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Note: Some references spell his surname with one “m” others with two “m’s”. We’ve stuck with one for this biog and has been confirmed by his family that this is the correct spelling.
Personal
Fullname: John Thomas Fitzsimons
aka: Fitzy, John Fitzsimons, John Fitzsimmons Dr John Fitzsimmons, Dr John Fitzsimons
Born: 3 March 1915
Died: 3 September 1995
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: 19 August 1934
Left: 30 Apr 1938 (free); 20 June 1938 (Alloa)
Position: Outside-Left
Debut: Kilmarnock 1-1 Celtic, League, 5 Oct 1935
Internationals: none
Biog
Best known as Celtic’s club doctor during the glory years of the late 1960s and early 1970s John Fitzsimons first came to Parkhead as an outside-left in August 1934.
John Fitzsimons was born in Glasgow on March 3rd 1915 and was educated at the city’s St Aloysius’ College until his Mothers death in 1927.
He then went as a boarder to St Josephs in Dumfries until gaining his higher leaving certificate. He attended the Anderson College of Medicine and at the same time played for St Rochs.
Earlier while at school he had been spotted by Willie Maley in the amateur match between St Josephs and St Mungos and was asked to sign for Celtic in 1934. He made his competitive senior debut in a 1-1 league draw at Kilmarnock on 5th October 1935.
His best season was 1935-36 and would have been included in the Exhibition Cup Team but for the pressure of his work as a medical student. Called up at the end of the Second World War he was rejected for service due to a chronic ear defect which troubled him all his life.
He was unable to establish himself as a first team regular.
He had left Celtic in 1938 to join Clyde, where he stayed for seven happy seasons before joining Falkirk and then Allloa.
It wasn’t to be the end of his time with Celtic. He went on to become a qualified doctor and became Celtic’s club physician in Sep 1953.
Celtic’s Papal Knight – Dr John Fitzsimons
Dr Fitzsimons was the club’s doctor for 34 years, from 1953 till 1987, and he had a 4 year spell on the books as a player in the 1930’s.
In 1953 he returned to Celtic, this time as Official Club Doctor, where he stayed until his retirement. John had many fine seasons and lots of world travel with Celtic, the zenith of his career when McNeill lifted the cup in Lisbon.
Further honours followed and in 1970 he was appointed doctor to the Scotland Team, a position he held for ten years, he attended three World Cups in Argentina, Germany and Spain.
John’s career was of course not entirely about football and for over forty years he was a general practitioner in the heart of Glasgow. But the greatest and luckiest moment of his life came on June 25th 1946 when he married Dr Helen O’Hagan, the mother of his four surviving children.
As a student, in 1936 John had made a special pilgrimage to Lourdes and his experience there lasted for all of his life so that when visits began again post war he, along with wife Ellen, began to attend the yearly Glasgow Pilgrimage. He was a founder member of The Glasgow Hospitalitie de Lourdes, which helped the sick and less fortunate to visit the shrine, and was doctor to the pilgrimage for over forty years, a special medal being struck for him and his wife in 1987.
In 1976, at a special service in The Vatican Dr John was created a Papal Knight of St Sylvester by Pope Paul IV.
In 1988, he began to show the first signs of Alzheimer’s Disease, he was nursed by his close family until his death on September 3rd 1995.
He left behind a son and three daughters, a haematologist, dentist, mathematician and dermatologist respectively.
A remarkable man and a true Celt till the end.
Notes:
It seems he was a doctor whilst still playing football, not certain if the “Doc” bit whilst he was with Falkirk was just a nickname.
Some references in articles in the Falkirk Herald:
Edition Saturday 08 August 1942 on his signing.
“…there will be another newcomer in the person of Dr Fitzsimmons, the Clyde left winger, whose signature Mr Craig secured last week.”
Edition Saturday 19 September 1942 – on his missing a match
“Unfortunately, however, another problem arises from the fact that Dr Fitzsimmons, who has professional duties to undertake this weekend, will not available.”
Edition Saturday 16 February 1946 – on his forthcoming marriage
“Dr John Fitzsimmons, Falkirk’s clever outside-left, is to be married shortly to a Glasgow lady doctor. He is giving up his appointment as one of the resident medical officers at Belvedere Hospital, Glasgow, and is to start private practice in the city. ”
N.B.: On the spelling, the Falkirk Herald gives both versions randomly it seems depending on the writer.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1934-38 | 5 | 0 | N/A | N/A | 5 |
| Goals: | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none