Gilmartin, Hugh

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Personal

Fullname: Hugh Gilmartin
aka: –
Born: 12 March 1924
Died: […]
Birthplace: Port Glasgow
Signed: 24 October 1944
Left: 1946 (free); 20 Aug 1946 (to Hamilton Accies)
Position: Inside- Right
Debut: Celtic 5-0 Albion Rovers, Regional League, 2 Dec 1944
Internationals: N/A

Biog

Hugh Gilmartin made three appearances for the Bhoys during his brief Celtic Park career.

Aged just 20-years-old, he signed for Celtic in October 1944 from Market Star. The Port Glasgow born inside right made his debut in a 5-0 Regional League home victory over Albion Rovers on 2nd December that year, with McLaughlin scoring a hat-trick.

He then played in the following game where McLaughlin scored another double, a 2-0 win over Queen’s Park away.

Despite the victory, one match reporter, Alan Breck of the Evening Times, caustically wrote after the Queen’s Park match:

“I have never seen a Celtic team that depended so little on the arts of inside-forward play… these present-day Celts have no ball-play or combination… they beat a man by holding or pushing… I hope – with peace just around the corner – the Celtic people realise how much they have to do.”

Hugh Gilmartin was dropped for Jackie Gallacher, but made a further and final appearance, a 2-1 loss to Partick Thistle in the league cup, blighting his otherwise fine match record.

Following Jimmy McStay’s dismissal as Celtic boss, Hugh Gilmartin would be reunited with his old manager when he joined him at Hamilton in August 1946, so proved that the manager had faith in his ability, but then he was freed in 1947.

Celtic were a shambles throughout these war years, and remained so for years many afterwards. So Hugh Gilmartin is another player whom we can only wonder if he could potentially have done better in a better environment.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

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Links

• World War Two