celtic via Broxburn Shamrock at the tender age of 17. He played in the same Johnstone Harp team as future Celtic and Scotland international Goalkeeper Willie Dunning, who he would join at Celtic and again on his football travels south of the border.
Peter Dowds, future Celtic star, lining up for his home town team Johnstone Harp as a teenager in 1887
Making his debut in March 1889 v Clydesdale Harriers Peter established himself as a player of worth and partnered future Manager Willie Maley on the left in his next game v Abercorn. He scored in Celtic’s first ever silverware haul – a 6-1 victory over Cowlairs in the final of the North Eastern Cup at Barrowfield (Clyde’s ground) in May 1889.
Before the start of the first ever league in Scottish football in 1891-92 season, Celtic were much in demand playing games on tour and at home to the well established English teams. Peter featured in many of these earning himself a reputation against the likes of Newcastle, Bolton, Burnley, Preston N.E., Sunderland, Blackburn and Everton. In August 1889 Peter bagged both goals in a 2-0 win over Rangers.
Emphasising Peter’s versatility, Celtic’s first two Glasgow Cup wins saw him emerging as the victor playing in two different positions. He also played at centre in Celtic’s first Scottish Cup win at Ibrox v Queens Park.
As the Scottish league commenced in 1891-92 season Peter featured in our first official match in a 5-0 win v Hearts at Tynecastle. He was off being treated for a severe eye gash for ten minutes and returned to the field, head bandaged with fifteen minutes remaining. The match report continues, “Dowds who was now playing outside left, easily walked round Adams, and with a fine screw kick put the ball out of McKay’s reach for the fifth time….”
The following game a hat trick came his way and soon after he had a golden spell scoring 9 goals in 5 games, 4 in one match, 2 in another including “a backward shot with his heel” against Clyde in the Glasgow Cup at Celtic Park. In our first league season he became the first Celt to be an ever present, appearing in every league game and was Celtic’s top scorer as well!
With professionalism established in English football from 1885, payment of players in Scotland, although common was viewed as a stain on the amateur game. Marie Rowan’s excellent book on Paisley born Dan Doyle points to the sign that all was not well for Scottish players.
Willie Daly, a friend of Dowds met him in Paisley after his victorious scoring appearance in a Glasgow cup final. Daly asked what he got for winning – perhaps with a cash bonus in mind. Dowds brought out the medal from his pocket and said, “That!” He dropped the medal and kicked it as it fell, into some grass nearby before walking on. Medals alone were no use to a man with little money who now had a wife in tow by the name of Mary Smith.
With Scottish football lagging behind England in a professional sense, Dowds was now a highly treasured commodity with clubs south of the border aware of his precocious talent willing to pay enormous sums of money to a young man who clearly needed money!
Tom Maley ex Celtic teammate of Dowds and brother of Manager Willie Maley wrote this during the First World War in 1916 while manager of Bradford Park Avenue.
“To tamper or try to wheedle a Celtic player from Parkhead was about as fatal a task as to trifle with the fuse of a big shell.”
“Dick Molyneux Secretary of Everton tried to nobble Dowds, one of the best all rounders I can remember.Through the kindness of a friend the movements of Molyneux and Dowds were disclosed.
They were driving from Glasgow to Johnstone. We drove after them, overtook them on the High Road, and bored them so to speak into a hedgerow. Then having compelled them to stop with gloved hands disposed of in pistol shaped fashion, sternly ordered Peter to get off and up – off the Everton machine and on to the Celtic. This removal effected we gave Dick and his pal the order to git!”
“The next day a telegram reached Dowds from Fred Dewhurst on behalf of Preston N.E., desiring Peter to meet him at a certain hotel in Glasgow. That wire I replied to. “Peter can’t come. I will.” and signed it in full. Fred didn’t wait to meet me.”
Reminiscing on the start of the 1892 season Willie Maley wrote in a Weekly News article in 1936, “At half we had reckoned on keeping Dowds as he first of all went to Aston Villa in July, changed his mind and returned to us in August and actually played two games. Suddenly he shifted his mind and never returned.”
Peter played one season with Aston Villa, Joining up with fellow Harp and Celtic team-mate Willie Dunning, and the next with Stoke City.
Again Willie Maley recounted a Dowds tale in his series of articles. “When he was a Villain (Villa player), Peter once made a bet on the occasion of a West Brom match that his opposing wing would not get the ball during the game. Peter’s bet was promptly covered but he was the winner.”
Celtic Manager Willie Maley, also highlighting the quality of player Dowds was continued, “Peter Dowds was a wonderful footballer, his versatility was unique. Talk about class all rounders. There never has been and never will be finer. It did not matter in which position Peter played. He distinguished himself. I admired him most as a halfback. He was the perfect middle man, playing the ball all the time and every time. Peter did not have to throw himself about to get contact. Contact came to him by his own intuition. He did not find the ball. Nothing so common. It found him.”
Peter Dowds was to die tragically young within a short timescale on his return to Scotland.
Willie Maley in 1931 remembered remarks made to him by a footballing friend in 1895 at the graveside. He paraphrased, “To the present generation Dowds is not even a name, but to old timers he was the greatest ever, at home in any and every position. The equal of a Doyle or Kelly in defence, of Madden on the right, Campbell on the left and Cassidy at centre.”
Peter returned to Celtic after an absence of two seasons in 1894 with Scotland embracing professionalism the season previous. He played at the new Celtic Park and also played in the inaugural game at St.Mirren Park, Love St. in September in a 0-3 victory.
In the match report in the Paisley & Renfrewshire Gazette it quotes, “Dowds lagged somewhat during the game and the stalwart Maley had to do his own work and assist Peter also.”
This was the first indication that he was not physically at his best.
Unbeknown to Celtic they had re-signed a 24 year-old man who should have been at his peak but was in fact suffering from an illness that would be terminal. Peter Dowds would be dead in a year. He had Consumption (Tuberculosis), a bacterial disease that was a horrific ailment with no cure available.
His last game as a Celtic player was away against Manchester City at Ardwick Road in December 1894.
It’s ironic that his death certificate states as his occupation “Professional Footballer,” as he had to leave his country to become one. Peter played only three league games as a professional in Scotland for Celtic.
It is especially poignant that he returned to the club he loved and played so few games in what would have been a great future if illness hadn’t intervened.
Peter died in September 1895 and lies buried in what was an unmarked grave until a few years ago, in Abbey Cemetery, Elderslie.
Iain Reynolds